Visas

What you need to know
How to apply

Employer Sponsored Migration (Visas)

The subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa (TSS) is designed to allow Australian employers to recruit overseas employees when businesses are unable to fulfil their employment needs from within the Australian market. The visa is a temporary residency visa that can be granted for a period of time ranging from 3 months to 4 years depending on whether the nominated occupation is listed on the Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). The visa process is a three-phase process involving a sponsorship, nomination and visa application. 

Before an applicant can apply for a TSS visa, the proposed employer will need to lodge a nomination application for the employee.

The proposed employer needs to satisfy a number of criteria including providing evidence that it is actively engaged in business activities and has a satisfactory training record. New businesses and proposals may be considered if there is a clear intention to establish the business and an auditable training plan is in place.

Businesses that have no formal operating base or representation in Australia may also apply to bring employees to Australia, on a temporary basis, in order to

  • Establish a branch, joint venture or agency distribution and subsidiary branches in Australia; or 
  • Fulfil obligations for a contract or other business activity in Australia

The proposed employer will need to nominate an occupation for the employee that is on the government’s gazetted list and will need to demonstrate that the employee will be paid a market-related salary. In addition, for the nomination to be approved, the market salary rate must be greater than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). The TSMIT is currently A$53,900

Employees must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and qualifications to undertake the position nominated. In addition, the employee and family members will need to pass medical and character checks.

The subclass 494 Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional via is designed to allow Australian employers located in designated regional areas to recruit overseas employees when businesses are unable to fulfil their employment needs from within the Australian market.  Designated Areas of Australia for the purposes of this visa includes all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This visa is a temporary residency visa that can be granted for a period of 5 years.

Before an applicant can apply for this visa, the proposed employer will need to lodge a nomination application for the employee.

The proposed employer needs to satisfy a number of criteria including providing evidence that it is actively engaged in business activities and has a satisfactory training record. New businesses and proposals may be considered if there is a clear intention to establish the business and an auditable training plan is in place.

Businesses that have no formal operating base or representation in Australia may also apply to bring employees to Australia, on a temporary basis, in order to

  • Establish a branch, joint venture or agency distribution and subsidiary branches in Australia; or 
  • Fulfil obligations for a contract or other business activity in Australia

The proposed employer will need to nominate an occupation for the employee that is on the government’s gazetted list, and will need to demonstrate that the employee will be paid a market related salary. In addition, for the nomination to be approved, the market salary rate must be greater than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). The TSMIT is currently A$53,900

You must have your skills assessed as suitable for the nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority. The skills assessment must be undertaken before your application is lodged.

In addition the employee and family members will need to pass medical and character checks.

The Employer Nomination Scheme allows Australian employers to fill highly skilled positions in Australia with a non-Australian citizen or resident. The ENS enables Australian employers to recruit, on a permanent basis, highly skilled staff from overseas or temporary residents already in Australia, when they are unable to fill a vacancy from within the Australian labour market or through their own training.

The sponsoring company will need to show that they satisfy the following criteria, amongst others:

  • there is a genuine need for a paid employee in a business operated by the employer that is actively and lawfully operating in Australia
  • the employer has a satisfactory record of training employees
  • the nominated position corresponds to an occupation specified on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
  • the nominated position will provide employment on a full-time basis for at least 3 years;
  • the nominated position provides working conditions which are no less favourable than those provided for under the relevant Australian legislation and awards; and
  • the nominated position will pay a salary that is at least the specified minimum salary level for the occupation

The employee needs to meet the following requirements, amongst others:

  • Have a satisfactory skill assessment from an Australian assessing authority and 3 years post qualification work experience
  • Have been nominated for a position with a base salary specified by a legislative instrument
  • Be less than 45 years of age unless a specific exemption applies
  • Have vocational English language ability, unless a specific exemption applies
  • Satisfy mandatory health and character checks

This visa allows skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, to live and work in Australia permanently.

You must be a transitional subclass 457 or subclass 482 worker holder and usually, you must have worked for your employer full-time for at least 3 years.  You must also be nominated by your employer

The RSMS allows employers in regional or low population growth areas of Australia to fill skilled positions that they are unable to fill from the local labour market. Any employer can participate in the scheme as long as their business and the position being filled is in a regional area.

The regional definition is comprised of 3 categories and offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’

  • Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart
  • Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas (Include Designated regional area postcodes as per below table)
State or Territory Category Postcodes
New South Wales Cities and major regional centres 2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574
Regional centres and other regional areas 2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898
Victoria Cities and major regional centres 3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342
Regional centres and other regional areas 3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996
Queensland Cities and major regional centres 4207 to 4275, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 4575
Regional centres and other regional areas 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 4895
Western Australia Cities and major regional centres 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
South Australia Cities and major regional centres 5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
Tasmania Cities and major regional centres 7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
Australian Capital Territory Cities and major regional centres All postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory
Regional centres and other regional areas None
Northern Territory Cities and major regional centres None
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in the Northern Territory
Norfolk Island Cities and major regional centres None
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in Norfolk Island
Other Territories Cities and major regional centres None
Regional centres and other regional areas All postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island

A nomination made under the RSMS cannot be approved unless it has been certified by a Regional Certifying Body. the Certifying Body will assess whether or not there is a need for a paid employee in the business operated by the employer and the employer is actively operating in a regional or low population growth area of Australia; and that the nominated position is located in a regional or low population growth area and is for at least 2 years from commencement.

The employer also needs to show that :

  • they have a satisfactory record of compliance with Australian immigration and workplace relations law;
  • the employer does not have any adverse information against it or it's officers;
  • the nominee will be paid on a salary and working conditions that accord with the relevant Australian legislation and award.

The employee needs to meet the following requirements, amongst others:

  • Hold, or is eligible to hold, any mandatory registration, licence or professional membership which allows work independently and without further training
  • Be less than 45 years of age unless a specific exemption applies 
  • Be the primary visa holder of either a subclass 457 visa, a subclass 482 (TSS) visa or a bridging visa A, B or C
  • Have functional English language ability, unless a specific exemption applies
  • Satisfy mandatory health and character checks

Please note that this visa class will only be implemented on or after 16 November 2022

While details on this visa have not yet been released, it is believed that holders of this visa will:

  • Stay in Australia permanently
  • work and study anywhere in Australia
  • be able to sponsor eligible relatives for permanently residence 
  • apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible. 

You must:

  • hold an eligible visa
  • have lived for at least 3 years and have a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for at least three years
  • both primary and secondary applicants have complied with the conditions of the eligible visa you hold or have held

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Speak to our Consultants

Speak to a Australian Migration Specialists Consultant Michelle Oztas: +27 11 783 9440

Speak to a Australian Migration Specialists Consultant Tracey Lawrence: +27 82 419 3696

Registered Migration Agent No. 9803463

Contact Details

Tel: +27 11 783 9440


Australian Mobile: +61 404 371 683

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