Skills in Demand Visa
This visa allows you to work in Australia through employer sponsorship. Streams vary by occupation and salary, and whether or not family members will be accompanying you; application planning must reflect your circumstances and timing.
First Tree guides both employers and applicants on the right timing and approach for each stage of the process.
What Is the Skills in Demand Visa?
A work visa to work in Australia through employer sponsorship.
The process comprises three stages: sponsorship, nomination, and visa application. Streams vary by occupation and salary, and approval is granted only when both employer and applicant meet the requirements at each stage. A key feature of onshore applications is that all three stages can be lodged back-to-back at almost the same time, following the required sequential order.
Standard Business Sponsor
The stage where the employer registers as a sponsor. Documents must align with years in operation, financial position, and the business plan.
Nomination
The stage where the employer nominates a specific position and applicant. Demonstrates genuine need for the role through LMT (Labour Market Testing), AMSR (Annual Market Salary Rate), and GPS (Genuine Position Statement).
Visa Application
The stage where the applicant demonstrates they meet work history, education, English, health, and character requirements. Document consistency and submission timing directly affect outcomes.
Key Requirements for the Skills in Demand Visa
Approval is granted only when both employer and applicant meet the requirements.
Details vary by stream (Specialist Skills / Core Skills / Labour Agreement) and occupation. The following is a summary of the main requirements.
- Approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
- Nominated occupation is on the relevant Occupation List
- Salary and conditions meet the market rate for the role - Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)
- Genuine business need and existence of the position demonstrated - Genuine Position Statement (GPS)
- Labour Market Testing (LMT) conducted where required
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy paid
- Sponsor obligations (training, reporting, etc.) met
- Relevant recent work experience in the nominated occupation (generally at least one year; varies by stream)
- English language requirement
- Skills Assessment and/or licences or registration required for the role, where applicable
- Health Requirement
- Character Requirement
- Adequate health insurance for the duration of the application
- Relationship, identity, health, and character requirements for accompanying family members, where applicable
From consultation to application.
What First Tree can support
We clarify your goals and conditions, then build a consistent plan for visa selection, application strategy, and preparation sequence — making clear what to decide and what to gather first.
Clarifying the big picture Free 15min pre-talk
We review your work history, visa status, and goals to map realistic pathways.
- Current visa status, work history, and employment type
- Visa subclass and key requirements
- Pathway options and priorities
Strategy development: Initial Consultation AUD 220
We compare pathways, risks, costs, and timelines — and set out exactly what to do, and in what order.
- Application schedule and priority design
- How to present overseas qualifications in Australia
- Whether Labour Market Testing is required
- Upfront risk and cost assessment
- Consumer guide provided and explained
Engagement for visa application support
Once you sign the engagement agreement and pay the initial fee, we begin service delivery.
- Service agreement provided and explained
- Initial fee payment (balance due at visa lodgement)
Sponsorship application support
We clarify Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) requirements, costs, and documents, and support you through lodgement. Even businesses with only one to two years of operation can apply with a business plan aligned to the visa application.
- Standard Business Sponsor application
- Financial evidence demonstrating capacity to pay salary
- Business expansion plan to support a shorter operating history
Nomination and genuine need for sponsorship
This stage demonstrates that local recruitment efforts were unsuccessful and that sponsoring this applicant is necessary. Nomination refusals due to insufficient evidence have increased in recent years — we work with group company SD Marketing Global Pty Ltd on market research and prepare LMT, AMSR, and GPS documentation.
- Nomination application
- LMT (Labour Market Testing) preparation
- AMSR (Annual Market Salary Rate) preparation
- GPS (Genuine Position Statement) preparation
Document preparation and lodgement
From identifying required documents through preparation, consistency checks, and lodgement with the Department — we manage the process on your behalf. We also advise on how to present overseas work history and qualifications in the visa application.
- Required document checklist and collection support
- Application document preparation and review
- Lodgement with the Department and progress management
Long-term planning — pathway support toward permanent residence
From the moment SC482 is granted, we begin preparing with permanent residence (SC186) in view. Employer Nomination Scheme processing times have lengthened — we design your career and employment structure so you can lodge promptly once criteria are met.
- SC482 → SC186 pathway planning
- Family member visa assessment and application
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A consultation alone is fine. After reviewing your situation, we may recommend a different pathway — or conclude that engaging First Tree is not the best fit. Let us start by understanding where you stand.
Yes. We support visa changes, planning before you travel and renewals after arrival. Consulting before departure often leaves more options on the table.
Depending on your circumstances, options may still exist despite age or career gaps. Let us review your situation and explore what is possible. If you worry it might be difficult, that is all the more reason to reach out early.
Yes. We review your current English level and education together and identify realistic options. English may be a formal visa requirement in some cases — but we assess your situation first before drawing conclusions.
Absolutely. We welcome enquiries when things still feel vague or you are not sure where to start. We can begin by clarifying your goals and the conditions that apply to you.
Let's Begin With Design,
Not Just With Decisions
Consultation is not about reaching a conclusion — it is about starting the design.
First Tree treats employment and visas not as paperwork alone, but as design for workplaces and lives that keep moving. Before we talk applications, we clarify where you are and what conditions apply — then, if needed, we decide the next step together.
In an initial consultation, we typically cover:
- Your current situation (employer or worker) and the conditions that apply
- An overview of the process — information needed, timing, and next actions
- What First Tree can support and how roles are divided (including external partners where needed)
※ Depending on your situation, we explain our scope and recommend the best way forward.