New Permanent Residence Pathway For 482 TSS Visa Holders With A Regional Occupation

expat network

New Permanent Residence Pathway For 482 TSS Visa Holders With A Regional Occupation

Employer-sponsored Subclass 482 TSS Visa holders with an occupation on the Regional Occupation List may have a more direct pathway to Permanent Residence (PR) following Government changes that are currently in effect. Here’s what employers and skilled migrants should know.

Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 21 March, 2023

What has changed for Subclass 482 TSS Visa Holders?

Subclass 482 TSS Visa Holders may be eligible to apply for direct PR through the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transitional (TRT) Stream if they:

Have been in Australia for at least one year between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021; and
Are working in an occupation listed on the Regional Occupation List.

Previously, these 482 Visa holders could obtain PR by first applying for a 494 Regional Provisional Visa and then the 191 Visa once they had met conditions to live and work in a regional area for three years.

While this option is still available, as you can see below, the new pathway to PR through the 186 TRT Visa is more direct and flexible as it is a shorter pathway and does not require a skills assessment.

The change provides a PR pathway for individuals who may be skilled in a particular field (such as farming, agriculture and retail) and would not have been able to apply for PR through the 494 Visa pathway because they haven’t met the stringent Skills Assessment requirements, such as formal qualifications.

Although formal qualifications for their role may not be required by their employer, it is required for the 494 Visa pathway due to the need for a Skills Assessment. Now they could possibly apply for PR through the 186 TRT Visa, as it recognises an applicant’s work experience not just their qualifications.

The change will also benefit many Subclass 482 Visa holders with a regional occupation who may have had limited pathways to PR since the Government divided the 482 program into two streams in 2018.

Applicants will need to meet all other eligibility requirements for a 186 TRT Visa to apply and should seek professional advice on their options.

Which areas of Australia are Regional for Visa and Migration Purposes?

Read Interstaff’s article here to find out which areas of Australia are considered regional for visa purposes.

What is the Regional Occupation List?

Australia’s Regional Occupation List is a record of occupations that are in demand and available for visa sponsorship in regional areas.

It is typically used to qualify individuals for visas, such as the 494 and 482 Visas.

The list is developed by the Department of Home Affairs in consultation with industry and local stakeholders and is updated from time to time to ensure the migration program continues to attract relevant skills.

Currently, the Regional Occupation List includes occupations in a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to the agricultural, healthcare, IT and business fields as well as technical roles.

What this means for businesses and skilled migrants

Given these changes, businesses that employ skilled migrants on the 482 Visa for any of the above ‘regional’ occupations may be interested in reviewing their new pathways to PR to help retain global talent.

Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents can provide professional advice on how Government changes such as these can impact how quickly your employees can access PR, which can benefit both your employees and your business.

We can also advise on your eligibility for this new pathway if you are a 482 Visa holder interested in becoming a permanent resident.

Both businesses and skilled migrants should know that the Government is currently reviewing Australia’s migration program with the intention of boosting Australia’s post-pandemic recovery, and we expect more changes may be proposed in coming months.

This could result in more streamlined pathways to PR and a migration program that is better targeted to the skills Australia requires.

Established in 1988, Interstaff has over 35 years of Australian visa and migration experience and provides strategic immigration advice to businesses and individuals Australia-wide and internationally. MARN: 0533879.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.