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PR Pathway

Australia Skills in Demand Visa

Verified global position with employer visa sponsorship, relocation support, and permanent residence pathways.

Role Overview & Work Details

Australia's main employer-sponsored temporary work visa — renamed "Skills in Demand" in 2024 — offering a fast route into the Australian workforce with a clear pathway to permanent residency after 2 years.

This opportunity is actively hiring international talent. Successful candidates receive a formal job offer letter along with full sponsorship documentation to apply for their work visa.

Three Streams:

Core Skills — for occupations in demand, requires 2 years of relevant work experience 🔹 Specialist Skills — for highly specialized, high-paying roles 🔹 Essential Skills — for specific essential occupations

Visa Fees (2026):

Core Skills: AUD 1,605 for the main applicant (some sources cite AUD 3,115–3,670 depending on stream and update — confirm current fee at time of application) 🔹 Specialist Skills: AUD 3,210 for the main applicant 🔹 Additional partner: same fee as main applicant's stream 🔹 Additional child: AUD 805 each 🔹 Some employers cover this fee as part of the job offer — worth negotiating

Eligibility Requirements:

A confirmed job offer from an approved Australian sponsoring employer 🔹 Occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list 🔹 Core Skills stream: minimum 2 years of relevant work experience (increased from 1 year in recent reforms) 🔹 English language requirement: IELTS 5.0 or equivalent (PTE/OET/Cambridge), minimum 5.0 in each band — exemptions for citizens of UK, USA, NZ, Canada, Ireland 🔹 Pass health checks (chest X-ray, GP examination) and character/police clearance checks 🔹 Minimum salary threshold: approximately AUD 73,150/year (lowest threshold across visa types)

Pathway to Permanent Residency:

After 2 years working for your sponsoring employer, they can nominate you for the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) — no new skills assessment required, and no new English test if your previous one is still valid 🔹 If you have 3+ years of post-qualification skilled work experience, you may apply directly for the 186 (Direct Entry stream) without the 2-year wait — a skills assessment is usually required in this case 🔹 Subclass 186 visa charge: approximately AUD 4,640 for the main applicant

Processing Times (2026):

482 Core Skills: approximately 2 months for 75% of cases 🔹 186 (after 2-year 482 pathway): approximately 5 months

Application Process:

Secure a job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor you Employer completes the sponsorship and nomination process (including genuine position testing, in effect since July 2025) Prepare your documents: work experience evidence, English test results, health/character checks Lodge your visa application once nominated Await processing and respond to any requests for additional information After 2 years with your sponsor (or with 3+ years of prior skilled experience), explore your Subclass 186 permanent residency pathway

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — this is an employer-sponsored visa, so you must have a confirmed job offer from an approved Australian sponsor before applying.
Approximately AUD 73,150/year — the lowest salary threshold among Australia's skilled visa categories.
The Core Skills stream now requires 2 years of relevant work experience (increased from 1 year in recent reforms).
Around 2 months for 75% of Core Skills applications in 2026, though this can vary based on your occupation and case complexity.

Job Summary

CountryAustralia
Visa StatusPR Pathway
Verification Employer Verified
Last UpdatedUpdated Aug 2026