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Overview

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa is a sub-class of employer sponsored visas, which allows employers to address the labour shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian. International workers can apply for this visa only if they have a Australian sponsor who agrees to nominate them. A highlighted benefit of this visa is that TSS visa holders can work full-time in the nominated position and have the chance to gain Permanent Residency after working.  

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)

The nominated workers can apply for a 482 visa under one of three streams: 

  • the Short-Term stream 
  • the Medium-Term stream 
  • the Labour Agreement stream 

It is worth noting that if the 482 visa holders wish to work for a new employer, they must wait until the new employer has an approved nomination. 

How to apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa?

The process of getting an employment sponsored visa – subclass 482 involves responsibilities of both employers and employees.  

Step 1: Check if you are eligible for a temporary skill shortage visa  

The TSS visa is issued to offset the labour shortages in Australia; hence the first thing you should do is investigating if your occupation is on the skilled occupation list published by the Department of Home Affairs.  

If your occupation is on this list, you must check if you satisfy all other requirements for a visa application. These requirements vary depending on visa streams, but generally they include English proficiency, working experience, health and character checks.  

Step 2: Find your sponsor  

It is compulsory to have an sponsored employer in order to apply for this visa type. As the application will involve multiple processes and fees covered by the employer, you must find a suitable sponsor who really appreciates the value of your capacity and is keen on sponsoring you. 

Step 3: Your employer applies to be a sponsor  

Your employer must apply for the sponsorship by creating an account on the ImmiAccount website and submitting all required documents. In the application, your employer has to show that he/she is not able to find a worker in the Australian workforce market to fill his/her organisation’s vacancy. The occupation that your employer wants to nominate you also must be on the list of eligible skilled occupations. The fee for sponsorship application is AUD 420.  

There is only one case where your employer does not need to apply for sponsorship, which is when you apply for the labour agreement stream under a 482 visa. However, in this case, your employer must submit a request to be a part of the labour agreements. 

Step 4: Your sponsor nominates you as a skilled worker 

After the sponsorship is approved, your employer can nominate you for a position in his/her organisation and lodge a nomination application for you. The nomination application needs to include the position description details, salary information, and previous efforts to look for an Australian worker. The nomination fee is $AUD 370.  

Step 5: You apply for a 482 visa  

You are required to demonstrate that you meet all requirements for a TSS visa. We recommend you learn more about the specific requirements for 482 visas and we welcome you to talk with our team.  

What are the 482 visa requirements? 

Short Term Stream  Medium Term Stream Labour Agreement Stream 
Occupation Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) Medium and Long term Strategic Skilled List (MLTSSL) Labour Agreement Stream
Genuine Requirement YES YES NO
IELTS Requirement 5.0 (a minimum of 5 in each skill) 5.0 (a minimum of 5 in each skill) Suitable English language skills (based on the Labour agreement)
Work Experience 2 years’ relevant work experience required 2 years’ relevant work experience required 2 years’ relevant work experience required
Pathway to Permanent Visa Yes (Can apply 186TRT/186 direct entry / 494 after 3-year work experience) Yes (Can apply 186TRT/186 direct entry / 494 after 3-year work experience) Yes
Age No age limits No age limits No age limits

Apart from English ability and working experience, two essential requirements for 482 visas are (1) your occupation must lie in the skilled occupation list and (2) the position that you apply for is genuine. The first occupational requirement is clear; however, the genuineness of the position is quite challenging to prove.  

How to prove that the nominated position is genuine 

Meeting the Genuine Requirement is one of the most important parts for short-term and medium-term stream applications. Your sponsor must prove that the nominated occupation in the business is genuine. In other words, he/she has to provide adequate information and supporting documents to show that (1) the position makes sense in the business and (2) he/she has not been able to find an employee in the Australian labour market. These supporting documents include:  

  1. A detailed job description that consistently matches with ANZSCO occupation description 
  2. A persuasive explanation of why your position is indispensable within the business.  

There are multiple ways to argue for the need of the nominated position.  

  1. Your employer can demonstrate that this position contributes to the continuous operation and development of the business. It had previously been filled by another worker, but he/she cannot find a local employee for this position at this stage.  
  2. There is a significant increase in demand for the business’ services; therefore hiring more staff is undeniable 
  3. Your employer can also give convincing evidence that his/her business is being expanded with new products or services, leading to the need for a new position. A very detailed business plan should be submitted in this case to persuade the case officer.  

Providing persuasive and appropriate documents to demonstrate the genuineness of the position is a cornerstone for the success of a 482-visa application. Contact SOL Migration today to ensure that you have the best preparation for visa application.  

How much does it cost to apply for 482 visas? 

Payment of all charges shown below are in Australian Dollars (AUD). 

Paid by Short Term Stream Medium Term Stream Labour Agreement Stream
Base application charge Employee AUD1,455.00 AUD3,035.00 AUD3,035.00
Non-internet application charge N/A N/A N/A
Additional applicant charge (18 and over) Employee AUD1,455.00 AUD3,035.00 AUD3,035.00
Additional applicant charge (under 18) Employee AUD365.00 AUD760.00  AUD760.00
Subsequent temporary application charge Employee AUD700 AUD700 AUD700
Sponsorship fee Employer AUD420 AUD420 AUD420
Nomination fee Employer AUD330 AUD330 AUD330
Skilling Australian Fund Levy Employer Depend on business’ turnover (AUD1200-AUD1800 per year) Depend on business’ turnover (AUD1200-AUD1800 per year) Depend on business’ turnover (AUD1200-AUD1800 per year)

How to bring family members to Australia under a visa 482? 

Your family members can be included in visa 482 if your sponsor agrees. You can include them in the original visa application, or you can add them later when you get the visa 482. For visa purposes, your family members are defined as (1) your spouse or your de facto partner, (2) your children or/and your partner’s children and (3) the dependent children of your children/your partner’s children.  

