Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa

482 Visa

Check Employer Eligibility
Check Employee Eligibility

What is TSS visa?

The Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa is a temporary visa that allows employees to work in Australia for a nominated employer on a full-time basis for up to four years.

The TSS (482 Visa) Visa replaced the 457 Visa in March 2018 and is now the most common way for companies to sponsor employees in Australia.

The purpose of the 482 TSS Visa is to fill the employment gaps in the Australian labour market for occupations that are currently unable to be filled by appropriately qualified and skilled Australian workers.

The types of occupations eligible for the TSS visa can be found on the lists below:

Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL)

Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

YouTube video
Video Transcript

Application Process for 482 Visa

Here are the 4 steps employers and employees have to go through during the application process.

l

Standard Business Sponsorship

Employer applies to be a sponsor (allow 1 month)

Z

Labour Market Testing

The Employer must complete at least 4 weeks of labour market testing

Nomination

The Employer nominates employee (allow 1-2 months)

i

Apply for Visa

The Employee applies for TSS Visa (allow 1-2 months)

E

Step 1: Determine eligibility

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Step 2: Employer subsmits SBS

E

Step 3: Labour Market Testing

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Step 4: Employer Nominates

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Step 5: Employee Applies

Employer Eligibility

An employer is typically eligible to nominate an employee if it:

  • Is an Approved Standard Business Sponsor
  • Has a genuine position available;
  • Conducts labour market testing* to show that a suitable Australian worker is not available for the position; and
  • Will pay the annual market salary to the nominated employee.

Labour Market Testing must have been undertaken:

  • For a period of four weeks; and
  • Not more than four months before the date the nomination is submitted.
Check Employer Eligibility

Employee Eligibility

In general, an employee is eligible for the TSS visa if they:

  • Have been successfully nominated by approved employer for an occupation on one of the Skills List
  • Have worked in the nominated occupation for at least two years;
  • Meet English Language proficiency requirement
  • Have health insurance; and
  • Meet the Health, Character, Visa History and Genuine Temporary Entrant
Check Employee Eligibility

Occupation Eligibility

The nominated occupation must be on one of the following:

  • Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL)
  • Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

Employer Submits a Sponsorship Business Application (SBS)

The Employer must apply to be an Approved Business Sponsor by submitting a Sponsorship Application.

Processing time: approximately 1-2 months

To be successful, the employer must show that it:

  • Is legally established and currently operating;
  • Has no adverse information regarding the operation of the business;
  • Has a strong record of or commitment to employing local labour; and
  • Will not engage in discriminatory recruitment practices

Employer Conducts Labour Market Testing

The Employer must complete specific Labour Market Testing to prove that there are no qualified Australians to fill the position.

Labour Market Testing must be:

  • For a period of four weeks
  • Not more than 4 four months before the nomination is submitted
  • Appropriately advertised, meaning the advertisement:
    • Is in English;
    • Includes information about the position, such as: title and description of duties and skills required, salary, the employer name; and
    • Is through an acceptable platform, such as: indeed.com, seek.com, linkedin, industry specific website, etc.

*Some exemptions exist to LMT.

Approved Employer Nominates Employee

The Employer must then submit a nomination application for the employee.

Once the employer is approved as a business sponsor, the employer may then apply to the Department of Home Affairs to nominate a foreign employee to fill the position.

Processing time: approximately 1 to 2 months

To be successful in nominating an employee the employer must demonstrate that:

  • The position is on one of the skills lists;
  • There is a genuine need for the position
  • They have conducted Labour Market Testing and cannot find an Australian to fill the role.
  • The foreign employee is receiving employment remuneration equal to that or above that of an Australian citizen.

Employee Applies for the Visa

Once the employee has been successfully nominated to fill a position, they may then apply for a TSS Visa.
Processing time: approximately 1 to 2 months

To be successfully granted the visa the employee must:

  • Possess the required skills, education and qualification to fill the position
  • Have at least two years of work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field. The experience must be completed while working in the nominated occupation, or performing tasks at the same skill level in a related field
  • Meet the required English language proficiency requirement
  • Be of good character and health
  • Have health insurance required for the duration of the visa

Book a Migration Consultation

We have a ton of information on our site about various visa options and FAQs that answer most of our visitors’ questions, but if you’re still not sure where to start or you need a personalised step by step walkthrough, then schedule a call with one of our Registered Migration Agent.

Simply follow the link below and you’ll be able to pick the date & time that fits your schedule.

