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Skill in demand (SID) Visa for Australia

Australia’s new Skills in Demand (SID) visa, introduced on December 7, 2024, replaces the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa. It aims to address critical labor shortages by offering three distinct pathways: the Specialist Skills Pathway for high-earning professionals, the Core Skills Pathway for a broad range of skilled occupations, and the Labor Agreement Stream for roles not covered under standard categories. The SID visa provides a clear route to permanent residency, with streamlined processing and updated income thresholds, making it an attractive option for skilled workers looking to contribute to Australia’s economy. Let’s understand bit more about these pathways.

Key Changes & PR Pathways are as under:

Specialist Skills Pathway

This pathway targets highly skilled roles with a minimum income threshold of AUD $135,000 per annum. It excludes general labor positions, machinery operators, drivers, and trades:

Core Skills Pathway

This pathway caters to a broad range of skilled occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), with a salary threshold of AUD $73,150:

Labor Agreement Stream

Renamed as the Skills in Demand Labor Agreement stream, this pathway allows businesses to negotiate tailored agreements with the government for roles not covered under standard categories:

Let’s explore all three pathways one by one for more understanding.

The Specialist Skills Pathway is designed to attract highly skilled professionals who can significantly contribute to Australia’s economy. Here are the key details:

1. Targeted High-Earners

This pathway is tailored for individuals earning above a certain income threshold, currently set at AUD $135,000 per annum. This threshold will increase to AUD $141,210 from July 1, 2025. The aim is to attract top talent with specialized skills and qualifications that are in high demand across various industries

2. Eligible Occupations

The pathway targets roles that require advanced qualifications, skills, and substantial work experience. It excludes general labor positions, machinery operators, drivers, and trades. Examples of eligible occupations include Engineering Managers, Cyber Specialists, and Software Engineers.

3. Priority Processing

Recognizing the importance of skilled workers, the Australian government aims to expedite the visa application process for those eligible under this pathway. The government commits to a service standard of 7 days median visa processing time.

4. Pathway to Permanent Residency

One of the most attractive features of this pathway is the clear route it offers to permanent residency. Successful visa holders can apply for permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) after completing three years of continuous employment with the sponsoring employer.

5. Economic Benefits

Highly skilled migrants bring significant economic benefits, including productivity-enhancing knowledge and ideas, job creation for locals, and substantial fiscal returns through taxation.

This pathway is part of Australia’s broader strategy to address critical skill shortages and drive innovation by attracting top-tier professionals from around the world.

The Core Skills Pathway is designed to cater to a wide range of skilled occupations that are crucial for Australia’s economy. Here are the key details:

1. Income Threshold

Applicants must earn above the minimum income threshold, which is currently set at AUD $73,150 per annum. This ensures that the pathway targets skilled roles with competitive salaries.

2. Eligible Occupations

The pathway includes occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). This list is regularly updated to reflect the evolving needs of the Australian labor market. It covers various skilled roles across different industries, including healthcare, engineering, information technology, education, and more.

3. Pathway to Permanent Residency

Similar to the Specialist Skills Pathway, the Core Skills Pathway offers a clear route to permanent residency. Successful visa holders can apply for permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) after completing three years of continuous employment with the sponsoring employer.

4. Flexibility

The pathway is designed to be flexible, allowing skilled workers from diverse backgrounds to apply. This helps address skill shortages in multiple sectors and supports Australia’s economic growth.

5. Application Process

Applicants need to have a job offer from an Australian employer who is willing to sponsor them. The employer must demonstrate that they cannot find a suitable candidate within Australia and that the position is essential for their business.

The Core Skills Pathway aims to attract skilled professionals who can fill important roles and contribute to the development of Australia’s economy.

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) includes a wide range of occupations across various industries.
Here are some examples:
Management and Administration

  1. Chief Executive or Managing Director

  2. Corporate General Manager

  3. Sales and Marketing Manager

  4. Finance Manager

  5. Human Resource Manager

  6. Policy and Planning Manager

Agriculture and Farming

  1. Aquaculture Farmer

  2. Apiarist

  3. Dairy Cattle Farmer

  4. Goat Farmer

  5. Pig Farmer

  6. Poultry Farmer

Engineering and Construction

  1. Engineering Manager

  2. Construction Project Manager

  3. Project Builder

  4. Production Manager (Forestry)

  5. Production Manager (Manufacturing)

Healthcare and Education

  1. Medical Administrator

  2. Nursing Clinical Director

  3. Primary Health Organization Manager

  4. School Principal

  5. Faculty Head

  6. Education Managers (not elsewhere classified)

Arts and Media

  1. Music Director

  2. Artistic Director

  3. Program Director (Television or Radio)

  4. Stage Manager

  5. Technical Director

  6. Video Producer

Information Technology

  1. Chief Information Officer

  2. ICT Project Manager

  3. ICT Managers (not elsewhere classified)

Journalism and Writing

  1. Print Journalist

  2. Radio Journalist

  3. Technical Writer

  4. Television Journalist

  5. Journalists and Other Writers

Finance and Accounting

  1. Accountant (General)

  2. Management Accountant

  3. Taxation Accountant

  4. Company Secretary

  5. External Auditor

  6. Internal Auditor

Human Resources and Recruitment

  1. Human Resource Adviser

  2. Recruitment Consultant

  3. Workplace Relations Adviser

This list is not exhaustive, and there are many more occupations included in the CSOL. You can find the full list here:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Documents/core-sol.pdf

Based on the latest information, here are some of the high-demand occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL):

Healthcare

  1. Registered Nurses

  2. Medical Practitioners

  3. Allied Health Professionals

Information Technology

  1. Software Engineers

  2. Cybersecurity Specialists

  3. Data Scientists

Engineering

  1. Civil Engineers

  2. Mechanical Engineers

  3. Electrical Engineers

Education

  1. Secondary School Teachers

  2. Early Childhood Educators

Construction

  1. Construction Project Managers

  2. Quantity Surveyors

  3. Building Inspectors

Finance and Accounting

  1. Accountants

  2. Auditors

  3. Financial Analysts

These occupations are in high demand due to skill shortages in these areas and the critical role they play in supporting Australia’s economic growth and development.

The Labor Agreement Stream under the Skills in Demand (SID) visa is designed for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labor Agreement with the Australian government.

Here are the key details:

1. Employer-Sponsored

This stream allows Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers for occupations that are not covered under the standard visa categories. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian government and employers to address specific skill shortages.

2. Eligibility

To be eligible for this stream, you must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labor Agreement. You must have at least 12 months of relevant full-time work experience within the last five years. Part-time or casual work must be equivalent to at least 12 months of full-time work. Additionally, you may need to have a relevant skills assessment for your occupation.

3. Visa Duration

The visa allows you to live and work in Australia temporarily for up to four years, depending on the terms of the Labor Agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay for up to five years.

4. Pathway to Permanent Residency

This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) after completing the required period of continuous employment with the sponsoring employer.

5. English Language Proficiency

You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency unless you are exempt from this requirement.

6. Conditions

With this visa, you can work only for your sponsor, study (without government assistance), and travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

The Labor Agreement Stream is a flexible option for employers to address specific skill shortages and for skilled workers to gain valuable work experience in Australia Labor agreement stream. For more information check department of home affairs website:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482/labour-agreement-stream

Note: Visa2land Pty Ltd is a registered and approved consultancy from department of home affairs (OMARA) Australia. This article is for information purpose only and if you need specific immigration related advice than drop us an email at; info@visa2land.com or get in-touch via our webpage www.visa2land.com