Australia Temporary Work Visa

Australian temporary work visas such as the 482 work visa and the working holidaymaker subclass 417 visa may be better options in many cases than the permanent skilled immigration categories.

Australian Temporary Work Skilled 457 visa replaced with the 482 Work Visa, for skilled workers who want to work in Australia for up to 4 years. Workers must be sponsored by an employer to obtain this visa. The Australian Subclass 457 Work Visa allows Australian and overseas employers to sponsor an immigrant worker to enter Australia for up to 4 years in order to engage in skilled work. The visa holder's family members can also gain entry to Australia, and may work and/or study during their stay.

Once a person enters Australia on a 457 work visa, there is no limit to the number of times he or she can enter and leave the country during the time frame of his or her visa.

• Sponsorship is sought for workers in the meat or on-hire industries.
• The sponsor is seeking to address "special labour market circumstances."
• Sponsorship is sought for a role that is not on Australia's Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL).

• Be a lawfully operating business;
• Specify the number of workers they wish to sponsor over the full term of their sponsorship;

• Meet the prescribed training benchmark; if they have been trading for 12 months or more (see our prescribed training benchmark section below);
• If they have been trading for 12 months or less, they must have a viable plan to meet the prescribed training benchmark;
• Declare in writing that they have a strong commitment to employing Australian nationals and will not discriminate in any way in regards to recruitment;
• Have fulfilled any training requirements under their last period as a 457 sponsor, if applicable.

• Intend to sponsor a 457 worker to establish a new business in Australia with connections to an overseas business, OR
• Intend to sponsor a 457 worker to fulfill contractual obligations the employer has in Australia.
• Have no 'adverse information' pertaining to them (for more information see our Adverse Information section below);
• Must not have taken any action which resulted in a third party paying costs related to the employer's becoming a sponsor or recruiting a 457 worker.

A labour agreement is an agreement between an employer and the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection that allows employers to sponsor 457 workers in circumstances not covered by the standard business sponsor category, such as when:

• Sponsorship is sought for workers in the meat or on-hire industries;
• The sponsor is seeking to address 'special labour market circumstances';
• Sponsorship is sought for a role that is not on Australia's Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL).

Company Specific Labour Agreements

These agreements are made on a case-by-case basis, and only where there is a labour shortage that is not already covered by another type of labour agreement.

Industry Labour Agreements

Industry labour agreements are made between the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and industry leaders to combat persistent labour shortages in that industry. Terms and conditions for these agreements are set in advance, and cannot be negotiated by individuals or companies. Industry labour agreements are currently in place for the meat industry and the on-hire industry.

Designated Area Migration Agreements

Designated area migration agreements are designed to address labour shortages in specific Australian states, territories, and regions. Each agreement has its own terms and conditions. To check if your business falls under one of these agreements, please contact us.

Project Labour Agreements

Project labour agreements combat labour shortages in large scale resource or infrastructure construction projects. Each agreement is negotiated with companies that oversee resource or infrastructure construction projects, after which employers can apply to be endorsed by the project company. If you think you may be eligible to take advantage of a project labour agreement, please contact us for further assistance.

Businesses in Australia that wish to sponsor 457 workers must meet a benchmark for the training of Australian citizens and/or permanent residents. Businesses which have been operating for 12 months or more must demonstrate that they have already met the benchmark, while those operating for 12 months or less must demonstrate that they have a viable plan of action for meeting the benchmark.

Some examples of ways to meet the benchmark include:

• Funding a scholarship for your Australian employees, or for Australian TAFE or university students.
• Employing apprentices, trainees, or recent graduates.
• Employment of someone for the specific purpose of training Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Examples of adverse information include, but are not limited to:

• A record of unlawful activity under Commonwealth, state or territory law, including being subject to administrative action that falls short of a criminal conviction.
• Being under investigation for unlawful activity under Commonwealth, state or territory law.
• Having been insolvent under the definitions found in subsections 5(2) and (3) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 and section 95A of the Corporations Act 2001

In order to gain approved sponsor status employers must have no adverse information against them pertaining to the last 3 years, such as records of insolvency or unlawful activity. However, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection can disregard certain adverse information at their discretion.

Examples of adverse information include, but are not limited to:

• Discrimination
• Immigration
• Industrial Relations
• Occupational Health and Sefaty
• People Smuggling and Related Offences
• Slavery, Sexual Servitude, and Deceptive Recruiting
• Taxation
• Terrorism
• Trafficking in Persons and Debt Bondage

Employees applying for a 457 work visa must:

• Be sponsored by an eligible employer to work in a nominated occupation on the Australian Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL).
• Have skills, qualifications, and experience that match the requirements of their nominated occupation.
• Have vocational English language proficiency: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5 across all four test components
• Be eligible for any relevant licenses associated with the position.
• Meet various health requirements, including having health insurance.
• Meet the character requirements, this usually means a criminal record check.

Family

457 work visa holders can bring their families with them to Australia. Family members covered by this visa include married partners, unmarried or de facto partners, dependent children (of any age), and other dependent relatives. Family members will be required to provide supporting evidence before they are allowed entry into Australia.

Married Partners

In order to include your married partner on your 457 visa, you will require a copy of your marriage certificate.

unmarried/De Facto Partners

In order to bring your unmarried or de facto partners to Australia, you will need to prove that you have been living together as a couple for at least 6 months. Tenancy agreements, rent slips, and shared bills are examples of suitable evidence. For advice on your specific case, please contact us.

Dependent Children

Children under the age of 18 can be included on your 457 visa with the provision of their birth or adoption certificate. To bring children over the age of 18 to Australia, you will need to prove that they are significantly or entirely dependent on you to meet their basic financial needs (such as food and housing), and have been for a significant period of time leading up to your visa application.

Other Dependent Relatives

The rules for other dependent relatives are similar to those for dependent children; relatives can be included on your application if you can prove that they are significantly or entirely dependent on you to meet their basic financial needs (such as food and housing), and have been for a significant period of time leading up to your visa application.

Applications

Either the employer or the worker can apply for this visa. Our team of immigration specialists can also handle every stage of the application process. For help and advice with your 457 visa application, please contact us on 9606023373 or at info@viavifa.com for assistance.