The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and You

Business in Australia is booming, so much so that a recent survey revealed nearly a third of businesses (31%) are having a hard time finding suitable staff. Because of this shortage, the government has opened the doors of immigration a little wider to allow foreign nationals to legally apply for work visas to make up for the shortfall.

The Temporary Skill Shortage visa, or TSS 482 visa, welcomes skilled foreign workers who are sponsored by businesses who legitimately cannot find the trained Australian workers they require, to enter an application process that will allow them to legally stay in the country and work at their occupation. This addresses the short-term lack of skilled workers, a win for Australian businesses, and allows overseas workers to possibly extend their stay and even achieve permanent status.

Some of the business sectors that are seeking relief from this visa process are as follows:

  • Mining
  • Manufacturing
  • Agriculture
  • Forestry and fishing
  • Recreation services
  • Construction
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Water and waste services
  • Retail trades
  • Accommodation
  • Food services
  • Transport
  • Postal and warehousing
  • Telecommunications
  • Information media
  • Rental services
  • Real estate
  • Professional services
  • Scientific and technical
  • Health care and medical
  • Education and training

Employers interested in hiring Temporary Skill Shortage workers must first establish themselves as a Standard Business Sponsor. This is accomplished by going through these steps:

  1. Fill out your supporting documents.
  2. Lodge the Standard Business Sponsor form.
  3. Pay the sponsorship application fee.
  4. Receive approval.

The standard business sponsor status is valid for five years on approval. The government charges an AUD 420 fee for the sponsorship application.

If your business is relatively new, it is still possible to become a Standard Business Sponsor. It will be necessary for you to provide documents that prove the following requirements:

Your business must be operating lawfully which can be demonstrated by presenting a detailed business plan. Ideally, this will include contracts to show you have retained services such as

A lease agreement

Bank statements for your business

Evidence that you have employed a staff

When you achieve Standard Business Sponsor status you can then sponsor someone to work for you on a TSS 482 visa. You must then nominate the occupation and the person who you are sponsoring to fill it and they must begin the visa application process.

Please note the application to sponsor must have Department of Immigration approval before the nomination application becomes eligible. Also, the nomination application must have final approval before the visa application can be considered for approval. If you are a foreign worker already in Australia and have successfully lodged your visa application, it’s highly likely that the Department of Immigration will grant a bridging visa that allows you to remain in Australia until your status is finalised.

Once all the paperwork is done, congratulations, you are officially an Australian temporary skilled worker and help fill the shortage!