A revised skilled occupation list and a new Skills in Demand (SID) visa has been incorporated in changes to Australia’s skilled visa program from 7th December 2024.
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The CSOL replaces existing multiple skilled occupation lists previously used for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS visa). The CSOL has more than 450 occupations. On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- 🌐The new CSOL fulfils the Government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program. The CSOL is a single consolidated list, informed by labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) that provides access to temporary skilled migration for 456 occupations.
- 🌐The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa from 7 December 2024. The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
The list is based on labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia. It will only apply to the SID Core Skills stream and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa (Direct Entry stream).
Skills in Demand (SID) visa
The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The SID allows most visa holders to stay in Australia for up to 4 years. It offers a streamlined process for both migrants and employers needing more skilled workers to grow their businesses.
SID visa holders have a clear pathway to permanent residence. This will give certainty to both migrants and employers.
The SID visa has 3 streams:
- 🌐 Core Skills stream to meet targeted workforce needs. Most SID visa holders will use this stream.
- 🌐 Specialist Skills stream. This stream will help drive innovation and job creation.
- 🌐 Labour Agreement stream. This stream will be replaced by an Essential Skills stream (under development).
With a SID visa, you:
- 🌐 have a pathway to permanent residence. Any work with an approved employer counts towards permanent residence.
- 🌐 benefit from a work experience requirement that is one year less than the TSS. SID applicants must have one year of work experience in their nominated occupation or related field.
- 🌐 have the same English language requirement as the TSS medium-term stream.
SID visa Specialist Skills stream
This stream recognises that highly skilled migrants lift national productivity. It is for applicants who meet general eligibility requirements and are:
- 🌐 in any occupation on the ANZSCO 2022 except ANZSCO Major Group levels 3, 7 and 8:
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- ☑ trades workers
- ☑ machinery operators
- ☑drivers and labourers
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- 🌐 earning at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD135,000 and no less than Australian workers in the same occupation.
SID visa Core Skills stream
This stream is for applicants who meet general eligibility requirements and:
- 🌐 have an occupation on the CSOL that has been identified as being in shortage. This also applies where we have committed to giving access to our labour market through international trade agreements
- 🌐 will be paid a salary at or above the new Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD73,150.
Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au