SKILLS IN DEMAND VISA- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Posted by Rebecca Berkovic on
skills-in-demand-visa

With Australia’s work visa landscape on the verge of significant change with the abolition of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS)(subclass 482) visa program and introduction of the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, additional information has been provided by the Australian Government regarding the SID visa. The new visa is intended to revolutionise the Australian visa work visa program and better address genuine skills shortage in the Australian labour market.

In our previous article regarding initial requirements for the Skills in Demand visa, we mentioned the three streams, namely:

  • The Specialist Skills Pathway for applicants earning a base salary of over AU$135,000 per annum in specific fields;
  • The Core Skills Pathway for applicants earning a base salary of over AU$73,150 which will largely mirror the TSS subclass 482 visa and will require applicants to have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL); and
  • The Essential Skills Pathway designed for specific industries with immediate labour shortages.

The additional changes to the replacement SID Australian work visa program include the following:

  1. Work experience requirement: Under the SID visa, applicants will only be required to have one year of relevant work experience, leading to increased accessibility for skilled overseas professionals.
  2. Increased flexibility to transfer sponsors: Under the SID visa, holders will have greater potential for mobility with 180 days given to find a new sponsor.
  3. Skilling Australia Fund visa levy: In order to reflect the greater flexibility of visa applicants under the SID program being able to transfer employers, the Australian Government has stated that the Skilling Australia Fund levy which currently is required to be paid up front for all the years of visa sponsorship will instead be able to be paid in instalments.
  4. Australian Permanent Residency will not reset when transferring employers: Under the SID visa, the Australian Government has stated that time counted towards permanent residency will not reset when a visa holder changes employers as it does under the current system.
  5. Public Register of Approved Sponsors: The Australian Government will introduce a public database of approved sponsors intended to increase transparency of standard business sponsorship.

The introduction of the SID visa in the near future will usher in a host of changes to the Australian work visa program. It will provide a wider pool of applicants where only one year or work experience is required and increased flexibility for visa applicants transferring employers. We look forward to guiding our clients through the new requirements when sponsoring skilled overseas employees through the SID visa program.

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on relevant matters. It is not intended to be comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. You are advised to seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content contained in this website.