Changes to the 457 visa
One of the biggest immigration policy changes to take place in years is happening in March 2018. The 457 temporary work visa will be abolished and replaced by the new 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa.
The 482 TSS visa will comprise of two streams:
Short-term stream granted for up to 2 years
Medium and long-term stream for up to 4 years.
Eligibility for each stream will be determined by whether the applicant’s nominated occupation is listed in the Short Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) or in the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
What does this change mean for employers?
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy will need to be paid in order to sponsor an overseas worker on the 482 visa.
Unless exempted, it will be mandatory for employers to undertake labour market testing to demonstrate that they were unable to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced Australian worker to fill the nominated role.
What does this change mean for visa applicants?
482 visa applicants will need to have at least two years experience in the nominated occupation, or in a closely related field.
Only 482 visa holders nominated for an occupation in the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) will be eligible for permanent residence after three years
482 visa applicants nominated for an occupation in the Short Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) must demonstrate that they are genuinely entering or staying in Australia temporarily
482 visa holders who wish to change occupations will be required to have a new nomination approved and a new visa granted before they can start work in their new occupation
Applicants must provide necessary police certificates as part of the character requirements at the time of visa lodgement.
If you’re a business or employer who is looking to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482 visa, contact us at Titan Migration for a consultation.
About Peter Chang
Peter Chang is a registered migration agent based in the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta, Australia. He is the co-founder of Titan Migration, a consultancy specialising in providing Australian immigration advice and visa assistance services.