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Brad

482 Visa Streams

To be eligible for the TSS Visa, you must be qualified for and nominated to work in an occupation that is included on one of the occupations lists at the time the application is made. Depending on which list your occupation falls under, you may apply for two main TSS Visa Streams

Short-term Stream

The nominated occupation must be:
Currently listed on the Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL)
The duration of the visa is:

Up to two years (or up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO)

The base fee for the visa is:

For employees: from $1,330 AUD

For employers:

  • $420 AUD Sponsorship Application; and
  • $330 AUD Nomination; and
  • Skilling Australians Fund Levy

To be eligible for this visa, the employee must:

  • Be nominated by an approved sponsoring employer for the specific occupation
  • Have at least two years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or related field
  • Have a positive relevant skills assessment (unless eligible for an exemption)
  • Work only for the nominated employer (unless eligible for an exemption)
  • Meet the English language proficiency requirement (unless exempt)
  • Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement
  • Meet the Health and Character Requirements
  • Maintain Health Insurance
To be eligible to sponsor an employee, the employer must:
  • be an Approved Standard Business Sponsor
  • have a genuine position available;
  • Conduct labour market testing to show that a suitable Australian worker is not available for the position; and
  • pay the annual market salary to the nominated employee.
You can extend the visa if:
  • Your existing employer submits a new nomination; and
  • You apply for a new visa

You may be able to apply for Permanent Residence if:

Your employer decides to sponsor you for either the:

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

You may be able to include family members if:

  • They are a member of the family unit; and
  • You have not previously held a subclass 457 or TSS visa

    You can apply for this visa from:

    • Inside Australia, if you hold a substantive visa or Bridging Visa A, B, or C; or
    • Outside of Australia
    •  

    The processing time for this visa is:

    • Between one and two months
    •  

    Medium Term Stream

    The nominated occupation must be:
    Currently listed on the Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL)

    The duration of the visa is:

    Up to four years

    The base fee for the visa is:

    For Employees: from $2,770 AUD

    For Employers:

    • $420 AUD Sponsorship Application; and
    • $330 AUD Nomination; and
    • Skilling Australians Fund Levy

      To be eligible for this visa, employees must:

      • Be nominated by an approved sponsoring employer for the specific occupation
      • Have at least two years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or related field
      • Have a positive relevant skills assessment (unless eligible for an exemption)
      • Work only for the nominated employer (unless eligible for an exemption)
      • Meet the English language proficiency requirement (unless exempt)
      • Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement
      • Meet the Health and Character Requirements
      • Maintain Health Insurance

      To be eligible to sponsor an employee, the employer must:

      • be an Approved Standard Business Sponsor
      • have a genuine position available;
      • Conduct labour market testing to show that a suitable Australian worker is not available for the position; and
      • pay the annual market salary to the nominated employee.

      You can extend the visa if:

      • Your existing employer submits a new nomination; and
      • You apply for a new visa

      You may be able to apply for Permanent Residence if:

      Your employer decides to sponsor you for either the:

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

        You may be able to include family members if:

        • They are a member of the family unit; and
        • You have not previously held a subclass 457 or TSS visa

        You can apply for this visa from:

        • Inside Australia, if you hold a substantive visa or Bridging Visa A, B, or C; or
        • Outside of Australia

        The processing time for this visa is:

        • Between one and two months
        •  

        Frequently Asked Questions

        In case you don’t find an answer to your question, feel free to consult with one of our agents.

        Schedule a Consultation
        Can 482 visa holder apply for permanent residency?
        The 482 visa in itself is not a permanent visa. However if your occupation is on the MLTSSL, you could potentially look to apply for the 186 – employer sponsored. Other permanent visa options include the 190 or 491. Or if you are living and working in a regional area, you could consider the Subclass 494 employer sponsored visa.
        Can 482 visas be extended?
        Yes you can extend your 482 visa one time. After this you would need to look at different visa options.
        Can 482 dependent visa holders work?
        Yes, 482 dependents over 18 would usually have full work rights.
        How long can a 482 visa be granted for?
        The 482 visa can be granted for a maximum of 4 years (if your occupation is on the MLTSSL), or 2 years if your occupation is on the STSOL.
        Do I need an employer to sponsor me to apply for a TSS visa?
        Yes you 100% need an employer to sponsor your visa.
        What is the TSS visa?
        The TSS visa is the most common employer sponsored work visa in Australia.
        How do you apply for a TSS visa?
        Your employer would first need to apply to become a standard business sponsor. Your employer would then need to nominate you for the position. You would then apply for the TSS Visa.
        Can I include family members on the TSS visa?
        Yes you can include your spouse/de facto partner and dependent children.

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        482 Visa – Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa was last modified: October 16th, 2023 by Nick Yock