The stream is the first box on the nomination form, and it is the one we see chosen fastest. Employers pick Specialist Skills because it is prioritised, or Core Skills because it is familiar. The choice decides which occupation gate applies, which salary floor applies and what the employment contract must say. Getting it wrong costs the nomination charge, the levy and the time the worker does not have.
This note compares the three streams of the Skills in Demand visa from the employer's side of the table. It ends with the government charges for a single sponsored hire.
In short: The subclass 482 visa has three streams. Core Skills needs a listed occupation and at least $79,423. Specialist Skills needs at least $146,576 with no occupation list, and the Labour Agreement stream follows the terms of a signed agreement.
The streams side by side
| Question | Core Skills | Specialist Skills | Labour Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation gate | On the Core Skills Occupation List of 456 occupations | No list, but trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers excluded | Set by the agreement |
| Salary floor | $79,423 or the market rate, whichever is higher | $146,576 in assured earnings | Set by the agreement, sometimes with concessions |
| Labour market testing | Applies | Applies | As the agreement requires |
| Processing | Standard | Prioritised | Varies |
| Path to permanent residence | Subclass 186 after two years | Subclass 186 after two years | As the agreement provides |
Every stream now leads to permanent residence. That was not true before December 2024, and it changes how we advise on the contract term and the restraint period.
Which stream fits the role?
Which statement is true of the position?
What each stream asks of the contract
Our commercial practice drafts a sponsored contract differently depending on the stream. The differences are small on the page and large at the nomination.
In Core Skills, the salary clause must state one assured annual figure at or above $79,423 and the market rate. The duties schedule must sit inside the nominated ANZSCO code, because a drift in duties is a sponsorship breach. Our CSOL check note explains how we map the schedule.
In Specialist Skills, the whole floor of $146,576 must be assured. A package that reaches the figure through a target bonus or uncapped commission does not qualify. We restructure those packages so the base and any fixed allowances clear the line on their own.
Under a labour agreement, the contract cannot undercut the agreement. Where the agreement concedes salary or English, the contract records the conceded terms exactly. Our guide to labour agreements when the standard rules fail explains how those concessions are negotiated.
The employer's government charges
Set the number of nominations and the years of each nomination to estimate the charges for your business. The levy is paid in full at lodgement. Use the line that matches your annual turnover.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
The worker's visa application charge is $4,015 for the main applicant, with $4,015 for each adult dependant and $1,005 for each child. None of the employer's charges can be recovered from the worker, and the Department treats cost recovery as a serious breach.
The rules that changed under the visa
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024, and the figures moved again on 1 July 2026. Four changes matter most to employers. The work experience requirement is one year, not two. Every stream leads to the subclass 186 visa after two years of sponsored work. Time with any approved sponsor counts toward those two years. A worker whose employment ends has up to 180 days to find a new sponsor, capped at 365 days across the visa.
What a change of employer means for the two-year clock
Under the old rules a worker who changed sponsors started again. Now the time with each approved sponsor adds up. For the losing employer, that removes the leverage a long restraint once carried. For the gaining employer, it means the worker may reach the 186 stage sooner than the new contract term suggests. Our two-year plan for the 482 to 186 transition shows how we sequence it.
Where the streams meet the business plan
A single sponsor can use different streams for different workers, and often should. A senior engineer on Specialist Skills and a chef on Core Skills sit comfortably under one approval. What they share is the sponsor's obligations, which do not vary by stream. If you are planning a first sponsored hire, or several, the migration practice can map the streams against the roles before any advertising starts.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Specialist Skills stream skip labour market testing?
No. Testing applies to both standard streams. The higher salary brings priority processing, not fewer steps.
Can one sponsor use different streams for different workers?
Yes. The stream is chosen at each nomination, not at sponsorship approval. A business can hold Core Skills and Specialist Skills nominations at the same time under one approval.
Can a business with a labour agreement still use the Core Skills stream?
Usually yes, for occupations the standard rules already cover. The agreement is used where the standard streams do not reach, such as an unlisted occupation or a conceded salary.
Does the stream carry into the 186 nomination?
The 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream relies on the position already approved in the 482 nomination. The Core Skills threshold of $79,423 applies at that stage in every case, so a Specialist Skills salary clears it comfortably.
Can a highly paid tradesperson use Specialist Skills?
No. Trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are excluded by ANZSCO major group regardless of salary. A well paid tradesperson uses Core Skills where the occupation is listed.
General information as at 2 September 2026. Not legal advice. Thresholds and charges change each July, and eligibility turns on the facts of each case, so obtain advice before acting.