The sponsored work visa — now called the Skills in Demand (SID), formerly the 482 — is the most common pathway for skilled professionals who want to work in Australia and eventually become permanent residents.
What is the Skills in Demand (SID) visa?
The SID visa replaced the 482 in December 2024. It is a temporary work visa that allows you to work for a specific employer in Australia for up to 4 years, with the possibility of transitioning to permanent residence.
The 3 streams of the SID visa
| Stream | Minimum salary | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist Skills | A$135,000+/year | Highly skilled professionals (doctors, senior engineers, executives) |
| Core Skills | A$73,150–135,000/year | Occupations on the CSOL — the majority of skilled professionals |
| Essential Skills | A$51,222+/year | Sectors with critical shortages (care, construction) — still being implemented |
Most common occupations under the SID visa
| Field | Example occupations |
|---|---|
| Information Technology | Software Engineer, Systems Analyst, ICT Business Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, Data Scientist |
| Engineering | Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Environmental Engineer |
| Health | Registered Nurse, Medical Practitioner, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Aged Care Worker |
| Construction and Projects | Project Manager, Construction Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Building Surveyor |
| Accounting and Finance | Accountant, Auditor, Financial Analyst, Tax Agent |
| Education | Secondary School Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Special Needs Teacher |
| Business and Management | HR Manager, Marketing Specialist, Management Consultant, Supply Chain Manager |
The full list of eligible occupations: CSOL — Core Skills Occupation List
How the process works
The company must be approved by the government as a "Standard Business Sponsor". Many companies already have this approval. Find vacancies on SEEK, LinkedIn and through specialist recruiters.
The Core Skills Occupation List sets out the eligible occupations for the Core Skills stream. Engineering, IT, health, finance and construction have many occupations on the list.
For many occupations, you need to demonstrate that your qualifications are equivalent to the Australian standard. Each field has an assessing body (ACS for IT, Engineers Australia for engineering, etc.).
With an approved employer and skills assessment, the visa application is lodged online through ImmiAccount.
Costs — who pays what?
Cost split: company vs. applicant
Understanding this split is essential before accepting a job offer.
| Cost | Approx. value | Who pays by law |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor fee (company) | A$420 | Employer — required by law. If the company asks you to pay this, it is illegal. |
| Skilling Australians Fund (SAF Levy) | A$1,200/year (company under A$10M turnover) or A$1,800/year (over A$10M) | Employer — required by law. Illegal to charge the employee. |
| Visa application fee — primary applicant | A$3,210 | You pay this. |
| Visa application fee — adult spouse/partner | A$3,210 per adult dependent | Each adult dependent pays the same fee. |
| Visa application fee — dependent child | A$805 per child under 18 | Reduced fee for minor dependants. |
| Skills Assessment | A$300–800+ | You pay — varies by assessing body. |
| Migration agent fees | A$3,000–11,000+ | Varies — depends on case complexity and the professional. |
About migration agent fees
The cost of a migration agent or immigration lawyer is not fixed by law — it can range from A$3,000 to A$11,000+ depending on case complexity, number of dependants and the professional. Many larger companies cover this cost in full.
Always clarify before accepting the offer: who pays the fees, what is the scope of the service (primary visa only? does it include dependants? does it include the future 186?) and what happens if the visa is refused.
The 4th stream — Labour Agreement
Beyond the 3 main streams, there is a lesser-known fourth pathway:
Labour Agreement stream
For workers nominated by employers who have a formal agreement negotiated with the Australian government. These agreements are made for sectors with specific needs that do not fit the standard streams — such as certain occupations in speciality cuisine restaurants, fishing, mining or other sectors with very particular shortages.
The key difference: a Labour Agreement can relax requirements such as minimum salary, English proficiency or experience for specific occupations.
Processing times — SID and 186
| Visa / Stream | Median time (50%) | Time for 90% | Current situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SID — Specialist Skills | ~7 business days | ~7–14 business days | High priority — fast processing |
| SID — Core Skills | ~21 business days | Variable | Depends on completeness of application |
| 186 — Health, education and regional | ~2–6 months | — | Priority — being processed faster |
| 186 — Sponsor with Accredited Status | ~2–4 months | — | Accelerated processing |
| 186 — All other applications | 12–18 months | 18+ months | High demand — significant backlog |
The real wait for the 186 visa — plan well ahead
In October 2025, the Department of Home Affairs was processing Subclass 186 applications lodged in March 2024 for most occupations — more than 18 months of waiting.
Throughout this entire period you remain on a Bridging Visa. Your life planning (property purchase, financing, international travel, licence renewal) needs to account for this reality. Talk to your migration agent about managing this period.
Bridging Visa during the 186 — you can apply for Medicare
This is important information that many people are unaware of: when you lodge the Subclass 186 application, you automatically receive a Bridging Visa A while awaiting the decision. Because you have an active permanent visa application and work rights, you become eligible to enrol in Medicare.
This means that during the 186 wait — which can last 12–18 months — you can already access the Australian public health system.
Action: as soon as you lodge the 186 and receive the Bridging Visa, visit Services Australia and apply for Medicare enrolment.
The pathway to PR: SID → 186
This is the most common route to permanent residence through sponsorship:
With your SID/482 visa active, build your track record with the company, improve your English and accumulate Australian work experience in your field.
The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) is a permanent visa. The employer must formally nominate you to the Department of Home Affairs.
After nomination, you lodge the 186 application. Depending on the occupation and state, it can take from 2 months to 18+ months. During this period you remain on a Bridging Visa with Medicare access.
Strategic tip when negotiating a sponsored job
Ask the employer directly: "Does the company intend to nominate me for the 186 after 2–3 years?" An evasive answer may indicate that the sponsorship is intended for temporary use of your labour, with no intention of pursuing PR. Choose employers with a proven track record of nominating employees for permanent residence.
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