TSS Visa Australia: Renamed to Skills in Demand (Subclass 482)

What Changed on 7 December 2024

On 7 December 2024 the Australian Government implemented the Skills in Demand (SID) reforms to the temporary skilled employer-sponsored program. The headline change was the rename — 'Temporary Skill Shortage' became 'Skills in Demand'. The subclass number is unchanged: it remains Subclass 482. The visa is still employer-sponsored, still requires Labour Market Testing in most cases, and still operates under the same broad framework. The substantive changes were the stream structure and the income thresholds. The old TSS had Short-Term, Medium-Term and Long-Term streams tied to occupation lists (STSOL and MLTSSL). The new SID has three streams that are defined primarily by salary rather than occupation list: Core Skills stream (most applicants), Specialist Skills stream (higher salary, higher-paid roles), and an Essential Skills stream that was still being developed at the time of writing. Income thresholds were indexed at the same time. The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026 (indexed annually). The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is AUD 146,576.

What Stayed the Same

Several things did not change with the SID rename. The subclass number is the same (482). Employer sponsorship is still required. Labour Market Testing is still required for most nominations. The Code of Conduct, professional indemnity requirements, and the role of MARA-registered migration agents in handling 482 applications all remain unchanged. Existing TSS visa holders who were on the visa before 7 December 2024 continue under their original visa with no required action. Pathways from 482 to permanent residence under the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) — including the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream after 3 years of continuous employment with the same sponsor — continue to operate. The general structure of the program is recognisably the same; the rebrand was substantive in its income-threshold and stream-structure changes, but the visa is still the employer-sponsored 2-to-4-year work visa it has always been.

Why the Rename Happened

The Skills in Demand rebrand was part of a broader reform of the temporary skilled migration system. The Australian Government's stated rationale was to better match the visa system to genuine skill shortages, reduce employer reliance on lower-paid temporary workers, and create clearer pathways from temporary to permanent residence for skilled employees. The income threshold structure (Core Skills, Specialist Skills, Essential Skills) was designed to reflect the labour-market reality that high-salaried specialist roles have different skill-shortage dynamics from mid-paid skilled roles, and that essential-service roles in care and infrastructure deserve their own consideration. The rename also closed off the older occupation-list-driven model that had become unwieldy and out of step with how labour shortages actually present in the Australian economy.

If You Were Researching TSS Visa Information Before December 2024

Older articles, agent websites, and online guides that refer to the 'TSS visa', 'Subclass 482 TSS', or specific TSS stream names (Short-Term, Medium-Term, Long-Term) were accurate before 7 December 2024 but are now out of date. If a website you are reading still uses these terms without acknowledging the rename, treat the income thresholds and stream-eligibility information as potentially outdated. Government documentation at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au has been updated to use 'Skills in Demand' and the new stream names. The current 482 visa guide on this site is the right place to start for an up-to-date overview.

What If My Migration Agent Still Says 'TSS'?

Some migration agents and employers still use 'TSS' in everyday speech even after the rename — partly habit, partly because many existing 482 sponsorship arrangements were originally set up under the TSS framework. This is not a problem if the agent is otherwise accurately advising you on the current Core Skills or Specialist Skills stream and the current income thresholds. It is a problem if the agent is still quoting old salary thresholds, old occupation-list eligibility rules, or old processing-time expectations. As a sanity check: any 482 fee agreement or letter you receive that quotes Australian salary thresholds below approximately AUD 76,000 as the minimum Core Skills threshold (current 2025-26 figure: AUD 79,423) is referring to outdated rules. The Department of Home Affairs is the authoritative source for current thresholds.

Is TSS still a thing?

The visa exists but under a different name. 'TSS' (Temporary Skill Shortage) was the name in use until 6 December 2024. From 7 December 2024 the program is called 'Skills in Demand' (SID). The subclass number is unchanged — it is still Subclass 482.

Do I need to do anything if I'm already on a TSS visa?

No. Existing TSS visa holders continue on their visa under the original conditions. No re-application or notification is required. Your visa remains valid until its original expiry date.

Are the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams a replacement for the Short-Term and Medium-Term streams?

They are a replacement but not a direct one-to-one mapping. The old streams were tied to occupation lists (STSOL for Short-Term, MLTSSL for Medium-Term and Long-Term). The new streams are defined primarily by salary thresholds. Some applicants who would have qualified under Short-Term may not qualify under Core Skills if their salary is below CSIT, and vice versa. The mapping is salary-driven, not occupation-driven.

Where can I read about the current rules?

The Department of Home Affairs publishes current Subclass 482 information at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. The 482 Visa Australia guide on this site (linked below) covers the same content in plain English. A registered migration agent who handles employer-sponsored cases can confirm whether your circumstances meet the current Core Skills or Specialist Skills stream requirements.