WHAT IS A 457 VISA?
- The 457 visa program allows business to employ foreign workers for a period up to four years in skilled jobs where there is a shortage of Australian workers.
- The numbers are uncapped and there is no limit on the number of times they can travel in and out of Australia.
- Foreign workers can bring their families to work or study.
- Employers must apply to sponsor a 457 worker or enter into a formal labour agreement with the government.
- They must show they are training locals.
- As at September 30, 2016 there were 95,757 workers in Australia on primary 457 visas and 76,430 secondary visa holders (members of their family).
- But numbers are in decline — in March there was a 9.2 per cent drop in primary 457 visa holders compared to 2015.
- In July 2013 new laws came into effect, including giving Fair Work Australia the power to investigate breaches of the system.
- Labor called for jobs to be advertised locally for at least four weeks before a foreigner is sourced.
The TSS visa programme will be comprised of a Short-Term stream of up to two years and a Medium-Term stream of up to four years and will support businesses in addressing genuine skill shortages in their workforce and will contain a number of safeguards which prioritise Australian workers.
This new visa is part of the Government’s significant reform package to strengthen the integrity and quality of Australia’s temporary and permanent employer sponsored skilled migration programmes.
Key reforms include:
- Introducing the temporary skill shortage visa with new requirements, including but not limited to:
- new, more targeted occupation lists which better align with skill needs in the Australian labour market
- a requirement for visa applicants to have at least two years’ work experience in their skilled occupation
- a minimum market salary rate which ensures that overseas workers cannot be engaged to undercut Australian workers
- mandatory labour market testing, unless an international obligation applies,
- capacity for only one onshore visa renewal under the Short-Term stream
- capacity for visa renewal onshore and a permanent residence pathway after three years under the Medium-Term stream
- the permanent residence eligibility period will be extended from two to three years
- a non-discriminatory workforce test to ensure employers are not actively discriminating against Australian workers
- strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers
- the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will collect Tax File Numbers and data will be matched with the Australian Tax Office’s records, and
- mandatory penal clearance certificates to be provided.
- Tightening eligibility requirements for employer sponsored permanent skilled visas, including but not limited to:
- tightened English language requirements
- a requirement for visa applicants to have at least three years’ work experience
- applicants must be under the maximum age requirement of 45 at the time of application
- strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers, and
- employers must pay the Australian market salary rate and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold1.
- Concessions for regional Australia will continue to be available:
- Employers in regional Australia will continue to have access to occupations under the temporary and permanent visas, to reflect their skills needs.
- Existing permanent visa concessions for regional Australia, such as waiving the nomination fee and providing age exemptions for certain occupations, will be retained. Consideration will be given to expanding the occupations in regional Australia that are exempt from the age requirement.
- Significantly condensing the occupation lists used for skilled migration visas, including the subclass 457 visa, from 19 April 2017.
The implementation of these reforms will begin immediately and will be completed in March 2018.