You must demonstrate that you are in a genuine relationship with your partner. If married, you must provide your marriage certificate. If you are in a de-facto relationship, you need to prove that you and your partner are living together for at least 12 months or have registered the Civil Partnership Certificate under one of the Australian State or Territory Government. 

When do I start working after I get a 482 visa?

If you are in Australia, you must start working for your sponsoring employer within 90 days from when your visa is granted. If you are in other countries, you are required to commence your job within 90 days of your first arrival in Australia.  

The Department of Home Affair has not issued a specific requirement about the time when 482 visa holders must arrive to Australia. Nevertheless, if your arrival is significantly delayed, you and your sponsor should be counselled for the reasons why you commence work late and whether your position in the business is genuine.  

FAQS

How long is a 482 visa valid for?

The temporary shortage visa can be granted for 2 years for Short Term Stream visa, and 4 years for Medium Stream and Labour Agreement Stream visa. Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders are exceptional in this regard as they can stay up to 5 years with a TSS visa.  

Can I extend a 482 visa?

You can extend your Short-Term Stream visa for a further 2 years. Medium Term Stream visa holders can either renew for another 4 years or transition to permanent residency (visa subclass 186) after three years of employment.  

Can my spouse/partner be eligible for working in Australia?

Your spouses of temporary skilled shortage visa holders have unrestricted work rights in Australia if they are under visa 482 together with you.  

Can I study on visa 482?

While working for your sponsor, you are allowed for part-time studies to improve your skills. However, you will not receive any government subsidy to assist you with your study.  

Can I get the second job on a 482 visa?

Given that Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) is one of employer sponsored visas, TSS visa holders are allowed to work for the sponsoring employer only. Undertaking a second job is considered as breaking the 482-visa condition. However, there are certain occupations exempt from this rule, which are CEOs, General Managers and General Medical Practitioners. 

When can I change to part-time work on a TSS visa?

TSS visa holders are supposed to work full-time for their employer. However, in some exceptional cases, part-time work is considered reasonable to disregard the full time requirement. TSS visa holders are approved to temporarily reduce their hours to part time basic if they return from:  

  1. Sick leave or work based injury  
  2. Maternity leave  
  3. Special personal leave where TSS visa holders are not able to work full time 

When arranging a part time work on visas 482, sponsoring employers are required to ensure that their sponsorship obligations still can be met. It is a tricky situation because a reduction in working hours can result in a drop of employees’ salary. It means that what the employees earn can be less than the salary rates stated in the nomination application. In this case, employers and employees must prove that:  

  1. The duties and responsibilities of sponsored employees remain consistent with the duties and responsibilities clarified at the nomination stage.  
  2. The pro-rata rate paid for sponsored employees remains at least the same as the hourly rate of nominated salary. 
  3. The new arrangement must be agreed upon by both sponsoring and sponsored parties.  

The part-time arrangement may be applied with Short Term and Medium Term Visas only. The nominees under a Labour Agreement Visa are restricted to full-time arrangements. 

What happens if I quit my job on visa 482?

If you cease employment with your current sponsor, he/she has an obligation to notify the Department of Home Affairs of your resignation. If you are not sponsored by another employer or if you do not apply for another visa within 60 days, then you would be in breach of a 482-visa condition and will be at risk of visa cancellation.  

What should I do if I want to change company?

If TSS visa holders wish to change their working companies, they must go through the similar process of applying for a new TSS visa. It means that they must find another Australian business to sponsor and lodge a “nomination transfer” with the Department of Home Affairs to transfer the nomination to their business. The TSS visa holders can start working for the new company once the new sponsorship and nomination are approved. It is noted that the new job duties must be the same as what the visa holders registered when they applied for a 482 visa.  

When 482 visa holders change their working places, they can work for the new employers for the remaining time left on their visas. Once their current visas are expiry, they can renew the 482 visa or apply for permanent residency if eligible. 

What are my options if my employer stops sponsoring me?

If your employer no longer sponsors you, don’t panic! There are two visa options for you in this case. You can find a new employer who is willing to sponsor you within 60 days of your employment termination. Bear in mind that the new nomination must be submitted within 60 days from the date your employment is ceased, otherwise you will be in breach of your 482 visa conditions. 

The second option is to apply for another visa type to stay in Australia. If you are holding a medium-term stream or labour agreement visa, and you accumulate enough 3 years of working experience, you are eligible for a permanent residence (PR) visa if you can find an eligible sponsor for the 186 Direct Entry stream. In case you are not able to apply for PR, you can look at other options such as student and partner visas. With urgent cases where you do not have enough time to prepare for student or partner visa applications, you can apply for a visitor visa as the process and documents required for this visa are relatively simple.  

Can my sponsor cancel my visa?

Your sponsors have a right to terminate the employment with you, but they do not have the authority to cancel your visas. What your sponsors can do is to inform the Department of Home Affairs once they stop hiring and sponsoring you. 

Can I apply for Permanent Resident Visas via other pathways while I am on 482 Visa?

Apart from 186 ENS visa, 482 Visa holders might be eligible to apply for 189 Skilled Independent Visa, 190 Skilled Nominated Visa or 820/801 Partner Visa depending on your own situation. 

Is there an age limit for 482 Visa holders to apply for 186 ENS Visa?

Yes, usually 186 ENS Visa applicants must be less than 45 years old except for those who are nominated as an academic in the Australian University or nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical specialist by an Australian scientific government agency or you are holding 444 or 461 New Zealand related visas for at least 2 years. 

Contact us

Obtaining a TSS visa is beneficial, but the application process comprises multiple steps and complicated documents. Come to SOL Migration and our expert team will help you.  

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