Employer Sponsored Migration

Skills in Demand (SID) Visa

About the SID visa

The 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is a temporary visa which permits the holder to live in Australia, while working full-time for the sponsoring employer, in the nominated position. Dependent family members can be included in the application.

The SID visa is split into two main streams:

1) Core Skills Stream:
-work in Australia for your sponsor for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder
-must work in an occupation listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).

2) Specialist Skills Stream
-work in Australia for your sponsor for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder
-must work in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) occupation listed in Major Groups 1,2,4,5 or 6 with a salary that meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (cuurently $ 135,000.00 per year.

TSS Requirements:

Skills

The applicant must have the skills, qualifications and work experience required for the nominated position. Applicants will also need to meet English language requirements, unless exempted.

Health & Character

Health and character criteria will also need to be met. Police clearance certificates are required for every country in which the applicant has lived for 12 months or more since turning 16 years of age, within the last ten years.

 

 

Application Process

There are three steps to the application process.

  1. Standard business sponsorship

A business must become approved as a Standard Business Sponsor in order to employ a TSS visa holder. To obtain a Standard Business Sponsorship agreement, the business must demonstrate lawful and active operation in Australia. This includes identifying the correct ABN to apply under, registering the business name, supplying Business Activity Statements (BAS) and financial statements, as well as showing a commitment to training Australian citizens and permanent residents and compliance with workplace and other Australian laws.

  1. Nomination

Following the SBS application, an employer must nominate a position within their business as one which must be filled by an overseas citizen. As part of this step, there are various requirements to be met:

  • Labour Market Testing

in order to nominate an employee for a SID visa, a business must demonstrate that they have a genuine need to do so. Evidence of labour market testing in the 12 months prior to making a nomination application will need to be supplied as part of the application.

  • Salary Level

The salary for the nominated position must be above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This threshold is set by DOH each year and is currently $73,150.00 plus superannuation. Furthermore, the proposed salary must be within the market rate for the role to ensuresthat the applicant will be paid in line with Australian employees in comparable roles.

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  • Training Levy

The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy to be paid at nomination stage.

The amounts payable per applicant are set out as follows:

A  business  with turnover of less than $10M will pay $1,200 per nomination per year for a SID visa. A  business  with turnover of more than $10M will pay $1,800 per nominee per year.

The charge will be calculated according to the number of years for which the visa is required, as set out in the nomination, and will be payable in full at this time.

For example: If the employee is applying for a four year visa, this will require all four annual payments to be made at the time of application.

  1. Visa application

Step three of the process is the visa application itself, at which time the nominee must demonstrate that they meet the requisite skill level for their occupation, as well as health and character requirements.

Employer Sponsored Migration (Temporary) Business Long Stay Subclass 457

The sc. 457 visa was discontinued on 18 March 2018 and was replaced by the Temporary Skill Shortage sc. 482 Visa, which in turn was repaced by the Skill in Demand visa on 7 December 2024.

Employer Sponsored Migration (Temporary) Business Long Stay Subclass 457

Employer Sponsored Migration (Temporary) Business Long Stay Subclass 457 and 482 visas

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Current Permanent Employer Sponsored Visas

  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 187)
  • Employer Nomination Scheme (permanent) (Subclass 186)

These visas are for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who live and work in Australia. It has three streams.

  1. The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 or 482 visa holders who have worked for their sponsor for three years and their employer wants to offer them a permanent position.
  2. The Direct Entry stream is for people who cannot apply under the The Temporary Residence Transition stream.
  3. The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour or regional migration agreement.

Note: transitional arrangements may apply to those who held a 457 visa or had applied for a 457 visa on or before the 18th April 2017, which was subsequently granted.

In this overview, we will only address the Temporary Residence Transition and the Direct Entry streams.

Current Permanent Employer Sponsored Visas

Current Permanent Employer Sponsored Visas

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Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 187)

This is a permanent visa for employers operating in regional and low population growth areas of Australia, who want to sponsor skilled workers to fill skilled vacancies in their business.

There are 3 stages to this visa:

  1. Under the Temporary Residence Transition stream the nomination is submitted to a Regional Certifying Body for certification.
  2. The employer nominates the position they want to sponsor.
  3. The nominee applies for his visa.

The Business:

To participate in the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, you must:

  • Operate an active and lawful business in regional Australia.
  • Have a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position under the employer’s direct control.
  • Offer a skilled position in the applicant’s field that is full-time and ongoing for at least two years.
  • Provide terms and conditions that are the same as those that would apply to an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident performing the same work in the same location.
  • Comply with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws.
  • Have no adverse information against you or your business.
  • Nominate a skilled position. This position must be:
    • an occupation that is on the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List or the Regional Occupations List.
  • Pay the skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.

The Employee:

To apply for this visa, you must:

  • Be nominated by an approved employer who will nominate you for a position in their business in regional Australia.
  • Be younger than 45 years of age, unless transitional arrangements apply.
  • Meet the skills and qualifications requirements.
  • Meet English language requirements.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

If you apply for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, your skills do generally not need to be assessed.

