Migration Updates – December 2024

Key Legislative Changes and Clarifications

From Saturday 7th December, the Department of Home Affairs has announced a large number of significant updates to business sponsorship visas, addressing modifications to visa arrangements, migration legislation and occupation caveats. These updates emphasise Australia’s evolving immigration priorities, balancing international obligations with domestic labour market needs.

Legislative Updates

Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482) Changes

The old 482 visa has been renamed and broken into three distinct streams (with the third stream still under development):

  1. Specialist Skills Stream
    • This is open to applicants in ANZSCO occupations, earning $135000 or above, per annum.
    • It excludes occupations in ANZSCO Major Groups 3, 7, and 8 which accounts for trades, machinery operators/drivers, andlabourers).
    • Intended for highly skilled migrants to provide substantial economic benefits.
    • To receive through expedited processing.
  2. Core Skills Stream
    • Matches the current Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) of $73 150.
    • Must have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) to qualify for this stream of the SID visa.
    • Some occupation changes as notified in our last newsletter
    • Subclass 482 visa holders now have the opportunity to transition to permanent residence with two years’ work experience frommore than one sponsor.
  3. Essential Skills Stream
    • Still in development.

Key Amendments:

  • Reduced Work Experience Requirement: For 482 applicants, the minimum work experience requirement is reduced to one year of full-time work experience within the past five years, compared to the TSS visa’s two-year requirement. The work experience must be accumulated before the time of application.
  • Indexed Income Thresholds: On July 1st of every year, the Specialist and Core Skills income thresholds will be increased by indexation.
  • Visa Application Charges (VAC):
    • Base charge: $3115 for all adult applicants
    • Additional charge for applicants under 18 years of age: $780.

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (ENS) (Subclass 186) (Temporary Residence Transition Stream) Amendments

These amendments ensure SID visa holders have a distinct pathway to permanent residency (PR) under the ENS:

  • Streamlined Work Experience: All full-time sponsored employment in Australia counts for ENS work experience requirements. Formerly, only employment with the same sponsor was counted.
  • Occupation Consistency Requirement: Applicants must nominatethe same 6-digit ANZSCO occupation code as their most recent visa (Subclass 457, 482, or SID). This accommodates the ANZSCO updates and maintains consistency.
  • Salary Alignment: TSMIT references have been changed to the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), aligning ENS salary requirements to SID thresholds.
  • Removal of Family Unit Restrictions: There is no longer the requirement for family members to be included in nomination applications.

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (ENS) (Subclass 186) (Direct Entry stream) Amendments

The expanded number of occupations on the CSOL (see details below) open the 186 Direct Entry stream to a larger number of occupations than available before 7th December 2024. For example, Marketing Specialist 225113 is, subject to caveats, now an eligible occupation for the 186 Direct Entry stream.

Sponsorship Obligations

  • Obligations align with SID visa changes as employers are not liable for the primary applicant once they cease employment.
  • The provisions implemented on July 1st of 2024, allows visa holdersup to 180 days at a time and up to 365 days in total during the 482/SID visa’s validity to obtain new employment, apply for a different visa, or leave Australia.

Commencement and Transitional Arrangements

  • These amendments took effect on 7th December 2024.
  • Nominations and visa applications lodged before this date will adhereto previous TSS regulations. Employers can “link” previous TSS nominations to SID applications within the 12-month validity period.

English Language Requirements for SID Visa

The Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024:

  • There are English test requirements for Specialist and Core Skills streams.
  • Upholds the TSS Medium-term stream visa standards: For example, IELTS overall score of 5.0, with a minimum of 5.0 in all components.
  • Applicable to visa applications lodged on or after 7th December 2024.
  • Transitional arrangements retain previous requirements for applications lodged before 7th December 2024.

Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for SID Visa

The Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 introduces the CSOL, streamlining occupation lists:

  • 456 Occupations: Decreased by 125 from TSS lists but increased by 189 for direct PR pathways (e.g. for the 186 Direct Entry Stream).
  • Updated Caveats: Lowered from 26 to 16, indicating increased income thresholds and simplified regional restrictions.

Clarification on Caveat 14 for CSOL

There has been some concern that applicants for the occupation Chef will be restricted to those who benefit from International Trade Obligations (ITO) under new Caveat 14, The Department has advised that this Caveat will not be applied until the provision has been clarified and possibly amended. No time frame has been given for this clarification and amendment.


If PLAYFAIR can assist you with your global mobility and immigration needs,please reach out to us now via email at info@playfair.com.au or call ouroffice on (02) 9233 8899.


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