Countdown to Temporary Work Visa Reforms

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At a Glance

• Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has advised that reforms to abolish the Temporary Work (Subclass 457) visa and replace it with the new Temporary Skilled Shortage (Subclass 482) visa will take effect in the first half of March 2018.
• These reforms will also restrict the eligibility criteria for permanent employer-sponsored visa categories.
• Fragomen's dedicated microsite has the latest updates including detailed information about the reforms from the Department of Home Affairs.

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The situation

The Department of Home Affairs has announced the official timeframe for the effectiveness of the Temporary Skilled Shortage (Subclass 482) (TSS) visa.

Reforms to tighten permanent employer-sponsored visa programs will also take effect at that time, including the reduction of the maximum age limit for all eligibility streams from 50 to 45.

Looking ahead

Planned reforms intended to limit the acceptable evidence of labour market testing and to introduce the Skills Australian Fund levy are still being debated in the Senate and are unlikely to be implemented until at least late March.

Fragomen resources

• Employers and foreign nationals can keep up to date with the latest developments on Australian immigration reforms through Fragomen's dedicated microsite. Our latest updates provide insights into the implementation of the TSS visa, including key information about the new Skilling Australians Fund levy, stricter labour market testing requirements and the proposed transitional arrangements for existing sponsors and 457 visa holders.
• Fragomen is also holding a webinar on March 1, 2018.
• Fragomen will continue to monitor and report on further updates as they are released by the Department of Home Affairs. A series of webinars and briefing sessions will also be held following the release of regulations.

 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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