Pathway to Permanent Residency in Sydney for Short-Term 482 visa holders

On March 17, 2022, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Immigration Services and Multiculturalism (Alex Hawke) presented a long-awaited legal document (LIN22/038) allowing the short-term flow of 482 subclass visa holders remaining in pandemic Australia. Travelling with permanent residence. This route is available through Subclass 186 of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) for Temporary Residence (TRT).

The TSS 482 visa entitles you to permanent residence. If you have a TSS 482 visa issued under the medium term route. You can apply for permanent residence if:

• You have worked for the same sponsor for the three years on your TSS visa.
• You have worked in the same occupation for the three years:
• Proficiency in English (minimum 6.0 or equivalent score in all sections of IELTS, if not excluded). This is different from the English language requirements for the 482 visa, equivalent to IELTS level 5.
• You have been paid at least the salary confirmed with your 482 applications.
• You are under 45 years of age at the time of lodging your permanent residency visa.

What is the current restriction?

TSS visa holders in the short-term stream are limited to a two-year stay in Australia, with limited extension and no permanent residence option. Examples of notable short-term jobs include finance managers, sales and marketing managers, human resources managers, and marketers.

Certain designated individuals may apply for an ENS 186 visas if they hold a temporary TSS subclass 482 visa. This new tool defines a new group of TSS subclass 482 short stay visa holders who can apply for an ENS 186 visa.

When did it start?

• For certain 457 visa holders, it will be applied immediately.

For holders of short stay TSS visas, this new waiver will take effect from July 1, 2022 and will apply to applications submitted before July 1, 2023 (unless a later date is set by the minister).