Subclass 482 · Specialist Skills
482 Specialist Skills stream
The high-income, no-occupation-list 482 pathway — income-based eligibility, priority processing, and the same 186 PR route at the end.
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - SSIT (to 30 Jun 2026)
- $141,210
- SSIT (from 1 Jul 2026)
- $146,717
- Occupation list
- None
- Excluded
- ANZSCO groups 3, 7, 8
- PR via 186 TRT
- After 2 years
The Specialist Skills stream is one of the three streams of the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. It is built for senior, technical and high-value roles, and its defining feature is that it is income-based, not list-based — there is no occupation list to satisfy. If the salary clears the threshold and the occupation is eligible, the role can be nominated even if it is not on the Core Skills Occupation List.
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)
The salary floor for this stream is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD $141,210 for applications lodged to 30 June 2026, rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026 (it indexes every 1 July). The nominated salary must meet both the SSIT and the annual market salary rate for the role. Because the threshold is high, the Department treats these as genuinely specialised positions and processes them as a priority.
Who qualifies — and who is excluded
- Eligible: most professional, managerial and technical occupations paid at or above the SSIT — for example senior engineers, IT and data specialists, finance and executive roles, medical and scientific specialists.
- Excluded regardless of salary: trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers (ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8). These are sponsored under the Core Skills stream (if listed on the CSOL) or under a labour agreement.
Specialist Skills vs Core Skills — which applies?
| Specialist Skills | Core Skills | |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation list | None | Must be on the CSOL |
| Salary floor (to 30 Jun 2026) | $141,210 | $76,515 |
| Excluded occupations | ANZSCO 3, 7, 8 | Off-list roles |
| Processing | Priority | Standard |
| PR via 186 TRT | Yes | Yes |
For registered migration agents: stream determination under regulation 2.73(6) — and the salary and LMT evidence that follows from it — is taught in WIDEN's three-module OMARA-approved 482 CPD series.
The rest of the requirements still apply
The Specialist Skills stream removes the occupation-list hurdle, but the standard 482 requirements remain: an approved Standard Business Sponsorship, a genuine ongoing position, labour market testing where required, 1 year of relevant work experience, competent English, and health and character clearances. See the main 482 guide for the full picture, and the cost calculator for an estimate.
Is the Specialist Skills stream right for your role?
A 30-minute consultation will confirm whether the role clears the SSIT, whether the occupation is eligible, and whether Specialist or Core Skills is the faster route. Consultation fee: $200 + GST. Tax invoice with MARN issued.
Book Consultation →Related
- 482 Skills in Demand visa — the full guide
- Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — the list-based stream
- 482 → 186 PR pathway — permanent residency from a 482
- Sponsor a worker — full employer sponsorship service
This page contains general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Income thresholds and policy settings are set by the Australian Government and change over time — verify current figures with the Department of Home Affairs before making decisions. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid consultation under the Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021, with a written service agreement issued first.
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Questions we get asked first
What is the 482 Specialist Skills stream?
The Specialist Skills stream is one of three streams of the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. It is for highly paid roles and is income-based rather than list-based: there is no occupation list. To qualify, the role must pay at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) and must not be a trade, machinery operator/driver or labourer occupation (ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8).
What is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)?
The SSIT is AUD $141,210 for applications lodged up to 30 June 2026, rising to AUD $146,717 from 1 July 2026. The nominated salary must meet the SSIT and the annual market salary rate for the role. The threshold indexes annually on 1 July.
Is the Specialist Skills stream faster?
Yes — the Specialist Skills stream is designed for priority processing, with the Department targeting faster nomination and visa decisions where the high income threshold is clearly met and the role is genuinely specialised. Actual processing times depend on the completeness of the file and current Department settings.
Does the Specialist Skills stream lead to PR?
Yes. Like the Core Skills stream, Specialist Skills holders can transition to permanent residence via the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after 2 years in the nominated occupation with an approved sponsor.
Which occupations are excluded from the Specialist Skills stream?
Trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers (ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8) are excluded, regardless of salary. These roles are sponsored under the Core Skills stream if the occupation is on the CSOL, or under a labour agreement.
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