How to Transition Your Skills In Demand Visa (subclass 482) to PR
Brief Introduction
The Skills in Demand Visa officially replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa on 7 December 2024. Similar to the TSS Visa, the Skills in Demand Visa also provides access to sponsor overseas skilled workers when a business can’t find a suitable local (citizen or PR) candidate. The Skills in Demand Visa is valid for 4 years and has a more straightforward PR pathway compared to the TSS Visa. And on this page, we will dive into how to transition from your Skills in Demand Visa to PR!
Important Information on Skills in Demand Visa Australia
The Skills in Demand Visa comes with three streams, which are:
- Specialist Skills stream: for candidates earning AUD 141,210 or more in any area covered by the ANZSCO except positions in major groups 3 (Technicians), 7 (Machinery Operators), and 8 (Labourers).
- Core Skills stream: for candidates earning more than AUD 76,515 in an occupation listed on the CSOL.
- Labour Agreement stream: has the same provisions as the TSS Visa, while the Essential Skills stream is being developed.
The Skills in Demand Visa brings several beneficial changes for you. These include a longer validity period of 4 years, a more straightforward pathway to PR, and a reduced work experience requirement. These enhancements make the Skills in Demand Visa a reassuring choice for your career in Australia.
- Validity period: the Skills in Demand Visa is valid for 4 years (previously, the TSS visa only provided around 2 or 4 years’ validity).
- Shorter work experience requirement: the Skills in Demand Visa only requires you to have one (1) year of relevant work experience.
- A more straightforward pathway to PR: transitioning from a Skills in Demand Visa to PR is smoother because the Skills in Demand Visa and 186 Visa share the same occupation list.
Skills in Demand Visa to PR Pathway Options
The Skills in Demand Visa provides a more straightforward pathway to PR in Australia through the 186 Visa. The Australian Government has updated the two streams under the 186 Visa:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream: one notable change is that applicants for the TRT stream are no longer required to have two years of employment with their sponsoring employer. Instead, employment under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Visa satisfies this requirement, facilitating a faster transition to permanent residence.
- Direct Entry (DE) stream: if your occupation is on the amended CSOL, the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 visa now provides a direct pathway to permanent residency. This list broadens the number of occupations that qualify for permanent residency, replacing the previous MLTSSL.
But, if you’d prefer other visa options, you can consider these:
- Skills in Demand Visa to Skilled Point-Test Visa (subclass 189 or 190 Visa).
- Skills in Demand Visa to Partner Visa (if you’re married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident).
Skills in Demand Visa to PR Application Process and Criteria
Similar to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa offers a pathway to permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). You are eligible for the PR pathway through the 186 Visa – TRT stream after working in Australia for at least two years in the three years preceding your application. The good news is that all sponsored work as a main TSS or SID visa holder is counted throughout this qualifying period, even if you worked for more than one employer.
The subclass 186 visa salary requirements are now aligned with the core skills income threshold for the SID visa, which will be updated annually. Furthermore, as employers of Subclass 186 visa holders are not required to sponsor family members, secondary applicants (family members) are no longer required to be listed in the nomination application.
Here are the steps in transitioning from Skills in Demand Visa to PR in Australia:
Step 1: Eligibility Check (Work Experience, Skills Assessment, etc.)
First, ensure that you have met all the requirements for the 186 Visa – Temporary Residence Transition stream. This step includes ensuring that you’ve met the work experience requirement, Skills Assessment, and English language requirement.
To meet the criteria for the 186 Visa – Temporary Residence Transition stream, ensure you:
- Have at least 2 years of work experience. The work must be conducted when you hold the 482 Visa (either named as Temporary Skills Shortage or Skills In Demand Visa). It should be full-time and can be any occupation for which you have been approved to work.
- Have the required licensing or registration, where applicable.
- Be nominated by an approved business sponsor.
- Be under 45 years old.
- Have at least a Competent English level.
- Meet all health and character requirements.
Step 2: Nomination for 186 Visa – TRT Stream
Next, your sponsoring employer must submit a nomination application through ImmiAccount. If you plan to add a family member, it may not be possible because the sponsoring employer does not currently have the authority to sponsor a family member. Consider bringing your family later, after you have been granted the 186 Visa.
