Temporary Skill Shortage Visa - TSS Visa

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
Subclass 457 TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Understanding the transition from SC457 to Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
- Employers who are already approved standard business sponsors for subclass 457 will be able to sponsor skilled overseas workers under the TSS visa program
Subject to final approval of transitional arrangements, it is expected that:
- If SC457 nomination and visa applications are both lodged prior to TSS implementation, they will be processed under the current framework
- If a SC457 nomination application is lodged without an associated 457 visa application being lodged before the commencement of TSS, it will, however, effectively become “redundant” as SC457 nominations cannot be linked to TSS visa applications, even where the nomination has already been approved.
- Arrangements will be put in place to ensure that such redundant applications can be finalised and/or withdrawn with a refund of the fee provided.
- To avoid delays or unnecessary additional processing steps, it is highly advisable to:
- Lodge complete SC457 nomination and visa applications together before end of February; or
- Postpone lodgement until commencement of TSS (need to be aware of additional requirement after February).
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Secondary visa applicants (of 457 visa holders or pending 457 visa applications) will be able to lodge a subsequent dependant TSS application if they meet requirements, will be granted a TSS visa linked to their family’s SC457 visa/nomination. The validity period of the TSS visa will match the expiry of the SC457 primary visa holder
- SC457 visa holders whose visa is not expiring but wish to change employer after the implementation of TSS (without changing occupation), can get their new employer to lodge a TSS nomination application to facilitate this as per current arrangements
- SC457 visa holders who wish to change occupation or need a new visa (for example: longer validity) they will, however, need to lodge a new TSS visa application referencing to a new TSS nomination application
4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR TSS VISA APPLICATIONS
Both streams of the TSS visa
- Two occupation lists (STSOL & MLTSSL)
- Minimum English language requirements
- Market salary rates subject to TSMIT
- At least two years relevant work experience
- Mandatory LMT with occupation exemptions are no longer available
- Mandatory criminal history checks
- Requirement to pay a contribution to the Skilling Australian Fund (SAF)
- Non-discriminatory workforce test to ensure employers are not actively discriminating against Australian workers
Short term stream criteria
- This stream will use the STSOL
- Available up to two years with only one onshore renewal option
- GTE criteria applies to prevent de facto residence
- English language requirement an IELTS or equivalent overall score of 5 with a minimum of 4.5 in each test component
Medium term stream criteria
- This stream will use the MLTSSL
- Available up to four years, no limitations on number of onshore applications
- Available for ENS TRTS after three years
- English requirement an IELTS 5 in each component (higher threshold than short term stream)
Visa application charges
SBS & Nomination fees remain the same (SBS $420 & Nomination $330).
Visa Application Charge |
Primary Applicant |
Adult Dependant |
Child Dependant |
TSS Visa (Short-Term Stream) |
$1,150 |
$1,150 |
$290 |
TSS Visa (Medium-Term Stream) |
$2,400 |
$2,400 |
$600 |
Remider regarding transitional arrangements
The table below summaries the transitional arrangements that are expected to be in place:
How will pipeline application be processed after the implementation date of TSS? | |
standar business sponsorship (SBS) application lodged before the implementation date | will continue to be processed under the old rules subject to minor transitional arrange to the benefit of employer (Example: will move to new five year periods, and training benchmark will not apply to subject to the skilling) |
Subclass 457 nomination application for existing subclass 457 visa holders lodge before the implementation date | will be processed under the "Old Rules" |
Subclass 457 Nomination application for visa applicants lodged before the implementation date |
|
Subclass 457 visa application for visa applicants lodged before the implementation date | will be processed under 'old rules' and if satisfied, a subclass 457 visa will be granteed |
I have |
I can |
an existing SBS sponsirship |
|
an approve subclass 457 nomination that has not ceased |
|
a Subclass 457 visa in effect |
|
Reminder
All the information in this is based on various announcement made by and fact sheets by the Department since 18 February 2017
No regulations or policy yet.
The TSS is expected to commence in March 2018, no definitive date yet.