The most common 457 visa jobs in different areas of Australia
(Categories with fewer than 5 people aren't shown for privacy reasons)
- Cafe and Restaurant Managers
- Cooks
- General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers
- Livestock Farmers
- Meat Worker
- Motor Mechanics
- Registered Nurses
- Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
- Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
- University Lecturers and Tutors
- Others
A full list of occupations that the Government wants to remove from the list is provided below:
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code |
| Defence Force Senior Officer | 111212 |
| Turf Grower | 121218 |
| Deer Farmer | 121314 |
| Goat Farmer | 121315 |
| Public Relations Manager | 131114 |
| Policy and Planning Manager | 132411 |
| Research and Development Manager | 132511 |
| Project Builder | 133112 |
| Importer or Exporter | 133311 |
| Wholesaler | 133312 |
| Production Manager (Manufacturing} | 133512 |
| Production Manager {Mining) | 133513 |
| Procurement Manager | 133612 |
| Medical Administrator (Aus)/ Medical Superintendent {NZ) | 134211 |
| Regional Education Manager | 134412 |
| Commissioned Defence Force Officer | 139111 |
| Commissioned Fire Officer | 139112 |
| Commissioned Police Officer | 139113 |
| Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Member | 139211 |
| Sports Administrator | 139915 |
| Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager | 141211 |
| Licensed Club Manager | 141411 |
| Bed and Breakfast Operator | 141911 |
| Retirement Village Manager | 141912 |
| Antique Dealer | 142112 |
| Betting agency Manager | 142113 |
| Travel Agency Manager ,. | 142116 |
| Amusement Centre Manager | 149111 |
| Call or Contact Centre Manager | 149211 |
| Railway Station Manager | 149412 |
| Boarding Kennel or Cattery Operator | 149911 |
| Cinema or Theatre Manager | 149912 |
| Financial Institution Branch Manager | 149914 |
| Actor | 211111 |
| Entertainer or Variety Artist | 211113 |
| Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers nee | 211199 |
| Composer | 211211 |
| Music Director | 211212 |
| Singer | 211214 |
| Music Professionals nee | 211299 |
| Painter (Visual Arts) | 211411 |
| Potter or ceramic artist | 211412 |
| Sculptor | 211413 |
| Artistic Director | 212111 |
| Media Producer (excluding Video) | 212112 |
| Radio Presenter | 212113 |
| Television Presenter | 212114 |
| Author | 212211 |
| Art Director {Film, Television or Stage) | 212311 |
| Director of Photography | 212313 |
| Film, Television , Radio and Stage Directors | 212399 |
| Radio Journalist | 212414 |
| Corporate Treasurer | 221212 |
| Futures Trader | 222212 |
| Human Resource Adviser | 223111 |
| Workplace Relations Advisor | 223113 |
| Training and Development Professional | 223311 |
| Archivist | 224211 |
| Intelligence Officer | 224411 |
| Policy Analyst | 224412 |
| Electorate Officer | 224911 |
| Liaison Officer | 224912 |
| Migration Agent (Aus) | 224913 |
| Market Research Analyst | 225112 |
| Sales Representative (Industrial Products) | 225411 |
| Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceuti cal Products) | 225412 |
| Aeroplane Pilot | 231111 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 231112 |
| Flying Instructor | 231113 |
| Helicopter Pilot | 231114 |
| Air Transport Professionals nee | 231199 |
| Mast er Fisher | 231211 |
| Ship's Engineer | 231212 |
| Ship's Master | 231213 |
| Ship's Officer | 231214 |
| Marine Surveyor | 231215 |
| Marine Transport Professionals | 231299 |
| Multimedia Designer | 232413 |
| Chemical Engineer | 233111 |
| Mat erials Engineer | 233112 |
| Electronics Engineer | 233411 |
| Industrial Engineer | 233511 |
| Production or Plant Engineer | 233513 |
| Petrol eum Engineer | 233612 |
| Food Technologist | 234212 |
| Conservation Officer | 234311 |
| Park Ranger | 234314 |
| Geophysicist | 234412 |
| Hydrogeologist | 234413 |
| Life Scientist (General) | 234511 |
| Biochemist | 234513 |
| Biotechnologist | 234514 |
| Microbiologist | 234517 |
| Life Scientists nee | 234599 |
| Metallurgist | 234912 |
| Exercise Physiologist | 234915 |
| Natural and Physical Science Professionals nee | 234999 |
