Australia is set to relax work experience requirements for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482).
Starting in November 2024, the required work experience for the subclass 482 visa will be reduced from two years to one year.
According to the Australian government, reducing the work experience requirements will help skilled professionals easily obtain a work visa in Australia.
Moreover, easing the work experience requirements will also provide opportunities for graduates and early-career professionals to meet eligibility criteria in the Australian job market.
The subclass 482 visa allows Australian employers to address labour shortages by bringing in foreign skilled professionals in the absence of suitably qualified local workers.
Subclass 482 visa holders can stay and work in Australia for up to two years, or up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies.
The subclass 482 visa has four pathways: short-term stream, medium-term stream, labour agreement stream and subsequent entrant.
The short-and medium-term streams allow Australian employers to hire skilled professionals from overseas to fill labour shortages caused by an absence of adequately skilled local workers.
Short-term stream applicants must have an occupation on the short-term skilled occupation list, whereas medium-term stream applicants must have an occupation on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSS) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
The labour agreement stream of the subclass 482 visa is for skilled workers nominated by Australian employers with a Labour Agreement. Labour agreements are developed between employers and the Australian government.
The subsequent entrant pathway is for family members of Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) and subclass 482 visa holders who are applying for their visa separately to join the primary visa holder in Australia.
The Australian government announced easing the work experience requirement alongside releasing the federal budget for 2024-25.
During the announcement, the Australian government reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to reforming the migration system by following plans outlined in the Migration Strategy.