Core Skills stream
Most common. Occupations on the CSOL. Salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold ($76,515 at current settings). Labour market testing mandatory. 2-year PR pathway.
Core Skills · Specialist Skills · Essential Skills Streams
Your business is a sponsor. Your worker is ready. The nomination links them.
Nomination is the stage between Standard Business Sponsorship and visa grant. It identifies the role, confirms occupation classification, demonstrates salary compliance, and includes labour market testing evidence. Done well, nomination flows straight to visa approval.
The three SID streams
Different salary, different occupation access.
Stream selection is the first strategic decision.
Specialist Skills stream
Higher-paid roles: $135,000+ salary floor. Broader occupation list (excludes trades, machinery operators, labourers, drivers). LMT waived. Priority processing. 2-year PR pathway.
Essential Skills stream
Sector-specific for care economy and essential services. Lower salary thresholds. Narrow occupation scope. Targeted at identified workforce shortages.
Pathway comparison
Core Skills fits most routine skilled roles. Specialist Skills fits senior professionals. Essential Skills fits targeted sectors. See stream comparison.
Nomination requirements
Four elements.
Every nomination is assessed against these four requirements.
Occupation classificationRole must match an occupation code on the relevant list. Home Affairs compares position description against ANZSCO. Mismatch triggers request for information or refusal.
Salary and CSIT complianceAnnual salary excluding non-monetary benefits must meet stream threshold. Guaranteed minimum base salary is what Home Affairs assesses. See salary guide.
Labour market testingCore stream: three advertisements in different locations, one on Workforce Australia. Minimum 4 weeks. Within 4 months of nomination. See LMT guide.
Sponsorship obligations acknowledgementNomination confirms sponsor understanding of equivalent terms, record-keeping, and notification obligations.
Processing timelines
2-10 weeks typical.
Timelines vary by stream and completeness of evidence.
Core Skills stream
2-4 months typical. Clean LMT and accurate occupation classification speed processing.
Specialist Skills stream
6-10 weeks under priority processing. Fastest option for eligible roles.
Essential Skills stream
Variable. Depends on specific targeted occupation and policy signalling.
Most nomination delays come from occupation classification disputes.
Home Affairs case officers compare your position description line-by-line against ANZSCO. A role described in generic terms that could fit two or three occupation codes invites scrutiny. Every nomination we lodge includes a detailed duties-to-ANZSCO mapping before submission.
Common questions
The questions we hear most.
For SID nominations, book with Brian Park or Sourabh Aggarwal.
Can I lodge the nomination and worker visa together?
Yes. Combined lodgement is common and saves time. Nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.
What if my occupation has two possible ANZSCO codes?
Duties determine classification. We review the actual work against each code and select the strongest fit.
Can I change the nominated role after lodgement?
Not in most cases. Material changes usually require fresh nomination. Better to finalise before lodgement.
What happens if the nomination is refused?
ART appeal rights for the sponsor. See nomination refusal guide.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.