Long Stay (457) Work Visa
One of the most common visa's issued is the 457 work visa. This visa allows the applicant and their family to come to Australia and work for a period of up to 4 years. This visa is renewable and is also used as a pathway to permanent residence, either via the 856 Employer Nomination Scheme, or on the General Skills Migration 175 pathway.
Changes - 14 September 2009.
There have been some major changes implemented as part of the 457 reforms effective from 14 September 2009.
457 visa holders are no longer tied to their sponsoring employer. This allows 457 visa holders to transfer to new employers or get promoted to new nominated positions, without the need to apply for a new visa. It is still a requirement that a new nomination is processed and should a visa holder wish to move to a new employer, then the new employer must be an approved sponsor.
Nominations are now linked on a 1 to 1 basis with visa applicants so if a visa application fails and a new candidate is found, a fresh nomination must be lodged.
All visa applicants must demonstrate that they have private health insurance, for countries that provide Reciprocal Health Arrangements, applicants should apply for a medicare card. Irish nationals need only provide their passport. Applicants from other countries will need to provide evidence of private health cover for a period of at least 12 months or a salary deduction authority.
As the 457 is only a temporary visa, education charges need to be paid for any schooling and this includes children of working families. These charges are typically $8000 pa per child.
For the employers there is also a number of sponsorship obligations and a compliance regime to ensure that 457 visa holders are not being taken advantage of.
To apply for a 457 work visa there is a 3 phase process.
- A Sponsoring Company
- A Nominated Job
- An Employee to work in the job
The sponsoring company must be operating a business lawfully and actively, abide by immigration laws, be the direct employer of the employee, provide the employee with training and show that the employment will bring benefit to Australia.
Once a company has been approved for sponsorship, that approval will last for 3 years so companies do not need to re-apply for sponsorship with every employee they wish to sponsor.
To nominate a job for sponsorship, an approved sponsor company must show that the position will provide at least the equivalent terms and conditions as the employment of Australian citizens and permanent residents and that the role has some minimum skill requirements (ie it cant be a graduate or apprenticeship position)
Once a sponsor has a nominated position approved the prospective employee needs to show that they have both the required skills and qualifications to fulfil the role.
Typically we prepare all 3 applications simultaneously and submit them in a decision ready form together.
Applicants on a 457 visa may only work for their sponsor and no other company. Spouses and children may be added to a 457 application in which case the spouse will also have work rights (with any employer).
Applicants have to provide their own health cover and are not entitled to medicare or other social security benefits. Education fees are payable by primary and secondary applicants if they attend public schools.
It is now a requirement for 457 applicants to have IELTS 5.0.
| 457 Sponsorship & Nomination | $ 485 |
| 457 Visa Application | $ 260 |
| Professional Fees | $ 3950 |
Want to get an assessment ? Email us at enquiry@ausmigrate.biz or Call Us.