Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS)

Subclass 482 Visa

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa – (482 visa) – is the most commonly used visa for employers to sponsor overseas nationals in Australia. This visa has replaced the former ‘457 visa’.

If the occupation the overseas national is looking to be sponsored for is on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL), the TSS visa can be granted for up to four years with the ability for visa renewal onshore for a further four years with a permanent residency pathway potentially available after two/three years on this visa.

If the occupation is on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) the 482 visa can be granted for up to two years with the ability for a visa renewal onshore for a further two years.

The 482 Visa is designed to assist businesses that are facing difficulties finding appropriate skilled labour in the local job market.

If an occupation you are looking to sponsor is not on the Skilled Occupation Lists, you may consider requesting a Labour Agreement.

Main Requirements Of The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) – 482 Visa

Labour Market Testing Requirements

Nomination applications associated with the subclass 482 visa are subject to the requirement of providing evidence of labour market testing (LMT) unless international trade obligations or specified exemptions apply.

This needs to have been undertaken within the four month period immediately prior to lodging the nomination application.

If an Australian citizen or permanent resident worker has been made redundant or retrenched from the nominated occupation within four months before lodging the nomination application, the advertising must have been completed from the date the redunduncy or retrenchment occured.

English Requirements

Occupations being sponsored on the Short-term stream will require IELTS of at least 4.5 in each test component or equivalent in PTE, TOEFL etc.

However, the Medium-term stream requires competent English (IELTS at least 5.0 in each test component or equivalent in PTE TOEFL, etc).

English language exemptions will apply to people that fall into one of the following categories:

you are a passport holder from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America

you have completed at least five years of full-time study in a secondary or higher education institution where instruction was conducted in English*.
Note: a higher education institution includes Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses for the purposes of this visa subclass
you are nominated for an occupation which will be performed at a diplomatic or consular mission of another country or an Office of the Authorities of Taiwan located in Australia
the person is an employee of an overseas business who is coming to Australia to work for that company, or their associated entity, and the position has guaranteed annual earnings of at least AUD96,400
your occupation requires you to hold a licence, registration or membership and:
- to be granted the licence, registration or membership you must demonstrate a level of English language proficiency that is equivalent to or better than the level described on the previous page (test/scores), and
- you have been granted the licence, registration or membership.

Two Years Work Experience

All applicants for the 482 TSS visa are required to provide evidence that they have at least two years of work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field.

The Department will take a flexible approach for specific industries that experience can be counted based on being part of a master’s degree and/or PhD for relevant occupations, or industry/clinical placements, internships or apprenticeships.

Placements, Internships and Apprenticeship experience can only be counted if it is either:

As part of a CRICOS registered course of study where it is relevant to the nominated occupation
Not part of a CRICOS registered course of study but it is undertaken at the skill level of the relevant occupation.

The Three Streams Of The TSS Visa

Subclass 482 Visa

The Short-Term 482 Visa Stream

The Short-Term Visa Stream applies to overseas workers whose occupations are on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and they will be employed for 2 years, unless this is inconsistent with an international trade obligation. Short term visa stream holders will have the ability to renew this temporary 482 visa once onshore for a further period of 2 years.

The Medium-Term 482 Visa Stream

The Medium-Term Stream applies to workers whose occupations are on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and they can be employed for up to 4 years with the ability to transition to permanent residency after being employed by the nominating sponsor on a TSS visa for a minimum period of at least 3 years.

The Labour Agreement 482 Visa Stream

The Labour Agreement stream enables skilled overseas workers to be employed by a business that has an approved Labour Agreement with the Australian government.

Eligibility Requirements For A Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) – 482 Visa

Requirements - Sponsor

Labour Market Testing (Job Advertisements)

The sponsoring employer will need to provide evidence that they have experienced difficulty in recruiting the nominated position in the local labour market. Exemptions to this apply if an international trade obligation applies. It is not mandatory to also advertise on the Australian Governments ‘Workforce Australia’ website.

Minimum Market Salary Rate

Employers are required to provide remuneration to the nominated employee that are no less favourable to what would be offered to an equivalent Australian employee performing the same role at the same location. This requirement is known as the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR). The salary must also be above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) applicable at time of application.

Training Fund Contribution

Employers nominating a worker for a TSS visa are required to pay a contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund that has been established by the Federal Government. The contribution is $1,200 per year or part year for businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million and or a contribution of $1,800 per year or part year for any other business, the contribution is payable in full at the time of the nomination application.

Requirements - Applicant

Work Experience

All applicants are required to have at least two years of work experience relevant to the occupation being nominated.

Police Clearances

All applicants will be required to provide a police clearance for every country they have spent 12 months or more in, in the last 10 years.

English Ability

Occupations that are listed on the Short-term stream will be required to provide evidence of an English ability of at least IELTS 4.5 in each test component or its equivalent and occupations that are listed on the Medium-term stream will require at least IELTS 5.0 in each test component or its equivalent.

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 482 visa? The 482 visa is an employer sponsored visa. It allows employers to sponsor overseas workers in eligible occupations to fill skill shortages they are facing.

What are the temporary skill shortages in Australia? The Department has a Skilled Occupation List (SOL) that consists of the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Medium long-term Skilled Occupation List (MLTSSL) and the Regional Occupation List (ROL) which reflects the skill shortages in Australia and the occupations that can be sponsored by employers.

What are the requirements for a 482 visa in Australia? The requirements for an applicant to be granted a TSS visa in Australia require an individual to be nominated by an employer, have the relevant qualifications and/or experience in the occupation and have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the last 5 years. Additional criteria such as character, health and English also must be met.

Can I bring my family to Australia on a 482 visa? An applicant for a 482 TSS visa can include their spouse or de facto partner and children to their visa application. It is also possible to add their partner and children to the visa after they have been granted the visa by making an application for a ‘subsequent entrant’ 482 visa. Family members of a primary 482 visa holder are eligible to work full time in Australia (for any employer) and study.

Can a 482 visa lead to permanent residency? Yes, depending on which Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa stream you are granted a visa under will depend on whether you have a pathway to permanent residency.

How long does a temporary visa last in Australia? The TSS visa can be granted for up to two years for an occupation on the STSOL (with the ability to extend for a further two years) or for up to four years for an occupation in the MLTSSL which provides a pathway to permanent residency via the Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186) after three years of employment.

How much is a temporary work visa for Australia? The price for the temporary work visa in Australia will depend on which visa stream you apply for.

Can 482 visa be extended? In most cases yes. If the visa holder holds a 482 visa in a short-term occupation (STSOL) they can renew their TSS visa for a further two years. Occupations in the Long-term List (MLTSSL) can either transition to permanent residency (if supported by the employer) or renew for a further four years.

Can I change employer on 482 visa? If you are looking at changing employer whilst holding a SC482 visa your new employer will need to be an approved sponsor and submit a TSS Nomination before you can transfer your employment to the new sponsor. This is known as a ‘visa transfer’.

What if I have changed my contact details? If your contact details have changed since you lodged your visa application, you can notify the Department of Home Affairs online through your Immi Account or through a paper Form 929.