Australia 3 Major Changes to Employer-Sponsored 482 Visa: Australia Visa Update

The Australian government started changing several visa rules as part of its migration policy, and these changes will impact both current visa holders and those who apply for visas on or after July 20, 2024. They are evidence of Australia’s ongoing dedication to fostering a fair and productive labor market for temporary employees.

If your business is sponsoring your work in Australia, you can apply for the TSS 482, which is the most common long-term temporary work visa for Australians. With a 482 visa, you can work and live in Australia for a maximum of two years, or four years if your profession is on the Medium-Term List. After two years, you may be able to apply for an 186 visa, which grants you permanent residency.

Key Changes to the 482 Visa

Some of the significant modifications to the 482 Visa include the following.

1. Obtaining a 482 Visa requires one year of experience

Starting in November 2024, only one year of full-time work experience will be needed for the 482 Visa, albeit it must still be in the specified occupation or a closely related sector. Some people who were thinking about DAMA may now be able to seek a Medium-Term Stream or Short-Term Stream 482 Visa because of the lowered skill requirements.

This is a reform that is much needed, especially for those in Australia on Graduate Visas who will need to apply for a new visa to stay in the country after gaining two years of full-time experience in their industry. This is unrelated to the amount of time you have to possess a 482 Visa before utilizing the Temporary Residence Transition Stream to apply for an 186 Visa.

2. An alternative visa to the 482 Visa

The government unveiled a new visa scheme last year as part of its migration strategy: the Skills In-Demand Visa. While the precise date of this new visa’s introduction is unknown, it has been indicated that the desired system of temporary skilled migration will be put in place by the end of 2024.

The new Skills In-Demand Visa program, which has three streams, may benefit businesses by providing visa holders with a better visa and a more direct route to Australian citizenship.

3. Two-year PR Pathway

The 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream now only takes two years as opposed to three years. As a result, the period needed to work on a 482 Visa is shortened by one year, and the clock starts as soon as your 482 is accepted. If you change jobs, the clock restarts. However, the new Skills In-Demand Visa avoids time resets, per the migration strategy.

Other Changes to 482 Visa

Work Condition:

As of July 2024, the standards for the 457, 482, and 494 visas have been modified to better serve visa holders. Because of this, you now have 180 days—three times longer than before—from the date of your job termination to find another employment or around six months.

The new rules permit you to work multiple jobs to support yourself during the 180 days. If you are unable to find a replacement within 180 days, your visa may be revoked.

Nominee

This amendment allows 482 Visa holders who have lost their employment to maintain a more stable status in Australia while they search for a new nominator, as 60 days may not always be enough to secure a new sponsored position. For those who are being abused and need to leave an abusive sponsored work arrangement, it also makes it safer since migrants will now be allowed to leave and pursue other careers.

New move to crack down on worker exploitation

Individuals who cover up a migrant worker’s violation of a job-rated requirement or force them to accept an exploitative work arrangement to satisfy a work requirement now face new criminal and civil penalties. Additionally, the government amended the law to forbid employers who abuse immigrants from hiring them again and to publish a list of the names of those businesses.

The new Skills In-Demand Visa program, which is a component of the continuing policy reforms by the Australian government, will cause modifications to the employer-sponsored scheme. If you are eligible, it is usually best to apply as soon as possible rather than waiting to see how the Skills In-Demand Visa operates because it might be too late once you find out about a change that would prevent you from applying.