Australian Work Permit Visa
Job Visa In Australia
If you are interested in obtaining a work permit visa for Australia, you can visit the official immigration processing website of the Australian government . This website, managed by the Australian Ministry of Home Affairs, provides information on how to apply for various types of visas, including work permits. To work in Australia, you will need a work visa, and the specific type of visa will depend on the duration of your stay and whether your occupation is on the skills shortage list.
How to Apply?
To apply for a work permit visa, you can visit the official website of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Australian Government. Here, you can check your eligibility and find information about different visa types.
Australian 457 Visa Employer Requirements
Employers wishing to sponsor workers under a 457 visa must meet certain eligibility requirements. For Australian businesses, these requirements include being a lawfully operating business, specifying the number of workers to be sponsored, meeting the prescribed training benchmark, and declaring a commitment to employing Australian nationals without discrimination. Similar requirements apply to businesses outside of Australia intending to sponsor a 457 worker for establishing a new business or fulfilling contractual obligations in Australia.
For more information on the Australian work permit visa and employer requirements, you can visit the official website provided.
Labor Agreements for Australian Work Permit Visa
A labor agreement is a special arrangement between an employer and the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection that allows employers to sponsor 457 workers in situations not covered by the standard business sponsor category. These situations include when:
- Workers in the meat or on-hire industries are seeking sponsorship.
- The sponsor’s objective is to address “special labor market circumstances.”
- Sponsorship is being sought for a position that is not listed on Australia’s Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL).
There are four types of labor agreements:
1. Company Specific Labor Agreements
These agreements are made on a case-by-case basis and only when there is a labor shortage not covered by another type of labor agreement.
2. Industry Labor Agreements
These agreements are made between the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and industry leaders to address persistent labor shortages in specific industries.
3. Designated Area Migration Agreements
These agreements are designed to address labor shortages in specific Australian states, territories, and regions. Each agreement has its own terms and conditions.
4. Project Labor Agreements
These agreements address labor shortages in large-scale resource or infrastructure construction projects. Each agreement is negotiated with companies overseeing these projects, after which employers can apply to be endorsed by the project company.
For companies operating in Australia
1. If the company has been in business for a year or more, it must meet the prescribed training baseline (refer to the Prescribed training benchmark section below).
2. If the company has been trading for less than a year, it should have a feasible plan to reach the required training threshold.
3. The company must state in writing that it will not engage in any form of discrimination when hiring Australian nationals and that it is strongly committed to doing so.
4. If applicable, the company must have fulfilled all training requirements from its previous tenure as a 457 sponsor.
Prescribed Training Benchmark
Australian businesses looking to sponsor 457 workers are required to meet a training benchmark for Australian citizens and permanent residents. Businesses operating for 12 months or longer must show that they have already met the benchmark, while those operating for less than 12 months must demonstrate a viable plan for meeting the benchmark.
Overseas businesses are not required to meet the specified training benchmark. Some examples of meeting the benchmark include:
- Funding formal study for Australian employees or for Australian TAFE or university students
- Funding a scholarship for Australian employees or for Australian TAFE or university students
- Employing apprentices, trainees, or recent graduates
- Employing someone for the specific purpose of training Australian citizens or permanent residents
Adverse Information for Australian Work Permit Visa
To obtain approved sponsor status, employers must not have any adverse information against them in the last 3 years, such as records of insolvency or unlawful activity. However, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection may use discretion in disregarding certain adverse information.
For the purposes of adverse information conditions, only unlawful activity relating to the following matters are considered
- Discrimination
- Immigration
- Industrial relations
- Occupational health and safety
- People smuggling and related offences
- Slavery, servitude and deceptive recruiting
- Taxation
- Terrorism
- Trafficking in persons and debt bondage
Australian 457 Visa Employee Requirements
Employees applying for a 457 work visa must
- Be sponsored by an eligible employer to work in a nominated occupation on the Australian Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL)
- Have skills, qualifications, and experience that match the requirements of their nominated occupation
- Have vocational English language proficiency: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5 across all four test components
- Be eligible for any relevant licenses associated with the position
- Meet various health requirements, including having health insurance
- Meet the character requirements, usually requiring a criminal record check
Length of Stay
Applicants can apply to stay in Australia for between 1 day and 4 years on this visa.
Family Australian Work Permit Visa
457 work visa holders can bring their family with them to Australia. Family members covered by this visa include married partners, unmarried/de facto partners, dependent children (of any age), and other dependent relatives. Family members will need to provide supporting evidence before they are allowed entry into Australia.
Married Partners
To include your married partner on your 457 visa, you will need a copy of your marriage certificate.
Unmarried/De Facto Partners
To bring your unmarried/de facto partner to Australia, you must prove that you have been living together as a couple for at least 6 months. Suitable evidence includes tenancy agreements, rent slips, and shared bills. For specific advice on your case, please contact us.
Dependent Children
Children under 18 can be included on your 457 visa with their birth or adoption certificate. For children over 18, you need to prove that they are significantly or entirely dependent on you for their basic financial needs and have been for a significant period leading up to your visa application.
Other Dependent Relatives
Similar to dependent children, other dependent relatives can be included on your application if you can prove they are significantly or entirely dependent on you for their basic financial needs and have been for a significant period leading up to your visa application.
As of March, 2024, only Australian citizens, residents, and immediate family members can travel to Australia. Immediate family members include spouses, dependents, and legal guardians. If you are unsure whether you meet the definition of a dependent and hold a valid visa, please complete the online form and await further advice from Home Affairs.
If you do not hold a valid visa for Australia?
You can’t come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and include proof such as marriage certificates or birth certificates for evidence of your immediate family/dependent status. If you have approval to travel, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel. If you are not an Australian citizen or resident but believe you have compelling or compassionate grounds for urgent travel to Australia, contact us and include documentary evidence to support your urgent travel needs.
Do you already hold a temporary visa?
Attach proof such as marriage certificates, evidence of de-facto relationships, birth certificates for children, and submit the form. Do not travel until advised. If you have approval for traveling, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
Partner and Child visa holders (except Prospective Marriage visa holders) can come to Australia but will need to self-isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel. These travel restrictions are subject to change, so please check the following website for updates.
