TSS Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)

What is Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) ?

TSS Visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled workers where they cannot source a skilled Australian national. It facilitates targeted use of overseas workers to address temporary skill shortages while ensuring that Australian workers get priority. TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor.

Who can get Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)?

Eligibility requirements:

• have at least two years of full-time paid work experience in the occupation
• nominate an occupation on STSOL or MLTSSL
• meet the relevant skill level, qualification and licensing
• meet the English language requirement (if applicants are not from an exempt country such as UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland, they will also need to meet English language requirements at the time of application)
• meet health and character requirement
• pay minimum market salary threshold (or caveat requirement)
• conduct labour market testing LMT
• have a full-time employment contract
• pay Skilling Australian Funds SAF levy

Immediate family members (such as a partner and dependent children) included in the application are also entitled to live and work on this visa type.

What are the Streams under Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)?

• Short-term stream – Valid up to 2 years or up to 4 years, if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies
• Long-term stream – Valid up to 4 years
• ​Labour agreement stream – Valid up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms in the labour agreement

How to apply?

There are three stages in the application process:

Stage 1: Sponsorship stage

A prospective sponsoring employer needs to become an approved sponsor before they are able to nominate any overseas skilled worker for a position. To become a sponsor, evidence must be provided to support each of the following:

• be a legally established and currently operating business
• no adverse information regarding the business
• a strong record, or a demonstrated commitment to employing local labour
• once approved, Sponsorships are valid for five years.

Stage 2: Nomination Stage

Once the Sponsorship is approved, the employer is able to nominate overseas workers. At the nomination stage, the approved sponsor will need to provide the following evidence:

• labour market testing, recruitment activities that have been conducted in the previous four months
• at least two advertisements published in any of the following media:
  • prominent or professional recruitment website with national reach
  • national print media
  • national radio
• applications must have been accepted for at least four weeks
• sponsors must meet certain salary and employment condition requirements to ensure overseas workers are paid no less than an Australian worker, doing the same work in the same location. This is known as the ‘annual market salary rate’, and is used to determine the visa program is not being used to undercut the Australian labour market
• an employment contract for the nominee ensuring it meets Australian Employment Standards.

Stage 3: Visa Application Stage

Applicants must provide evidence of the following:

• Proof of identity.
• Skills assessment or proof that one has been arranged. If it is not mandatory to seek a skills assessment, applicants are still required to demonstrate that they have relevant skills, qualifications and employment background to undertake the nominated occupation.
• Proof that the applicant meets the minimum standards of English language proficiency for the occupation and visa stream.
• Proof that the applicant has adequate health insurance for themselves and any secondary applicants.
• Overseas Police certificates from every country, including the applicant’s home country, where they have spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 and military service records or discharge papers if they served in the armed forces of any country.
• Documents of any partner or dependants i.e. identity, relationship to principal applicant and character.

What visa subclass 482 allows you to do in Australia?

The Visa subclass 482 is a skilled visa granted for a temporary purpose which comes along with various entitlements. These entitlements are listed below:

• Live in Australia for 2 years to work for a sponsor or for 4 years in case of International trade Obligation.
• The applicant can also study while living in Australia but will not be provided Government assistance for the same.
• Will be allowed to travel to and from Australia multiple times while the visa validity.
• The subclass 482 visa Australia also allows the applicant to apply for Permanent Residency in Australia if found eligible.

How long to process Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)?

The processing time is between 2-6 Months.