457 VISA ABOLISHED BUT NEW PATHWAYS ESTABLISHED
HOme > 457 VISA ABOLISHED BUT NEW PATHWAYS ESTABLISHED
On Tuesday the 18th of April, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, along with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, announced a host of major changes to a number of visa subclasses.
The main implication of these changes is that the 457 visa – for skilled temporary workers, will cease to exist. This visa will be replaced by a dual stream framework involving more stringent testing in relation to work experience and English language proficiency.
Anyone currently in Australia on a 457 visa will not be affected. However, new applicants will be separated into two visa streams as follows.
Firstly, the Skilled Occupation List – (SOL) is being replaced by the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List – (MLTSSL). Visas falling under this list will target higher skilled occupations and will be awarded for four years. Additionally 16 occupations have been removed from the original list for certain visas.
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
- Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457)
- Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
- State and Territory Nominated stream of the subclass 489
- Training visa (subclass 407) – Not all applicants
Further to this – 24 occupations on this list will only be available in regional Australia.
Visas falling under the STSOL category will be valid for two years and will not provide a route to permanent residency.
Changes surrounding both streams of the new framework include;
- All applicants are subject to criminal background checks
- All jobs must be advertised locally before a migrant is sourced for the position
- Employers are subject to non-discriminatory workforce tests
- Applicants must be under 45
These measures have been introduced so Australian businesses can continue to access the skilled workers they need while protecting the interests of Australian workers.
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