| Vocational Education Teacher (Trades) | 242211 |
| Vocational Education Teacher (Non-Trades) | 242211 |
| Education Reviewer | 249112 |
| Drama Teacher (Private Tuition) | 249213 |
| Environmental Health Officer | 251311 |
| Homoeopath | 252212 |
| Nurse Researcher | 254212 |
| Web Developer | 261212 |
| JCT Support and Test Engineers nee | 263299 |
| Judge | 271211 |
| Magistrate | 271212 |
| Tribunal Member - | 271213 |
| Intellectual Property Lawyer | 271214 |
| Historian . | 272411 |
| Translator | 272413 |
| Archaeologist | 272414 |
| Community Arts Worker | 272611 |
| Operating Theatre Technician | 311214 |
| Pathology Collector (Aus)/ Phlebotomist (NZ) | 311216 |
| Fisheries Officer | 311311 |
| Quarantine Officer | 311313 |
| School Laboratory Technician " ~ | 311414 |
| Hydrographer | 311415 |
| Construction Estimator | 312114 |
| Plumbing Inspector | 312115 |
| Surveying or Spatial Science Technician | 312116 |
| Civil Engineering Technician | 312212 |
| Electronic Engineering Draft sperson | 312411 |
| Electronic Engineering Technician | 312412 |
| Mechanical Engineering Draftsp erson | 312511 |
| Safety Inspector | 312611 |
| Maintenance Planner | 312911 |
| Building and Engineering Technici ans nee | 312999 |
| ICT Support Technicians nee | 313199 |
| Telecommunications Network Planner | 313213 |
| Blacksmith | 322111 |
| Electroplater | 322112 |
| Metal Casting Trades Worker | 322114 |
| Metal Polisher | 322115 |
| Pressure Welder | 322312 |
| Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) | 323111 |
| Engraver | 323311 |
| Gunsmith | 323312 |
| Saw Maker and Repairer | 323315 |
| Engineering Patternmaker | 323411 |
| Vehicle Painter | 324311 |
| Stonemason | 331112 |
| Floor Finisher | 332111 |
| Electrical Linesworker (Aus)/ Electrical Line Mechani c (NZ) | 342211 |
| Communications Operator | 342312 |
| Telecommunications Cable Jointer | 342412 |
| Telecommunications Technician | 342414 |
| Butcher or Smallgoods Maker | 351211 |
| Horse Trainer - | 361112 |
| Zookeeper | 361114 |
| Kennel Hand | 361115 |
| Shearer | 361211 |
| Nurseryperson | 362411 |
| Screen Printer | 392112 |
| Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker | 392211 |
| Small Offset Printer | 392312 |
| Canvas Goods Fabricator | 393111 |
| Leather Goods Mak er | 393112 |
| Sail Maker | 393113 |
| Shoemaker | 393114 |
| Apparel Cutter | 393211 |
| Clothing Patternmaker | 393212 |
| Dressmaker or Tailor | 393213 |
| Clothing Trades Workers nee | 393299 |
| Wood Turner | 394214 |
| Gas or Petroleum Opera~to-r | 399212 |
| Gallery or Museum Technician | 399311 |
| Broadcast Transmitter Operator | 399511 |
| Light Technician | 399513 |
| Musical Instrument Maker or Repairer | 399515 |
| Television Equipment Operator | 399517 |
| Diver | 399911 |
| Interior Decorator | 399912 |
| Optical Dispenser (Aus)/ Dispensing Optician (NZ) | 399913 |
| Optical Mechanic | 399914 |
| Plastics Technician | 399916 |
| Wool Classer | 399917 |
| Fire Protection Equipment Technician | 399918 |
| Technicians and Trades Workers nee | 399999 |
| Dental Hygienist | 411211 |
| Dental Prosthetist | 411212 |
| Dental Therapist | 411214 |
| Mothercraft Nurse | 411412 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker | 411511 |
| Parole or Probation Officer | 411714 |
| Defence Force Member – Other Ranks | 441111 |
| Emergency Service Worker | 441211 |
| Fire Fighter | 441212 |
| Detective | 441311 |
| Police Officer | 441312 |
| Prison Officer | 442111 |
| Driving Instructor | 451211 |
| Funeral Director | 451311 |
| Funeral Workers nee | 451399 |
| Flight Attendant . | 451711 |
| Travel Attendants nee | 451799 |
| First Aid Trainer | 451815 |
| Dog or Horse Racing Official | 452318 |
| Sports Umpire | 452322 |
| Other Sports Official | 452323 |
| Golfer | 452412 |
| Jockey | 452413 |
| Conveyancer | 599111 |
| Legal Executive | 599112 |
| Court Bailiff or Sheriff (Aus)/ Court Collections Officer (NZ) | 599212 |
| Insurance Investigator | 599611 |
| Insurance Risk Surveyor | 599613 |
| Clinical Coder | 599915 |
| Auctioneer | 611111 |
| Stock and Station Agent | 611112 |
| Business Broker | 612111 |
| Retail Buyer | 639211 |
| Wool Buyer | 639212 |
| Driller | 712211 |