  • You must have at least competent English.
  • This stream is available only to people who hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa.

Direct Entry stream

If you apply for the Direct Entry stream, you must:

  • Have qualification and skills relevant to your nominated occupation.
  • Have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority if you are nominated as a tradesperson and obtained your qualifications outside Australia
  • Have competent English.

There may be exemptions relating to age, skills and English language ability. These depend on your nominated occupation, salary and past work experience.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 187)

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 187)

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Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 186)

This visa is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who live and work in Australia.

There are 2 stages to this visa.

  1. The employer nominates the position that they want to fill and finds a suitable employee who is willing to work for them in Australia.
  2. The employee accepts the offer of employment from the nominating employer and applies for a visa.

The Employer:

To participate in the Employer Nomination Scheme, you must:

  • Have a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position under the employer’s direct control.
  • Offer a skilled position in the applicant’s field that is full-time and ongoing for at least two years.
  • Provide terms and conditions that are the same as those that would apply to an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident performing the same work in the same location.
  • Comply with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws.
  • Have no adverse information against you or your business.
  • Nominate a skilled position. This position must be:
    • Related to an occupation that is on the relevant skills list.
  • Pay the skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.

The Employee:

  • To apply for this visa, you must:
  • Be nominated by an approved employer
  • Be younger than 45 years of age unless transitional arrangements apply.
  • Meet the skills and qualifications requirements
  • Meet English language requirements.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

  • If you apply for the Temporary Residence Transition stream,you must have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for and you may be asked to get a skills assessment to show you have these skills.
    • You must have at least competent English.
    • This stream is available only to people who hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa.

Direct Entry stream

  • If you apply for the Direct Entry stream, you must:
  • Have an occupation that is on the list of eligible skilled occupations.
  • Provide a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation.
  • Provide evidence of at least three years of relevant work experience.
  • Have competent English.

There are exemptions relating to age, skills and English language ability. These depend on your nominated occupation, salary and past work experience.

Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 186)

Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent) (Subclass 186)

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Faq's - ENGLISH SKILL REQUIREMENTS

How can I prove I have functional English?

To prove that you have functional English you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • You are the holder of a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland and you are a citizen of that country.
  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test result of an average band score of at least 4.5 based on the four test components of speaking, reading, listening and writing. Your test must have been completed within 12 months of visa application lodgement or can be completed during visa application processing.
  • A Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) test result of a total band score of at least 32 based on the four test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening. Your test must have been completed within 12 months of visa application lodgement or can be completed during visa application processing.
  • A Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic test result of an overall band score of at least 30 based on the four test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening. Your test must have been completed within 12 months of visa application lodgement or can be completed during visa application processing.
  • A Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test result of an overall band score of at least 147 based on the four test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening and the test must have been taken on or after 1 January 2015. Your test must have been completed within 12 months of visa application lodgement or can be completed during visa application processing.
  • A positive assessment by an Adult Migrant English Program service provider in Australia that you have functional English.
  • Completed all years of primary education and at least three years of secondary education in an educational institution in or outside Australia and all instructions were in English.
  • Completed at least five years of secondary education in an institution in or outside Australia and all instructions were in English.
  • Successfully completed at least one year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study towards a degree, higher degree, diploma, or associate diploma in an institution in Australia and all instructions were in English.
  • Completed a degree, a higher degree, a diploma or a trade certificate that required at least two years of full-time study or training in an institution in or outside Australia and all instructions were in English.

How can I prove I have vocational English?

To prove that you have vocational English you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • You hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland and you are a citizen of that country.
  • You have achieved a score of at least 5 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four test components of an Occupational English Test (OET) that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved the following minimum test scores in each of the four test components: 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 36 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 154 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test that was undertaken on or after 1 January 2015 and prior to lodging the visa application.

How can I prove I have competent English?

To prove that you have competent English you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • You hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland and you are a citizen of that country.
  • You have achieved a score of at least 6 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four test components of an Occupational English Test (OET) that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved the following minimum test scores in each of the four test components: 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 50 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 169 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test that has been undertaken on or after 1 January 2015 and prior to lodging the visa application.

How can I prove I have proficient English?

To prove that you have proficient English you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • You have achieved a score of at least 7 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four test components of an Occupational English Test (OET) that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved the following minimum test scores in each of the four test components: 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 65 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 185 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test that has been undertaken on or after 1 January 2015 and prior to lodging the visa application.

How can I prove I have superior English?

To prove that you have superior English you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • You have achieved a score of at least 8 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a score of ‘A’ in each of the four test components of an Occupational English Test (OET) that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved the following minimum test scores in each of the four test components: 28 for listening, 29 for reading, 30 for writing and 26 for speaking, in a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 79 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application.
  • You have achieved a test score of at least 200 in each of the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test that has been undertaken on or after 1 January 2015 and prior to lodging the visa application.

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