Skills in Demand (482) in 2026: the three streams and what each requires
How the Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa differ in 2026, and what each requires.
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) has three streams — the Specialist Skills stream, the Core Skills stream and the Labour Agreement stream — and the stream you come under shapes the criteria you must meet for skills, work experience and English. According to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Schedule 2, Part 482), the Migration Act 1958 (section 140GB) and the Department of Home Affairs' Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) page, together with the Department's PAM3 guidance, the visa was renamed from the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024, and the three streams were introduced as part of that change. This article is general information, not personalised advice for any individual case.
What are the three streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa?
The three streams are:
- the Specialist Skills stream;
- the Core Skills stream;
- the Labour Agreement stream.
Each stream sits under the same subclass 482 visa, so the core structure is shared: you must be nominated by an approved work sponsor for a genuine position, and the nomination must be approved under section 140GB of the Migration Act 1958 and must not have ceased under regulation 2.75 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (clause 482.212(1)). The streams differ in the occupation and salary settings that apply to your nomination, and in the English language threshold that the Minister specifies for that stream. The Department publishes the current occupation settings and salary thresholds for each stream; check the official page for the up-to-date figures.
How do the skills, experience and English criteria differ by stream?
| Stream | Skills, qualifications and experience | English language |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist Skills | Must have the skills, qualifications and employment background for the occupation, including at least 12 months full-time (or equivalent) experience in the nominated occupation or a related field in the last 5 years (clause 482.221) | Must meet the English test requirements specified by the Minister (clause 482.222); the required level is stream-specific |
| Core Skills | Same structure: skills, qualifications and at least 12 months full-time or equivalent experience in the occupation or related field (clause 482.231) | Minister-specified English requirements (clause 482.232) |
| Labour Agreement | Same structure: skills, qualifications and at least 12 months full-time or equivalent experience (clause 482.242) | Minister-specified English requirements (clause 482.243) |
The table shows that the criteria are set in separate clauses for each stream, but the minimum work experience rule recorded in the guidance is the same 12 months full-time, or the equivalent in part-time or casual work, in the 5 years before application. What differs is the English threshold and the occupation and salary settings that decide which stream your nomination falls under.
What work experience counts toward the 12-month requirement?
At least 12 months of full-time work, or the equivalent in part-time or casual work, completed in the 5 years before you apply. The work must be in your nominated occupation or a related field, and voluntary or unpaid work does not count. For a related field, the tasks must be the same as, or highly relevant to, the nominated occupation and at a comparable skill level — kitchenhand duties, for example, cannot be used to meet the experience requirement for a chef occupation.
In some cases study-related experience can count. Master's or doctoral research experience may count for medical or research occupations, placements in CRICOS-registered courses may count, and performance experience during study may be considered for performing arts occupations. Sports occupations need at least 3 years of elite professional experience, income as the main livelihood, and a statement from the national sporting body.
When is a formal skills assessment required?
All streams require you to have the skills and qualifications needed for the nominated occupation, but a formal skills assessment is not mandatory at the point of application in every case. The PAM3 guidance says a delegate may ask for a skills assessment only where it is absolutely necessary, and you must be given a reasonable time to provide one if asked.
The delegate refers to ANZSCO, including the indicative skill level rather than a general skill level. You do not need to have performed every task in the occupation — only the core tasks. High specialisation, where you perform only a narrow range of tasks, can be acceptable because the visa program is designed to address skill shortages.
What English language rules apply, and when is an exemption available?
You must meet the English test requirements that the Minister specifies in a legislative instrument, and you may be required to prove your English in the specified way (clauses 482.222, 482.232 and 482.243). The required level is not the same for every stream. You are exempt if you hold a passport from a specified country, or if you have completed 5 years of full-time study taught in English, among other cases set out in the guidance. The specific test and score for your stream are not set out in the regulations or PAM3 guidance; check the Department of Home Affairs' official Skills in Demand visa page for the current requirement.
What must be true of the nomination, the employer and your intentions?
Your application must be linked to a nomination approved under section 140GB of the Migration Act 1958. The nominator must have been an approved work sponsor when the nomination was approved, and the nomination must not have ceased under regulation 2.75 (clause 482.212(1)). You must genuinely intend to perform the nominated occupation and the position associated with it must be genuine (clause 482.212(2)).
You must not have engaged in conduct that breaches sections 245AR(1), 245AS(1), 245AT(1) or 245AU(1) of the Migration Act in the past 3 years, unless the Minister reasonably disregards it (clause 482.213). You must have adequate health insurance arrangements (clause 482.214), meet public interest criteria including health criterion 4005 and the character criteria listed in clause 482.217, and satisfy special return criteria 5001, 5002 and 5010 (clause 482.218).
What are the main reasons a Skills in Demand application is refused?
The refusal grounds recorded in the guidance and regulations include:
- the nomination was not approved, or had ceased under regulation 2.75;
- the applicant did not show the required skills, qualifications or at least 12 months of relevant full-time experience;
- the work experience was less than 1 year full-time, or was in an unrelated field;
- the English requirement was not met;
- genuine intention to perform the occupation was not established, or the position was not genuine;
- health or character requirements were not met;
- adverse information about the sponsor could not be reasonably disregarded;
- health insurance arrangements were inadequate;
- the application was invalid under Schedule 1, for example on form, fee, location or visa status requirements;
- migration history issues, such as an exclusion period or failure to meet the special return criteria.
What can you do if the application is refused?
If your application is refused, you can apply for merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The guidance records a 21-day deadline if you are in Australia and a 28-day deadline if you are outside Australia, measured from when you receive the refusal notification. Before refusing, the delegate must generally invite you to comment on adverse information under section 56 of the Migration Act and give you a reasonable time to respond.
If merits review is unsuccessful, you may seek judicial review in the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit Court. Judicial review is limited to legal error or procedural unfairness and does not re-hear the facts of the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa?
They are the Specialist Skills stream, the Core Skills stream and the Labour Agreement stream. The visa was renamed from the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa to Skills in Demand on 7 December 2024, and the three streams were introduced with that change. Each stream has its own clause for skills and experience and its own clause for English.
Do all three streams require at least 12 months of work experience?
Yes. Each stream requires at least 12 months of full-time work, or the equivalent in part-time or casual work, in the 5 years before you apply. The work must be in your nominated occupation or a related field, and voluntary or unpaid work does not count toward the total.
How do the English requirements differ between the streams?
The English requirement is set by the Minister in a legislative instrument and is specified separately for each stream in clauses 482.222, 482.232 and 482.243. The required level is not the same for every stream, so you should check the current score for your stream on the Department's official page. Exemptions apply if you hold a passport from a specified country or completed 5 years of full-time English-taught study.
What makes a nomination invalid for a subclass 482 application?
The nomination must have been approved under section 140GB of the Migration Act 1958, the nominator must have been an approved work sponsor at the time of approval, and the nomination must not have ceased under regulation 2.75. If the nomination has ceased, the visa application cannot succeed because clause 482.212(1) is not met.
Can study or research count as work experience for the 482 visa?
For some occupations, yes. Master's or doctoral experience may count for medical or research occupations, placements in CRICOS-registered courses may count, and performance experience during study may be considered for performing arts. Sports occupations require at least 3 years of elite professional experience, income as the main livelihood, and a statement from the national sporting body.
What should I do if my Skills in Demand application is refused?
You can apply for merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal within 21 days if you are in Australia, or 28 days if you are outside Australia, from receiving the refusal. A delegate must usually invite you to comment on adverse information before refusing. Judicial review in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court is limited to legal error or procedural unfairness.