The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa or subclass 482 has replaced the 457 visa or sponsorship visa previously in place. Through a managed and regulated visa application process, Australia aims here to ensure Australians a priority to access employment. It also aims to better control the arrival and stay of overseas skilled workers. Here is all the information you need about the TSS visa offering qualified employees the opportunity to stay in Australia.
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TSS Visa (Subclass 482) explained
The TSS visa allows the holder to live, work full time for his employer for the duration of the visa. This visa also allows you to travel to and from Australia for the duration of your visa. The TSS visa requires a job offer sponsored by an Australian employer and qualifications corresponding to the position.
There are three streams available under the TSS visa program:
Short-term stream (2 years)
Requirements
This visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It is a visa for 2 years. This visa is for skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
To apply for the short term stream, you will need to meet English language requirements. Indeed, an overall score of 5 to a language test (IELTS or equivalent) is required. You will need to obtain a grade of 4.5 in each subject.
NB: You are exempt from needing to prove English language proficiency if you are a passport holder from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America.
The applicant will also have to prove that they intend to settle only temporarily in Australia (known as a ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant’ (GTE)). This visa is renewable onshore once, for a further two years.
Your visa will come with conditions attached to it. Conditions attached to this visa include that you work in Australia only in the occupation you were nominated for and only for your nominating business or in some circumstances, an associated entity of the business.
Cost and processing time
The cost of this visa is AUD 1,455 (Sept 2023) for the main applicant and for each dependant 18 years and over.
Processing Time can be between 4 and 70 Days.
Medium-term stream (4 years)
Requirements
In this stream this is a visa for 4 years. This is very similar to the previous 457 visa. It is for workers in occupations included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). It allows the holder to apply for permanent residence after three years.
A minimum score of 5 in each subject of the IELTS exam (or equivalent language test) must be achieved. This visa is renewable and gives access to permanent residence.
NB: You are exempt from needing to prove English language proficiency if you are a passport holder from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America.
Conditions are attached to this visa. You must work in Australia only in the occupation you were nominated for and only for your nominating business or in some circumstances, an associated entity of the business.
Cost and processing time
It costs AUD 3,035 (Sept 2023) for the main applicant and for each dependant 18 years and over.
Processing Time varies between 5 to 70 Days.
Labour Agreement stream
Only used for exceptional cases. Here overseas skilled workers are employed through an agreement between the Australian government and the employer. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
It costs AUD 3,035 (Sept 2023) for the main applicant and for each dependant 18 years and over.
Requirements to apply for a TSS
The following criteria must be met in order to be able to apply for TSS (2 years or 4 years).
- Two lists of occupations qualify you to apply for either the Short or medium Term TSS visa.
- You must have the skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business for an approved occupation.
- The applicant must also be able to demonstrate a professional experience of at least 2 years in the nominated occupation or a related field.
- You must meet the English language requirements (unless exempted)
- You will also have to provide a clean criminal record
- You must meet our character requirement
- There is no age requirement for this visa.
The Australian employer will first have to look for a candidate in the local labor market. He will then have to prove that he cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian. This is the Labor Market Testing.
The employer must also offer a salary at the Australian market rate of pay. The minimum imposed by the TSS program is currently AUD 70 000 + Superannuation (as at July 2023).
The steps of the TSS visa application
Just like sponsorship before, there are three steps in applying for a TSS visa.
- First, the company that wants to sponsor the person must be approved as Standard Business Sponsorship. To be an approved sponsor, the company must prove a legal and active activity in Australia.
- The company will then need to lodge a nomination application for the foreign worker they wish to hire. Here the employer will have to show that he intended to source an employee on the Australian market without success. The company must also demonstrate that the salary offered to the worker is equal to or greater than that of the current market (set at $70 000 + superannuation).
- Finally, the nominated employee should apply for the TSS visa.
The steps above must be completed in order. However, you do not have to wait for each application to be approved to move onto the next step.
Source: www.homeaffairs.gov.au
FAQs TSS Visa
The main requirements to obtain a TSS visa include a sponsored job offer from an Australian employer, skills and qualifications matching the position, proof of English language proficiency, skills assessment in some cases, and meeting health and character criteria.
You can search for a sponsoring employer for the TSS visa by browsing job websites, using specialized recruitment agencies, networking with professionals in Australia, or leveraging professional social networks. Employers must be approved by the Australian government to sponsor foreign workers.
The validity period of the TSS visa varies depending on the visa category. The Short-Term stream (STSOL) visa can be issued for a maximum period of two years, while the Medium-Term stream (MLTSSL) visa can be issued for up to four years. Extensions may be possible under certain conditions.
Yes, it is possible to change employers while holding a TSS visa, but it requires submitting a new TSS visa application with a new job offer sponsored by a different approved employer.
Yes, TSS visa holders may be eligible to bring their family members to Australia as dependents, subject to certain conditions.
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