Temporary Skill Shortage Visa

With the short-term visa, you can work in Australia for up to two or up to four years if an ITO or International Trade Obligation applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years. 

You are allowed to travel in and out of Australia as many times until the validity period of your visa. The visa costs $1290 for the main applicant. Other costs are exclusive, such as English language tests, police certificates, health checks and biometrics.

Eligibility criteria for short-term stream visa 482

• You must be nominated to work in an occupation enlisted in the eligible short-term skilled occupations list
• You must hold at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field
• You should have a relevant skills assessment if required for your occupation
• You must work only for your sponsor or associated organisation, unless you are exempt
• You must meet minimum standards of English language fluency unless you are exempt from sharing proof

If you wish to stay longer, you may apply for a new visa and your employer will have to submit a new nomination. Your employer may be able to sponsor you for a permanent residence through the:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)

The visa processing time for subclass 482 short-term stream may take 8 to 11 months.

With the medium-term stream visa, you can work in Australia for up to four years. You may stay up to five years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder.

You can even study in Australia, but you won’t receive Government assistance.

You can travel in and out of Australia as many times until the validity period of your visa.

The cost of this visa for the main applicant is $2690, with additional costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

Eligibility criteria for medium-term stream visa 482

• You must be nominated to work in an occupation enlisted in the eligible short-term skilled occupations list
• You must hold at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field
• You should have a relevant skills assessment if required for your occupation
• You must work only for your sponsor or associated organisation, unless you are exempt
• You must meet minimum standards of English language fluency unless you are exempt from sharing proof

If you wish to stay longer, you may apply for a new visa and your employer will have to submit a new nomination. Your employer may be able to sponsor you for a permanent residence through the:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)

The processing time for this visa application takes around 5 to 8 months.

The labour agreement is a visa meant for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. This agreement is developed between the concerned department of the Australian Government and employers.

This visa subclass lets you live and work in Australia temporarily for your sponsor for up to four years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay for up to five years.

You can even study in Australia, but you won’t receive Government assistance.

You can travel in and out of Australia as many times until the validity period of your visa.

The cost of this visa for the main applicant is $2690, with additional costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

Eligibility criteria for labour agreement steam – visa 482

• You must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the labour agreement terms
• You must hold at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field
• You should have a relevant skills assessment if required for your occupation
• You must work only for your sponsor 
• You must meet minimum standards of English language fluency unless you are exempt

If you wish to stay longer, you may apply for a new visa and your employer will need to submit a new nomination. Your employer may sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

The subsequent entrant visa is for family members of subclass visa 457 and TSS visa holders who are applying separately for their TSS visa. 

With this visa, you can live, work and study in Australia. You travel in and out of Australia as many times until the validity period of your visa.

If the primary visa holder holds a TSS visa, the visa application charge will depend on the stream (short-term, medium-term or labour stream) in which the primary visa was granted.

If the primary visa holder holds a subclass 457 visa instead of a TSS visa, the visa charges will be based as per the regulation 1240(2)(a)(ii):

• Base application charge – $2,690 
• Additional applicant charge for applicants 18 and over – $2,690
• Additional applicant charge for applicants under 18 – $675

Eligibility criteria for Subsequent Entrant – visa 482

The eligibility criteria are fairly straightforward, wherein: 

• You must be a partner or dependent of a subclass 482 or 457 visa holder. 
• The sponsor must agree or have agreed in writing to include the primary applicant as a family member in the nomination.
• You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your intended stay.
• You must meet health and character requirements.
• If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, Bridging visa B or Bridging visa C.  

If you wish to stay longer, you may apply for a new visa and your employer will have to submit a new nomination. Your employer may be able to sponsor you for a permanent residence through the:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)

At present, there is no processing time available for this visa.