Last updated: 1 April 2026

TSS to Skills in Demand Visa: What Changes and When

The subclass 482 visa — formerly the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa — has been restructured as the Skills in Demand visa. This is the most significant change to Australia’s employer-sponsored temporary migration program since the TSS replaced the subclass 457 in 2018. The restructure introduces salary-based stream placement, broadens pathways to permanent residency in Australia, and replaces the former short-term and medium-term stream model with three new streams.

If you are a current 482 holder, an employer sponsoring overseas workers, or planning to apply for employer sponsorship, this guide explains exactly what has changed, what the transitional arrangements are, and what you need to do.

What Changed: Old Structure vs New Structure

The following table maps the former TSS streams to the new Skills in Demand framework.

The fundamental shift: Stream placement is now primarily determined by salary, not just occupation list membership. Under the TSS, your stream depended on which occupation list your role appeared on. Under Skills in Demand, your nominated annual salary determines whether you fall into the Specialist Skills, Core Skills, or Essential Skills stream.

The Three New Streams

Specialist Skills Stream (AUD 135,000+)

The Specialist Skills stream covers high-income workers with an annual salary at or above AUD 135,000. This stream is not restricted to a specific occupation list — it is open to workers in occupations across ANZSCO Major Groups 1 (Managers), 2 (Professionals), 4 (Community and Personal Service Workers), 5 (Clerical and Administrative Workers), and 6 (Sales Workers), provided the salary threshold is met.

Key features:

• No requirement for the occupation to appear on the Core Skills Occupation List
• Visa duration of up to 4 years
• Pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 186 employer nomination visa TRT stream
• Reduced documentation requirements for skills assessment in some cases
• The salary threshold is indexed and reviewed periodically

This stream is designed for senior professionals, specialist consultants, executives, and high-earning technical workers. It simplifies the process for employers recruiting high-income talent by removing occupation list restrictions.

Core Skills Stream (AUD 70,000 to AUD 135,000)

The Core Skills stream is the primary stream for most employer-sponsored workers. It covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) with a nominated annual salary between AUD 70,000 and AUD 135,000.

Key features:

• Occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List
• Visa duration of up to 4 years
• Pathway to permanent residency through the 186 TRT stream
• Standard skills assessment and English requirements apply
• The AUD 70,000 floor replaces the former Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)

The Core Skills stream represents the broadest change from the TSS. Occupations that were formerly on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and had no PR pathway now gain a PR pathway if they appear on the CSOL. This is a significant improvement for workers in occupations such as marketing specialists, chefs, web designers, and various technician roles who previously had no employer-sponsored route to permanent residency.

Essential Skills Stream (Below AUD 70,000)

The Essential Skills stream covers lower-paid occupations that fall below the AUD 70,000 salary threshold. Access to this stream is through specific labour agreements between the Australian Government and industry bodies or individual employers.

Key features:

• Only available under a labour agreement
• Covers occupations in sectors with acute labour shortages (aged care, hospitality, meat processing, agriculture)
• Salary may be below AUD 70,000 but must meet the award rate
• PR pathway depends on the specific labour agreement terms
• Additional worker protections may apply

This stream formalises arrangements that were previously handled through ad hoc labour agreement streams under the TSS.

Salary Thresholds Explained

The salary-based stream model replaces the former Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) of AUD 70,000.

How salary is calculated: The nominated annual salary includes base pay and guaranteed earnings. It excludes overtime, bonuses, commissions, and non-monetary benefits unless they form part of the guaranteed annual earnings. The salary must be at market rate — the employer cannot nominate an artificially high salary to access a preferred stream if the actual market rate for the role is lower.

Indexation: Both the AUD 70,000 and AUD 135,000 thresholds are subject to periodic review and indexation. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current figures.

What Current 482 Holders Need to Know

If you already hold a subclass 482 visa granted under the former TSS structure, your visa remains valid for its granted duration. You do not need to reapply under the new framework.

Medium-term stream holders: Your pathway to permanent residency through the 482 to PR pathway via the 186 TRT stream is preserved. Continue working for your sponsoring employer for the required period (2 years for medium-term stream or 3 years for certain transition arrangements) and apply for the 186 when eligible.

Short-term stream holders: Under the former TSS, the short-term stream did not provide a standard PR pathway. Under transitional arrangements, if your occupation now appears on the Core Skills Occupation List, you may be eligible for the 186 TRT pathway. Check whether your occupation is listed on the CSOL and whether transitional provisions apply to your grant date.

Renewing your 482: If your current 482 visa expires and you need to renew, the new application will be lodged under the Skills in Demand framework. Your stream placement will depend on your nominated salary and occupation under the new structure.

What Employers Need to Know

Employers already approved as Standard Business Sponsors retain their approval status. The transition does not require re-applying for sponsorship. However, new nominations must be lodged under the updated stream structure.

Nomination changes:

• Identify the correct stream based on the nominated annual salary
• For Core Skills stream, confirm the occupation appears on the CSOL
• For Specialist Skills stream, confirm the salary meets the AUD 135,000 threshold
• Update internal processes to reflect the new stream names and requirements

SAF levy: The Skilling Australians Fund levy continues to apply. The levy amounts (AUD 3,000 per year for businesses with turnover under AUD 10 million, AUD 5,000 per year for larger businesses) remain unchanged by the transition.

Labour Market Testing (LMT): Requirements for demonstrating that no suitable Australian worker is available continue to apply. The methodology and evidence requirements are consistent with the former TSS.

For a comprehensive overview of employer sponsored visa Australia obligations and processes, see the dedicated guide.

Occupation List Changes

The transition from the TSS to Skills in Demand involves a consolidation of occupation lists.

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is broader than the former MLTSSL but narrower than the combined MLTSSL + STSOL. Some occupations that were on the STSOL have been added to the CSOL, gaining a PR pathway they did not previously have. Other STSOL occupations not included on the CSOL are no longer available for the 482 unless they qualify under the Specialist Skills stream salary threshold or a labour agreement.

Check the current CSOL on the Department of Home Affairs website to confirm your occupation’s status. The list is reviewed and updated regularly based on labour market data from the Jobs and Skills Council.

Timeline of Changes

The transition has been phased rather than immediate. Some provisions were implemented earlier than others, and transitional arrangements apply to applications and nominations lodged during the changeover period.

Impact on PR Pathway

The most significant practical impact of the TSS to Skills in Demand transition is the expansion of PR pathways.

Under the former TSS, only medium-term stream holders had a clear pathway to PR through the 186 TRT. Short-term stream holders were explicitly excluded from the TRT and had to pursue PR through other means (points-tested 189/190 or a new medium-term 482 if their occupation was on the MLTSSL).

Under Skills in Demand, both the Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams provide a pathway to PR through the 186 TRT. This means workers in occupations that were formerly short-term-only — and thus PR-excluded — now have a direct employer-sponsored route to permanent residency in Australia, provided their occupation is on the CSOL or their salary meets the Specialist Skills threshold.

This change affects thousands of workers in occupations such as marketing specialists, chefs, graphic designers, web developers, and various technician roles who were previously locked out of the employer-sponsored PR pathway.

For the complete Skills in Demand visa details and eligibility, see the dedicated guide. For the PR transition process, see the 482 to PR pathway guide.

Next Steps

• Subclass 482 visa overview
• Skills in Demand visa details
• 482 to PR pathway
• Subclass 186 employer nomination visa
• Employer sponsored visa overview
• Australian PR overview