Under exciting changes recently announced by the Federal Government, short-term 457 and 482 visa holders will soon be able to pursue a pathway to permanent residency (PR) in Australia after just two years of employment.
The new rules, which are expected to be in place by the end of 2023, will also see more occupations become eligible for this pathway.
Read on to find out what you need to know about these new changes.
What is the new 482 visa PR pathway?
Until now, individuals sponsored to work in Australia on 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa were required to wait three years before becoming eligible for the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) pathway.
The TRT pathway allows employers to sponsor skilled workers for PR, allowing them to stay and work here indefinitely. Becoming a permanent resident is also a key step for anyone wishing to become an Australian citizen.
These changes also apply to those who hold a 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visa, although new applications for this stream have been closed.
Now, with changes to be implemented from 25 November, employer-sponsored short-term 457 and 482 visa holders only need to work for two years before becoming eligible for the Subclass 186 transitional visa.
The previous rules also restricted eligible applicants to those working in skilled occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
However, the new 457 and 482 pathway to PR also extends to those working in roles on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
This means this pathway is now available to many more skilled professionals across a wide range of sectors, including hospitality managers, butchers, journalists, information and communication technology (ICT) managers, massage therapists, hairdressers, librarians and teachers, to name just a few.
Of course, individuals are still required to meet the other criteria of the 186 Temporary Residence Transition Scheme visa to apply. This includes meeting the health, character and English language requirements.
In most cases, applicants must also be under the age of 45 to apply, however, there are some exceptions to this rule.
Full eligibility criteria for the Subclass 186 visa can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
