Australia · Work
Australia Skills in Demand · Core
Income needed: AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) - Core Skills stream
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skills in Demand · Core is a work route for Australia. Applicants need income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k. You can stay 4 yrs, renewable. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k
- Government fees
- AUD 4,015 ≈ $2,790 · AUD 3,290 ≈ $2,290
- First stay
- 4 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; income to show AUD 79k+/yr ≈ $55k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesAUD 4,015 ≈ $2,790 · AUD 3,290 ≈ $2,290
- AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790)Base application charge, main applicant and each dependant aged 18+; AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) per dependant under 18.
- AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290)Lower base charge for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders (primary applicant passport).
Shown, not spentAUD 79k+/yr ≈ $55k
- AUD 79,423 a year (≈ $55,300)Core Skills Income Threshold: minimum nominated annual earnings (excluding non-monetary benefits) for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, in addition to the occupation Annual Market Salary Rate. Indexed each 1 July.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
Holders can move to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream if, in the 3 years before applying, they held a 482 or 457 visa for at least 2 years and worked full time for an approved sponsor in that occupation for at least 2 years.
CitizenshipAfter 4 years of residence
Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years lawfully in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' total absence in the 4 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted, as long as you are not in immigration clearance.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Australia
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The employer is an approved work sponsor and nominates the worker for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List.
- The applicant has at least 12 months full-time-equivalent work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field within the 5 years before applying.
What you must show4
- Salary is no less than the Annual Market Salary Rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 (≈ $55,300) a year.
- The Core Skills Income Threshold applies to nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, excludes non-monetary benefits and is indexed each 1 July.
- The base application charge is AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) for the main applicant and each dependant aged 18+; AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) per dependant under 18.
- The base charge is AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290) for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders (primary applicant passport).
Documents3
- A skills assessment is required where required for the occupation.
- English language test requirements apply unless exempt.
- Adequate health insurance covers the stay.
After you arrive2
- The worker works only for the sponsor or an associated entity unless exempt.
- Employment starts within 90 days of arrival or visa grant.
When you become tax resident
How Australia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 4 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Residence is determined by the resides, domicile, 183-day and Commonwealth superannuation tests.
- Foreign-source income
Temporary residents
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
- Special regime
Temporary resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for Australia Tax records checked
Full official text
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least AUD 79,423 a year (≈ $55,300) · Core Skills Income Threshold: minimum nominated annual earnings (excluding non-monetary benefits) for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, in addition to the occupation Annual Market Salary Rate. Indexed each 1 July. 2 3
- A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) · Base application charge, main applicant and each dependant aged 18+; AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) per dependant under 18. 1 3
- A fee of AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290) · Lower base charge for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders (primary applicant passport). 3
Requirements
- The employer is an approved work sponsor and nominates the worker for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List. 1 4
- The applicant has at least 12 months full-time-equivalent work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field within the 5 years before applying. 4
- Salary is no less than the Annual Market Salary Rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 (≈ $55,300) a year. 2 3
- The Core Skills Income Threshold applies to nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, excludes non-monetary benefits and is indexed each 1 July. 2 3
- The base application charge is AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) for the main applicant and each dependant aged 18+; AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) per dependant under 18. 1 3
- The base charge is AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290) for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders (primary applicant passport). 3
- A skills assessment is required where required for the occupation. 1 4
- English language test requirements apply unless exempt. 1 4
- Adequate health insurance covers the stay. 1 4
- The worker works only for the sponsor or an associated entity unless exempt. 1
- Employment starts within 90 days of arrival or visa grant. 1
Stay
- Stay equals the period the employer nominates, up to 4 years (up to 5 years for Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders). Multiple entries allowed.
- First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
- Visa period up to 48 months: Up to 60 months for Hong Kong passport and BN(O) holders; actual period follows the approved nomination.
Nationality
No nationality restriction; Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
Work
Work for the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation; study allowed without government assistance.
Family
Partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants and are granted for the main applicant period.
Official sources
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds from 1 July 2026 · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Skills in Demand · Core and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand · Core | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Employer Nomination 186 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | – | – |
| Employer Regional 494 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 5 yr | Limited |
| Skills in Demand · Labour deal | – | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Skills in Demand · Specialist | Needs income of AUD 147k+ a year ≈ $102k | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Skills in Demand · Core?
Income of at least AUD 79,423 a year (≈ $55,300). Core Skills Income Threshold: minimum nominated annual earnings (excluding non-monetary benefits) for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, in addition to the occupation Annual Market Salary Rate. A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790). Base application charge, main applicant and each dependant aged 18+; AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) per dependant under 18. A fee of AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290). Lower base charge for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders (primary applicant passport).
How long can I stay on the Skills in Demand · Core?
Stay equals the period the employer nominates, up to 4 years (up to 5 years for Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders).
Can I work on the Skills in Demand · Core?
Yes. Work for the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation; study allowed without government assistance.
Can I bring my family on the Skills in Demand · Core?
Partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants and are granted for the main applicant period.
Does the Skills in Demand · Core lead to permanent residence in Australia?
Time on the Skills in Demand · Core counts toward permanent residence in Australia, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. Time on the Skills in Demand · Core counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 4 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Skills in Demand · Core holders in Australia?
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income: Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income (exempt)
- Who: Hold a temporary visa
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income (exempt); Australian-source income and capital gains on taxable Australian property remain taxable.
Who it applies to
- Hold a temporary visa.
- Neither the individual nor their spouse (if any) is an Australian resident under the Social Security Act 1991 (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category visa holder).
Exclusions
- Income from employment or services performed overseas while a temporary resident can still be taxed in Australia, depending on facts and any tax treaty.
- Not available to someone who has at any time after 6 April 2006 been an Australian resident without a temporary visa and with an Australian-resident spouse.
Tax residence
A temporary resident can be an Australian resident or a foreign resident for tax purposes; the four statutory residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, Commonwealth superannuation) decide residence separately.
Visas
Requires a temporary visa; no particular subclass carries the exemption itself.
Other taxes
Foreign tax paid on income declared may qualify for a foreign-source income tax offset; foreign-source income and deductions are converted to AUD.
Checked against official sources on Change log
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds from 1 July 2026 · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.