Quick Answer
The TSS Subclass 482 visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa in December 2024. Key changes: three streams instead of two, a new occupation list (CSOL), a faster PR pathway (two years instead of three for TRT), annually indexed salary thresholds, and new offshore review rights at the ART.
December 2024 was the most significant restructuring of Australia’s employer sponsored visa system in years. The Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa was discontinued and replaced by the Skills in Demand visa. If you were on a 482, were planning to sponsor someone, or were partway through an application, this change affected you directly.
I’m Umar Ashraf, MARA-registered migration agent at Magpie Consultants in Epping. Here is a clear breakdown of every significant change and what stayed the same.
Structure — Three Streams Instead of Two
The 482 visa had two streams: the Short-Term stream (occupations on the STSOL, two-year grants) and the Medium-Term stream (occupations on the MLTSSL, four-year grants with a PR pathway). The SID visa replaced this with three streams:
- Specialist Skills Stream: salary above $135,000, no occupation list restriction, four-year grants
- Core Skills Stream: main stream, occupation on CSOL, salary above CSIT, up to four-year grants
- Essential Skills Stream: for lower-paid workers in shortage sectors, being rolled out progressively by ministerial agreement
In practice, the Core Skills Stream is the equivalent of the old Medium-Term stream for most sponsored workers. The key difference is the removal of a separate short-term category — occupations are either on the CSOL (Core Skills) or they are not, rather than being split between two lists with different PR outcomes.
Occupation Lists — CSOL Replaced STSOL and MLTSSL
The two old occupation lists — the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) — have been replaced by a single Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for SID purposes.
This matters because:
- Some occupations that were on the STSOL are not on the CSOL — those occupations are no longer available through the Core Skills Stream
- Some occupations that were on the MLTSSL have been restructured or recoded
- Some new occupations have been added to the CSOL that were not on either old list
If you are planning a nomination under the SID Core Skills Stream, checking the current CSOL is the essential first step. Do not assume your occupation’s 482 eligibility transfers directly.
Permanent Residence Pathway — Two Years Instead of Three
Under the 482 Medium-Term stream, the ENS Subclass 186 TRT stream required three years of employment with the sponsoring employer. Under the SID Core Skills Stream, this has been reduced to two years.
This is the most immediately beneficial change for sponsored workers. A worker sponsored in January 2025 who stays with the same employer now reaches TRT eligibility in January 2027, not January 2028.
From 29 November 2025, a further change applies: the qualifying employment toward TRT must be with an employer who holds current sponsorship approval at the time the 186 nomination is lodged. Existing 482 holders planning for PR should confirm their employer’s sponsorship is current and being maintained.
Salary Thresholds — Now Indexed Annually
Under the old 482, the TSMIT was $73,150 from July 2023. Under the SID, the equivalent threshold is the CSIT — $76,515 from 1 July 2025 — and it is reviewed and indexed annually.
Annual indexation means employers can no longer set a salary once and leave it unchanged for years. Sponsorship obligations require ongoing payment at or above the then-current CSIT and at market rates. Sponsoring employers should calendar a review of sponsored worker salaries each July when the CSIT update applies.
Review Rights — Offshore Refusals Now Reviewable
Under the old 482, applicants refused offshore had almost no meaningful review rights. This changed with the SID visa.
From 29 November 2025, offshore SID visa refusals are reviewable at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) under section 338(9) of the Migration Act 1958. An applicant refused offshore now has genuine appeal rights — they can have the refusal reviewed on its merits and submit new evidence at the ART.
This is particularly significant for applicants in countries where visa refusal rates are higher and where limited review rights previously left applicants with no meaningful recourse.
What Stayed the Same
The fundamental model of employer sponsorship has not changed:
- Employers still need to be approved standard business sponsors
- Nominations are still required for each sponsored worker
- Labour Market Testing requirements remain in place (with the same exemption categories)
- Ongoing sponsorship obligations (record-keeping, pay parity, training) continue
- The ENS Subclass 186 is still the main PR pathway from temporary employer sponsorship
- Existing approved sponsors carry over automatically — no reapplication needed
What Happened to Existing 482 Holders?
If you held a valid Subclass 482 visa when the change took effect in December 2024, nothing changed immediately. Your 482 stays valid under its original conditions until it expires. No action is required while your visa is current.
When your visa expires, you extend by applying for the SID visa rather than another 482. Transitional arrangements also protect your PR pathway — employment history with an approved sponsor under a 482 counts toward the ENS 186 TRT period, subject to the employer maintaining current sponsorship approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly did the SID visa replace the 482?
The Skills in Demand visa was introduced in December 2024. New applications from that point were lodged as SID applications, not 482 applications. 482 applications that were already lodged at the transition continued under the 482 framework to finalisation.
Is my 482 occupation still eligible under the SID?
Not necessarily. The CSOL is not identical to the old STSOL and MLTSSL combined. Some occupations have been removed, restructured, or recoded. Verify your specific ANZSCO code against the current CSOL on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging any nomination under the SID framework.
Do 482 employers need to reapply for standard business sponsorship?
No. Existing approved standard business sponsors carry over to the SID framework automatically. Sponsorship approval conditions continue to apply. Sponsors do need to ensure their approval is current when nominating for SID visas — a lapsed approval will prevent nominations from being lodged.
Are 482 visa holders affected by the new two-year TRT requirement?
Yes — but beneficially. Transitional arrangements allow existing 482 holders to access the reduced two-year TRT qualifying period for the ENS 186, rather than the old three-year period. Employment history under the 482 counts, but from 29 November 2025, all TRT qualifying employment must be with an employer holding current sponsorship approval.
If you have questions about how the 482 to SID transition affects your specific situation, book a consultation. Magpie Consultants, Epping, Melbourne. Call 0424 260 655. Consultations in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.
For a complete breakdown of the current SID visa framework, read our Skills in Demand visa overview and see the employer sponsorship service page. For the ART review rights change, see our post on ART appeals for visa refusals.
Official Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand Visa
- Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- Migration Act 1958 — Section 338
Umar Ashraf
MARA Registered Migration Agent & Education Consultant | MARA #2619222 | Epping, Melbourne VIC
Umar Ashraf is a MARA-registered migration agent specialising in complex cases, visa cancellations, ART tribunal appeals, and employer sponsorship. He provides consultations in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.
