Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)

The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa, also abbreviated as TSS, under Subclass 482 has replaced the 457 visa under the employer-nominated visa type. This visa appeal allows registered Australian or overseas business owners in Australia who experience genuine skill shortages and cannot find Australian workers to fill vacant positions by nominating international candidates. Specifically, this visa lets skilled workers and their families live and work in Australia for an approved business for a certain time period in occupations that are on the list of eligible skilled occupations based on their terms of availability.

A business that fulfills the respective criteria will be able to sponsor someone for this visa in case they are unable to find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to fill the skilled position at their workplace. This visa type has 4 different streams: The Short Term Stream, Medium Stream, Labour Agreement Stream, and Subsequent Entrant Stream.

Short Term Stream

The short-term stream pathway of Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) allows skilled workers to stay in Australia for 2 years (or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation applies and Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years) to work for an Australian employer who has labor shortages where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Eligibility criteria for the 482-visa under the Short-Term Stream

There is no age limit for this visa.

1. You must be nominated by an approved sponsor for a position on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List.
2. You are required to work for your nominated employer. If your sponsor is an Australian Business Sponsor, they will have to employ you in the nominated position in that business or an associated entity. If your sponsor is an Overseas Business Sponsor, they will have to employ you in that business only in the nominated occupation.

(Exemptions exist for certain occupations.)

3. You must exhibit relevant skills, qualifications, and employment background to perform the nominated occupation. Some applicants will need to demonstrate they have a skills assessment from the relevant authority.
4. You must have had at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field at the same skill level involving tasks that would be closely related to those of the nominated position. You generally need to demonstrate you gained such experience on a full-time basis within the last 5 years and this period does not need to be continuous.
5. If you are an onshore applicant, you must be holding a substantive visa or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C.
6. You must meet all health requirements and have adequate health insurance.
7. You must have an IELTS score of at least 5 or equivalent unless you have a UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand passport.
8. You must be able to express that you are a genuine applicant with the intention to stay temporarily in Australia and did not pay for the sponsorship.
9. You must not have had a previous visa canceled or refused.
10. You must have cleared all your debt to the Australian government.

Medium Term Stream

The medium-term stream pathway of Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) allows skilled workers to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 4 years (Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years), after they are sponsored by an Australian employer who has labor shortages where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. The candidates can also apply for permanent residency at a later stage under this stream.

Eligibility criteria for the 482-visa under the Medium-Term Stream

There is no age limit for this visa.

1. You must be nominated by an approved sponsor for a position on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List.
2. You are required to work for your nominated employer. If your sponsor is an Australian Business Sponsor, they will have to employ you in the nominated position in that business or an associated entity. If your sponsor is an Overseas Business Sponsor, they will have to employ you in that business only in the nominated occupation.

(Exemptions exist for certain occupations.)

3. You must exhibit relevant skills, qualifications, and employment background to perform the nominated occupation. Some applicants will need to demonstrate they have a skills assessment from the relevant authority.
4. You must have had at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field at the same skill level involving tasks that would be closely related to those of the nominated position. You generally need to demonstrate you gained such experience on a full-time basis within the last 5 years and this period does not need to be continuous.
5. If you are an onshore applicant, you must be holding a substantive visa or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C.
6. You must meet all health requirements and have adequate health insurance.
7. You must have an IELTS score of at least 5 or equivalent unless you have a UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand passport.
8. You must be able to express that you are a genuine applicant with the intention to stay temporarily in Australia and did not pay for the sponsorship.
9. You must not have had a previous visa canceled or refused.
10. You must have cleared all your debt to the Australian government.

Labour Agreement Stream

The labour agreement stream pathway of Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) allows skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement to live and work in Australia temporarily for up to 4 years (Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years). Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.

Eligibility criteria for the 482-visa under the Labour Agreement Stream

1. There is no age limit for this visa.
2. You must be working under a legit labor agreement.
3. You must be nominated.
4. You must have had at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field at the same skill level involving tasks that would be closely related to those of the nominated position. You generally need to demonstrate you gained such experience on a full-time basis within the last 5 years and this period does not need to be continuous.
5. You must meet all health requirements and have adequate health insurance.
6. You must have an IELTS score of at least 5 or equivalent unless you have a UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand passport.
7. You must not have had a previous visa canceled or refused.
8. You must have cleared all your debt to the Australian government.

Subsequent Entrant Stream

The subsequent entrant stream pathway of Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) is for family members of subclass 457 and TSS visa holders who are applying separately for their TSS visa and wish to join the primary subclass 457 or TSS visa holder in Australia. Applicants can stay for as long as their visa is valid.

