he 482 Temporary Skill Shortage program is set to be replaced with the ‘Skills in Demand’ Visa. This change is anticipated to happen in late 2024. The Skills in Demand Visa will have three streams:
1. Specialist Skills Pathway: this will apply to applicants earning above A$135,000 per annum. This cohort of applicants will have priority processing (aim is seven days) but will be limited to 3,000 visa approvals per year.
2. Core Skills Pathway: applicants earning between A$70,000 – A$135,000 per annum will fall into this pathway. We believe the majority of applicants will fall into this pathway. The aim is to have processing within 21 days.
3. Essential Skills Pathway: this pathway will apply to aged and disability care related workers with salaries under A$70,000 per annum. Processing is also anticipated to be 21 days.
The Government has indicated it plans on indexing the salary annually to the average weekly ordinary time earnings.
Another important change is the ability for sponsored employees to remain in Australia after their employment with their sponsor ceases. Currently, sponsored employees are only allowed to remain out of employment with their sponsor for 60 days before they are in breach of their visa conditions and it becomes liable for cancellation. The intention is to increase this to 180 days. This is a positive change which will mean employees have more time and flexibility to find new employment if they are unhappy in their current place of employment.
The Skilling Australians Levy is to be remodelled. Employers currently pay an upfront fee of between A$1,200 and A$1,800 for each year that the sponsored employee is to be employed. The new system aims to have a trailing charge, implying either monthly or quarterly payments by sponsors. This is a positive change but we wait to see how it will be implemented.
If you are holding or intending to submit an employer sponsored nomination or visa application then we would recommend you contact us between now and November 2024 so that you can obtain the latest details.