The 2024/25 Federal Budget has ushered in key alterations to Australia’s immigration laws, with major impacts on the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa. Businesses can tackle worker shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas employees for roles where local candidates are not available. As it stands, the subclass 482 visa demands that candidates should have clocked two years of work in their chosen profession or related areas within the last five years. However, from 23 November 2024, this bar will lower to simply one year of full-time experience across all categories: short-term, medium-term, and labor agreement.
Major Changes: Reducing the work experience prerequisite is a key change facilitating easier access for new professionals to the subclass 482 visa. It’s anticipated to especially help rapidly expanding industries experiencing sharp skill shortages. It’s crucial, however, to remember this adjustment doesn’t affect other skills needed for the visa. Candidates have to prove they have the required skills, qualifications, and job history to undertake their selected job. For regulated professions like doctors, lawyers, nurses, and engineers, mandatory degrees and certifications still stand, work experience reduction notwithstanding.
Implications and Benefits: This change aims to simplify Australia’s visa application process, making it more appealing to skilled workers. By cutting down the work experience demand, Australia hopes to fill in skill gaps across sectors, bolster the economy, and drive innovation. Aspiring professionals who might have been ruled out before can now join the Australian workforce earlier.
Recruiters and prospective sponsors should remember that this change will have to be legally approved to be formally hired. Hence, it’s important to plan ahead, keeping legislative procedures in mind, to fully use the new experience requirements post-implementation.
What is the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 Visa?
The subclass 482 visa lets businesses sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions where local talent is lacking. It breaks into three categories:
- Short-term stream: Occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
- Medium-term stream: Occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
- Labor agreement stream: Occupations covered by employer agreements with the government.
Conclusion: Lowering the work requirements for the subclass 482 visa makes Australia more open to skilled professionals worldwide. This development, along with other immigration adjustments, seeks to draw and retain world talents, addressing critical labor gaps and boosting Australia’s economic growth. For specific advice and more details, contact the trained team of registered migration consultants at Visa Solutions Australia. They can offer detailed guidance on dealing with these new requirements and fine-tuning your immigration path.