Eligibility criteria for the 482-visa under the Subsequent Entrant Stream

1. There is no age limit for this visa.
2. You must have a partner or parent who holds a subclass 482 or TSS visa.
3. You must be nominated by the primary visa holder’s sponsor.
4. You must meet all health requirements and have adequate health insurance.
5. You must character requirements.
6. If you are an onshore applicant, you must be holding a substantive visa or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C.
7. You must be able to demonstrate that you did not pay for the sponsorship.
8. You must have an IELTS score of at least 5 or equivalent unless you have a UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand passport.
9. You must not have had a previous visa canceled or refused.
10. You must have cleared your debt to the Australian government.

Privileges linked with the 482-visa

• Entitlement to live and work in Australia for a defined period for your sponsored employer.
  1. Four years if your occupation is listed on the Combined list of eligible skilled occupations or due to international trade obligations.
  2. Two years if your occupation is not listed on the MLTSSL.
• Right to bring your family members to work and study in Australia.
• Allowed to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.

Processing time and cost for a 482 visa

Average processing time

The time period for eligible applications to be processed varies under each stream and although a guaranteed processing time cannot be determined, an average standard time taken to process these applications can be determined. The processing period for the Short Term Stream comes to 90% in 58 days globally. The processing period for the Middle Term Stream comes to 90% in 83 days globally. The processing period for the Labour Agreement Stream comes to 90% in 5 months globally. The processing period for the Subsequent Entrant Stream cannot be averaged as of now.

The time to successfully process an application may vary depending on each case. External agencies and governmental bodies may take some time to conduct checks and verify the data presented in your application. To avoid any delays that may arise from your side, you must ensure that a complete and fully-checked application is filed on your behalf and any additional requests by the department must be handled promptly.

 Average estimated cost

The fees associated with applying for 482 Visa fees are prescribed by the Department of Home Affairs and are updated from time to time which can be easily checked in the department’s online portal as well. The relevant fees are payable on the lodgment of your 482 Visa application depending upon the pathway that you are choosing.

The primary application fee of an individual applying for a 482 Visa under each stream as of now is mentioned hereunder:

• Short Term Stream: AU$ 1,455
• Middle Term Stream: AU$ 3,035
• Labour Agreement Stream: AU$ 3,035
• Subsequent Entry Stream: AU$ 1,455

However, these fees are only a general primary fee quoted by the department as of now and changes in the amount are made as per requirement by the department itself. Additional fees are applicable for individuals who are looking to include their spouse or children in their application. The amount of additional fees varies according to the age and relationship of the included individual with the applicant. This is also constantly being updated by the Department of Home Affairs and can easily be checked from their online portal as well.

Steps to apply for the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) 

We have a very straightforward and principled process of visa appeal which ensures you the best results. Our agents and lawyers are always with you throughout the process of your application and they will make sure that your personal application is up-to-date with all the constantly changing policies and figures. You can go through these steps in order to apply for your desired visa type:

1. Schedule a free consultation with our team through our portal where we shall go over your case briefly to provide you with the necessary recommendations.
2. After your consultation, our agents shall begin the process of preparing for your appeal. We will gather and prepare all of the documentation and perform any additional checks that are necessary to lodge a visa application.
3. ​We will assist you through a three-step application process for which you and your employer will be required to meet certain requirements.

 Step One – Sponsorship

To be an eligible sponsor for the 482 visa, the business must be able to demonstrate the given conditions:

• Must be an established and lawfully operating entity.
• Must meet certain Australian training and workplace requirements (if you are an Australian business only).
• Must comply with the number of subclass 482 workers to be nominated.
• Must demonstrate that it has a genuine commitment to employing local labor, and uses non-discriminatory recruitment practices.
• Must not have any relevant adverse information against the business.

Step Two – Nomination

An approved business sponsor can nominate workers for this visa type. The nomination process identifies the occupation needed to be filled by a worker for the business in Australia. To nominate a skilled international worker for a 482 visa, the approved business sponsor must:

• Provide the name of the skilled international worker to be employed at the business.
• Provide the state in which the skilled international worker will be employed.
• Demonstrate that it meets direct employer requirements in Australia.
• Provide employment terms and conditions that meet Australian workplace standards.
• Meet the genuineness criterion set by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
• Meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold.
• Not be subject to any adverse information.

Step Three – Lodge

After nomination by an approved business, we will then prepare and lodge your application timely. In this step of the process you, the skilled international worker, will need to demonstrate the given requirements:

• That you are sponsored by an employer to fill a genuine position.
• That you have the relevant skills, qualifications, and work experience for the relevant position.
• That You will be eligible for any relevant licenses or registration required for the nominated position (where necessary).
• That you possess vocational standards in the English language.
• That you will be paid at the very least, a minimum salary which is applicable for the period between when you lodged an application, to when a decision is reached on your Temporary Skill Shortage visa. The terms and conditions of your employment must be consistent with the obligations in the Australian labour market. If you are an onshore applicant, you will be granted a bridging visa until your current visa expires. This will give you the right to stay in Australia until the outcome of your 482 visa is decided.

4. The final step includes waiting for the outcome of your application. We will notify you of the result promptly.