In December 2024, the Australian government announced key changes to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa, renaming it the Skills in Demand (SID) visa and implementing several updates. You can read more of this change here.
Key Changes to the 482 Visa
- Single Occupation List: All eligible occupations have been consolidated onto one list (CSOL), allowing access to a 1-4 year visa across all roles.
- Expanded Location Options: Occupations previously restricted to regional areas are now eligible in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
- Examples: Procurement Manager (132311) and Human Resource Manager (132311) can now be based in these cities.
What to Consider Moving Forward
Three months on, what else do we need to think about when deciding whether to widen your access to talent, by investing in sponsoring a worker on a 482 visa.
- Financial Year Changes – July 2025
With a new financial year approaching, it’s crucial to plan ahead:
- Minimum Salary Increase: The current TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) is $73,150, up from $70,000 last year. It’s expected to exceed $75,000 from July 2025.
- Government Fees: Visa application fees are likely to increase as they typically do at the start of the financial year.
- Longer Processing Times
The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) has announced longer processing times for the new SID visa:
- Core Skills Stream: 90% of applications now processed in 47 days.
- Specialist Skills Stream: 90% of applications now processed in 39 days.
So, if you’ve found the right talent, don’t delay your application process.
Need a Sponsorship Solution?
If your business does not hold a sponsorship, you can still engage skilled workers through our On-Hire Labour Agreement (OHLA):
- We act as the sponsor and employer of record.
- You retain full engagement of your talent without sponsorship constraints.
Learn more about the OHLA here or for a complimentary consultation, contact us today.