Step 3: 186 Visa – TRT Stream Application
Once the nomination is approved, you can continue to the 186 Visa – Temporary Residence Transition stream application. The application must also be submitted online through ImmiAccount.
Ensure that you submit the most up-to-date information and documents to avoid delays or potential refusal.
Step 4: Result
As of July 2025, the processing time for the 186 Visa – Temporary Residence Transition stream is approximately 14 to 17 months. The processing time may vary, depending on the complexity of your documents and information.
The Department of Home Affairs will inform you of the result in writing through email. So, ensure to check your email regularly.
Frequently Asked Question
Indah Melindasari (MARN 0961 448), Managing Director of ONEderland Consulting and a registered migration agent, is here to answer your questions.
- Does a Skills in Demand Visa lead to PR?
- Yes, it does. The Skills in Demand Visa offers a PR pathway through the 186 Visa – TRT stream. This pathway still requires sponsorship from an eligible Australian business. If your sponsoring business can’t provide further sponsorship, it’s best to explore other pathways, such as through the Skilled Point Test Visa (subclass 189 or 190 Visa).
- Can I apply for PR without a Skills Assessment?
- It depends on what visa you apply for the PR pathway. If you apply for the PR pathway through a skilled visa, you must provide an updated Skills Assessment. However, if you apply for the PR pathway through a Partner Visa, you don’t need a Skills Assessment.
- When can I apply for PR on a 482 Visa?
- You can apply for PR in the second year of holding Skills in Demand since the 186 Visa – TRT stream requires you to have two years of work experience as the primary holder of the Skills in Demand Visa.
- How to apply for the Australia Skills in Demand Visa?
- Applying for the Skills in Demand Visa in Australia involves a series of steps, including verifying your eligibility, applying for an SBS (for the business), obtaining a nomination, and then submitting a visa application. All these steps are detailed here.
- What are the new rules for transitioning from a 482 Visa to permanent residency?
- The key change is the reduction in the required work experience with the sponsoring employer. Previously, you were required to have at least three years of work experience with the sponsoring employer; however, this requirement has now been reduced to two years of work experience. In addition, with the closure of STSOL, all main holders of the 482 Visa can now apply for PR through the 186 Visa.
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What’s Next?
If you’re a holder of a Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) and are seeking the best PR pathway, consider the 186 Visa – TRT stream. This PR pathway offers many benefits, including reduced required work experience.
We understand the importance of securing PR while holding a Skills in Demand Visa, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Our dedicated team will work closely with you to ensure every requirement is met, from preparing a tailored document checklist to assisting with the complex Labour Market Testing, nomination, and visa applications. As registered migration professionals regulated by MARA, we are committed to providing honest, accountable, and results-driven assistance. Contact us today to begin your journey towards nominating a skilled worker with confidence.
“Our journey toward permanent residency began back in 2019 when my employer sponsored me for a 482 visa. It was a challenging process, particularly with the delays caused by COVID-19, and it took almost a year for the visa to be granted. Throughout that time, Daiva and the Onederland team were consistently supportive and professional. Fast forward to last year, when I became eligible to apply for PR—Daiva and her team were incredibly proactive. They communicated regularly, clearly outlined the process, and ensured all required documents were submitted on time. We lodged the PR application in December 2024, and to our absolute delight, my permanent residency was granted in March 2025—just three months later! A very special thanks to Mba Indah, who went the extra mile trying to add our children under the 482 visa while they were offshore during the COVID period. It was not an easy task, but thanks to her efforts and persistence, our children are now permanent residents too. We will always be grateful for that. Thank you so much to Daiva, Mba Indah and the team, who have always been approachable, responsive, and supportive throughout the entire journey. Your advice was clear, practical, honest, and always aligned with the regulations. Your patience and dedication gave us peace of mind during what could have been a very stressful time. We are truly thankful to have had such an experienced and caring team by our side from day one.”
Noor
482 Visa to PR
Indah Melindasari, B.Com
Lead Migration Agent – MARN 0961 448
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