Australia currently faces a severe shortage of workers in various industries due to many factors, including an ageing population, low immigration, and a strong economy leading to increased demand for labour. This shortage impacts a wide range of industries, the list is long, but it includes things such as construction, healthcare, and hospitality. As businesses struggle to find qualified workers to fill job vacancies, the government and industry leaders are searching for solutions to address the issue. Sadly, the shortage of workers is expected to persist in the coming years.

One solution to address the worker shortage in Australia is the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, also known as the 482 visa. This visa allows Australian employers to temporarily sponsor foreign workers to fill critical skill gaps in their workforce. The TSS visa has three streams: Short-term, Medium-term, and Labour Agreement, each with specific requirements and conditions.

The TSS visa program aims to address the shortage of skilled workers in Australia while also providing opportunities for overseas workers to gain professional experience and contribute to the Australian economy.

So, how long is the 482 visa valid? Well, it depends on various factors, the biggest being the stream type.

• Short-term stream: This stream is valid for two years and is for occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).

• Medium-term stream: This stream is valid for up to four years and is for occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

• Labour Agreement stream: This is for businesses with a labour agreement with the Australian government. The terms of the labour agreement determine the visa length in this stream.

Remember, the 482 visa is a temporary visa, and holders of the visa must comply with all visa conditions, including working only for their approved sponsor and in the approved occupation. If these conditions are not met, the validity of the visa will be nulled.

Sponsoring can be a complicated process; there are many steps needed. It's always best to talk to a migration agent before starting the process, but if you're looking for information on sponsoring someone, we'll go over the basic steps. 

To sponsor someone for a 482 visa, the following steps should be followed:

First of all, the employer needs to submit to become a sponsor. The 3 main steps are as follows:

1. Obtain approval as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS): A business must be approved as an SBS before it can sponsor a foreign worker for a 482 visa. The approval is valid for five years and requires demonstrating the business’s commitment to complying with sponsorship obligations.

2. Nominate the position: The business must nominate the position they wish to fill with the foreign worker and demonstrate that an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot fill it.

3. Obtain a nomination approval: The nomination must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs before a foreign worker can be sponsored for a 482 visa.

Once the employer has completed the above steps, then it's the turn of the employee to complete the following:

1. Lodge a 482 visa application: The foreign worker must lodge a 482 visa application and provide evidence of their qualifications.

2. Pay the relevant visa application fee: The foreign worker must pay the relevant visa application fee to the Department of Home Affairs.