Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 Visa
The 482 visa, also known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, is a temporary visa that allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill positions they can’t find suitably skilled Australians for.
It currently has three streams:
Short-term stream
For sourcing genuine temporary overseas skilled workers for a maximum of two years (or up to four years with an international trade obligation).
Medium-term stream
For sourcing highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills for up to four years, with eligibility for permanent residence after three years.
Labour Agreement stream
For sourcing overseas skilled workers according to a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, when standard visa programs are not available.
The TSS 482 visa process involves three steps:
Employers apply for approval as standard business sponsors.
- Employer Sponsorship Application: The employer, who must be a lawful, active, operating business, applies for sponsorship and must meet local labour and employment practices.
Employers nominate an occupation for a prospective TSS visa applicant or existing TSS visa holder.
- Nomination Application: The employer submits a nomination application detailing the position to be filled, salary information, efforts to hire Australian workers, and the genuineness of the position. The business must also demonstrate viability to sponsor from overseas.
The nominated person applies for a TSS visa.
- Visa Application: The nominated employee applies for the visa, demonstrating they meet the skills required for their occupation, as well as health and character requirements.
Note:
For the Labour Agreement stream, the sponsorship stage is replaced with a labor agreement negotiation.
Existing TSS visa holders can change employers without a new visa application unless their current visa is expiring. However, they need a new nomination before changing employers in certain cases
Key Points for TSS Visa Holders
TSS visa holders can work for their sponsor in Australia, bring eligible dependents, who can also work and study, and travel in and out of Australia without restrictions while the visa is valid.
Strong worker protection measures ensure overseas skilled workers have the same workplace rights as Australian workers.
- The visa application charge varies depending on the stream.
- Applications must generally be made online, and applicants must hold a valid visa or bridging visa.
- Family members can apply together or separately, but subsequent applications must be separate unless for a child born after the initial application.
- Applicants must apply for the same stream and have a related nomination approved or pending.
- Some applicants must undergo mandatory skills assessments unless exempted.
- Overall, the TSS visa program aims to address skill shortages while ensuring fairness and protection for both overseas skilled workers and Australian workers.
- Approved Nomination: The nomination in the visa application must have been approved. It must also have been made by an approved standard business sponsor at the time of approval.
- Genuine Intention: The nominated occupation is genuine and that the visa applicant's intention to perform the occupation is also genuine.
- Skills, Qualifications, and Experience: The primary visa applicant has the necessary skills, qualifications, and employment background to perform the nominated occupation. This may require additional evidence or a skills assessment in some cases.
- Work Experience: Visa applicants must have worked in the nominated occupation or a related field for at least two years, preferably on a full-time basis in the last five years.
- Genuine Temporary Entrant: Primary visa applicants must be genuine temporary entrants, intending to fill short-term vacancies in Australia. This requirement can be met under specific circumstances, such as international trade obligations.
- International Trade Obligations and Repeat Stays: Some visa applicants may be eligible for longer stays based on international trade obligations.
- Overview: Applicants must meet the English language requirements specified by the Minister. The delegate may request applicants to demonstrate their English proficiency in a specific way.
- Evidence Required: Unless exempt, applicants must provide evidence of English proficiency at one of the prescribed levels in the legislative instrument. This can be achieved through tests like IELTS, OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or CAE, with specific score requirements.
- Exemptions: Applicants may be exempt if they are citizens of certain English-speaking countries, have completed at least five years of full-time study in English, hold relevant professional registration, or have high annual earnings. Exempt applicants need not provide English testing results.
- Overall test score: At least 5.0
- Minimum score in each component: At least 4.5 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- Score required: At least "B" in each of the four components
- Total score: At least 35
- Listening and Reading: At least 3 in each component
- Writing and Speaking: At least 12 in each component
- Overall test score: At least 36
- Minimum score in each component: At least 30 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- Overall test score: At least 154
- Minimum score in each component: At least 147 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
General Document Checklist for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
- Passport (including all pages)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Evidence of change of name (if applicable)
- Certified copies of educational qualifications (diplomas, degrees, transcripts)
- Skills assessment results (if required for your occupation)
- Evidence of relevant work experience (employment contracts, reference letters)
- Health examination results (if requested by the Department of Home Affairs)
- Police clearance certificates from all countries where you’ve lived for more than 12 months in the last 10 years
- Employment contract or letter of offer from your sponsoring employer
- Position description or job duties
- Evidence that your employer is an approved sponsor
- English Language Proficiency:
- English test results (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic)
- Exemptions (if applicable)
- Health insurance coverage
- Evidence of relationship (if including family members in the application)
- Any other relevant documents specific to your situation
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