482 Visa Regional Occupation | New PR Pathway Insights
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.
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?
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. We look forward to keeping you updated.
Interstaff is an Australian-owned and operated business providing strategic migration advice to businesses and individuals Australia-wide and internationally since 1988.
Should you need professional advice on your Visa or Migration requirements, we encourage you to call Interstaff’s Migration Agents on 08 9221 3388 (Perth) or 02 7200 2567 (Sydney) or 03 8319 0902 (Melbourne) or +61 8 9221 3388 (International).
You may also wish to connect with us on LinkedIn or get in touch with us here.
Source:
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents
Migration Institute of Australia (MIA)
