Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams
A temporary visa that lets an approved employer sponsor a skilled worker for a role it cannot fill with a suitably skilled Australian. The employer must nominate the worker before or with the visa application. The Core Skills stream covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The Specialist Skills stream covers most ANZSCO occupations where the salary meets a higher income threshold. A Labour Agreement stream also exists.
1 entry rule for Australia based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Health screening after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list) in the last 6 days
Travellers over 1 year entering Australia within 6 days of staying overnight or longer in a yellow fever risk country are asked for a valid yellow fever certificate; entry is not refused without one. Without one: not refused entry: may be referred to a biosecurity officer and given information/an action card; must promptly seek medical assessment if symptoms develop within 6 days of leaving the risk place.
Australian Government Department of Health: Yellow fever Australian Government: Yellow fever fact sheet (holds Australia's list of risk countries and areas) Australian Immunisation Handbook: Yellow fever WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia): Human health – advice to travellers Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Australia
Money
3
Currency
Australian Dollar
AUD
Australian Dollar
Cost of living
94
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
15–45%
Income tax (national)
GST 10%
2026-27: first AUD 18,200 tax-free; 45% above AUD 190,000. Plus 2% Medicare levy.
Living
1
Happiness
#15 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Working in your field Members
Whether you need a licence or registration to work in your field here
Who it’s for
Skilled workers with at least 1 year of relevant experience who have a job offer from an approved Australian (or overseas) business sponsor.
Eligibility
Nomination by an approved sponsor
Your employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (or have applied to be one) and must nominate you for the position. The nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.
Eligible occupationCore Skills stream
Core Skills stream: the occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List.
Eligible occupation and salarySpecialist Skills stream
Your job must be in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, and the salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
Nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027AUD 146,576
Specialist Skills Income Threshold
Official wording
Specialist Skills stream: the occupation must be in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 (not 3, 7 or 8) and the salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementSalary
- Document checklistNomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN)
- FeesBase application charge (main applicant)
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 7 more requirements
- 9 documents
- 8 fees
- 8 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Australia
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Home Affairs – Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream (last updated 12/10/2026)
- Home Affairs – Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Specialist Skills stream (last updated 12/10/2026)
- Home Affairs – Salary requirements to nominate a worker (last updated 21/09/2026)
- Home Affairs – Cost of sponsoring (last updated 21/09/2026)
- Home Affairs – SID English language requirements (last updated 21/09/2026)
- Federal Register of Legislation – Migration Regulations 1994, compilation C289 (2 Oct 2026), Schedule 1 item 1240
Other routes to Australia
- Visit & tourismVisitor visa (subclass 600) – Tourist stream (apply outside Australia), with ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) for eligible passports
- StudyStudent visa
- Skilled migrationSkilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
- Asylum & protectionProtection visa
- CitizenshipAustralian citizenship by conferral
