Australia introduces new Skills in Demand Visa. What Indians need to know

Australia has replaced its Temporary Skills Shortage Visa with the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa starting December 7, the Department of Home Affairs announced. The new visa program features three streams: Specialist Skills Pathway, Core Skills Pathway, and Essential Skills Pathway.

The Core Skills Pathway, designed for workers earning between AUD 70,000 and AUD 135,000, will utilize a new list of 456 in-demand occupations. This list includes jobs in sectors like health, education, construction, agriculture, and technology. Examples of listed occupations range from cooks and dog trainers to medical professionals and software engineers.

Core Skills Occupation List

Australia's government has unveiled a new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) aimed at supporting the newly introduced Skills in Demand visa. This consolidated list covers 456 occupations, enabling employer-sponsored skilled migration. Shaped by labor market analysis and stakeholder feedback, the CSOL is designed to address skills shortages while ensuring alignment with Australia's labor needs.

The new CSOL will also be used for the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa. The update fulfills the government's promise to simplify and modernize the occupation lists used in the temporary skilled visa program, replacing outdated and inflexible lists. This move is expected to streamline the migration process and better respond to evolving workforce demands.

What Indians need to know
Indians planning to migrate to Australia are expected to face minimal challenges with the introduction of the Core Skills Occupation List. This list, which outlines key professions for migration, retains a strong focus on the tech sector—a field where a significant number of Indian immigrants find opportunities.

Roles such as software engineer, software tester, cyber security engineer, and software programmer are included in the list, indicating a continued demand for skilled tech professionals. This is expected to benefit Indian applicants, many of whom possess expertise in these areas, aligning with Australia's focus on building a robust digital economy.

However, experts have highlighted the exclusion of certain professions, such as market research analysts, which might impact applicants specializing in market strategy and analysis. This could lead to a shift in priorities for aspiring migrants who may need to consider alternative pathways or in-demand roles for eligibility.

For those outside Core Skills Pathway
Individuals in occupations not listed under the Core Skills Pathway can still be sponsored through the Specialist Skills Pathway, which requires earnings above AUD 135,000.

The Department of Home Affairs stated the new occupation list was developed using labor market analysis and stakeholder consultations. The list fulfills “the government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program.”

The same occupation list will also be used for the direct entry stream of the permanent employer nomination scheme. More details about the SID visa are expected in the coming days.