The Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection has recently announced the abolition and replacement of the 457 visa. In lieu of this visa, they have introduced the completely new Temprary Skiled Shortage (TSS) visa for complete implementation by March 2018. This visa programme has now been replaced with a Short Term stream (up to two years) and a Medium-Term stream (up to 4 years).
What does this necessarily mean for you who may be aspiring to work in Australia? Below are the salient and significant features and characteristics of the reform package:
- new, more targeted occupation lists which better align with skill needs in the Australian labour market:
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- a requirement for visa applicants to have at least two years’ work experience in their skilled occupation;
- a minimum market salary rate which ensures that overseas workers cannot be engaged to undercut Australian workers;
- mandatory labour market testing, unless an international obligation applies;
- capacity for only one onshore visa renewal under the Short-Term stream
- capacity for visa renewal onshore and a permanent residence pathway after three years under the Medium-Term stream;
- the permanent residence eligibility period will be extended from two to three years;
- a non-discriminatory workforce test to ensure employers are not actively discriminating against Australian workers;
- strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers;
- the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will collect Tax File Numbers and data will be matched with the Australian Tax Office’s records; and
- mandatory penal clearance certificates to be provided.
- Tightening eligibility requirements for employer sponsored permanent skilled visas, including but not limited to:
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- tightened English language requirements;
- a requirement for visa applicants to have at least three years’ work experience;
- applicants must be under the maximum age requirement of 45 at the time of application;
- strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers; and
- employers must pay the Australian market salary rate and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (set at $53,900 as at 12 April 2016).
- Concessions for regional Australia will continue to be available:
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- Employers in regional Australia will continue to have access to occupations under the temporary and permanent visas, to reflect their skills needs.
- Existing permanent visa concessions for regional Australia, such as waiving the nomination fee and providing age exemptions for certain occupations, will be retained. Consideration will be given to expanding the occupations in regional Australia that are exempt from the age requirement.
For information on how you can work in Australia, email us at info@australianvisaandeducation.com.au. We’d be happy to help.