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.

1. Wait for a decision: The Department of Home Affairs will then assess the 482 visa application and make a decision. Processing times take between 14 days and 4 months.

2. Comply with sponsorship obligations: If the 482 visa is granted, the business must comply with its sponsorship obligations, such as paying the foreign worker the market salary rate and ensuring their working conditions are in line with Australian standards.

As with all legal subjects, these steps can change quickly and without much notice, so if you are a business looking to employ a foreign worker under the 482 visa or a foreign worker looking to complete the needed steps, please talk to a migration agent. Otherwise, an expensive mistake could be waiting for you.

You've been offered a job under the 482 visa; congratulations. What requirements must you meet? It's best to talk to a migration agent in case your sector has additional requirements. Here are the general requirements:

The foreign worker must have the skills and qualifications required for the nominated occupation. But the worker must also be able to provide evidence of relevant skills and qualifications, which can be in the form of certifications or assessments conducted by the immigration authority. It is also necessary to have a minimum of two years of work experience in the relevant field is also necessary.

The foreign worker must meet the required English language proficiency level, which must be certified through an approved English language test or by meeting certain exemptions.

English Level Requirements

The needed certification for English proficiency depends on the examination board. Here is the current list of accepted certifications:

Short-term Stream:

• Cambridge C1 Advanced: Minimum 154 overall score, with a minimum of 147 in each component.

• IELTS: Minimum 5.0 overall band score, with a minimum of 4.5 in each component.

• OET: Minimum grade of ‘B’ in each of the four components.

• PTE Academic: Minimum 36 overall score, with a minimum of 30 in each component.

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum 35 total score, with a minimum of 3 in listening & reading and a minimum of 12 in speaking & writing.

Medium-term Stream:

• Cambridge C1 Advanced: Minimum 154 overall score, with a minimum of 154 in each component.

• IELTS: Minimum 5.0 overall band score, with a minimum of 5 in each component.

• OET: Minimum grade of ‘B’ in each of the four components.

• PTE Academic: Minimum 36 overall score, with a minimum of 36 in each component.

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum 35 total score, with a minimum of 4 in listening & reading and a minimum of 14 in speaking & writing.

Labour Agreement stream:

• To perform your designated job, you must possess adequate English proficiency. The English language requirement may be outlined in the labour agreement between the Commonwealth and your employer.

Exemptions:

As with all things, there exist exemptions to the above.

• You have a passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.

• You have completed a full-time study of a minimum of 5 years at a secondary-level institution where most classes were in English.

• The nominated occupation is for a diplomatic/consular position or at an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan.

• You will be working as an employee of an overseas business or have annual earnings of at least $96,400 (AUD).

The foreign worker must meet health and character requirements, including a police clearance from their home country and a health examination, if required.

Plus, a health insurance plan with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 (AUD) per person per year, including overnight and day hospital accommodation, emergency admission fees, and ambulance costs.

The foreign worker must pay the relevant visa application fee to the Department of Home Affairs and can only work with the sponsor or associated entity unless there is an exemption.

Applicants with a previous cancelled visa application are not eligible for this visa.

Applying for a 482 visa is a complex process that, if done wrong, can cost a lot of money, and if the application fails because a step was missed, it could mean that are won't be eligible for other types of visas.