As Australia continues to face a growing skill shortage among ICT professionals, subclass 482 visa for ICT professionals can be the ideal option for 3 areas, the applicant, employer and the Australian government. Subclass 482 is known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa which is one of the most practical and accessible pathways to stay and work in Australia which also creates a pathway to permanent residency. In this guide, we will explain how subclass 482 visa for ICT professionals works, who is eligible, what the process looks like, what are the salary requirements and how ICT professionals can use this visa as a pathway to their permanent residencies.
What is Subclass 482 visa for ICT professionals?
The Subclass 482 for ICT professionals is an employer-sponsored temporary work visa that allows Australian businesses to hire overseas ICT workers to fill in the skills shortage when suitable local talent is unavailable. This visa was introduced in March 2018 and is replaced by the old 457 visa.
With the subclass 482 visa, the ICT professionals can:
- Work in Australia for up to 4 years
- Bring eligible family members
- Gain valuable Australian work experience
- Transition to permanent residency in certain cases
There are 3 streams of Subclass 482 visa:
- Short-Term Stream: For occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Visa granted for up to 2 years, or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation applies.
- Medium-Term Stream: For occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Visa granted for up to 4 years, with a pathway to permanent residency.
- Labour Agreement Stream: For employers with a labour agreement with the Australian government.
What are the eligible ICT occupations under subclass 482?
Good news is that subclass 482 visa for ICT professionals includes many occupations such as follows:
Software & Development Roles
- Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313)
- Developer Programmer (261312)
- Software Tester (261314)
ICT Business & Systems Roles
- ICT Business Analyst (261111)
- Systems Analyst (261112)
Infrastructure & Security Roles
- Network Engineer (263111)
- Systems Administrator (262113)
- ICT Security Specialist (262112)
Data & Web Roles
- Database Administrator (262111)
- Web Developer (261212)
- Multimedia Specialist (261211)
One of the most important information to note is that your position roles and responsibilities must closely match the ANZESCO description and job titles are not only sufficient.
What are the other eligibility requirements for Subclass 482 for ICT Professionals?
Employer Sponsorship:
The first step to be eligible by receiving an Employer Sponsorship from an approved standard business sponsor. Your employer must be the sponsor here and prove that they are a lawful business who is capable of meeting the sponsorship obligations. Once an employer receives an approval it is valid for the next five years from the date of issue.
Skills Assessment (ACS)
All ICT professionals must have a valid skills assessment under their nominated occupation from the Australian Computer Society (ACS)
In order to apply for the skills assessment with ACS, the applicants must show their relevant ICT qualification or their relevant paid work experience with the employer and it should often be of 4-6 years if there is no formal ICT degree.
Work Experience
All ICT professionals must have a minimum of 1 year relevant ICT work experience and must be nominated under an ANZESCO occupation.
Salary Requirements:
Your employer must pay at least the yearly market income for the occupation or the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which is presently $73,150 AUD (as of July 2024), whichever is higher. The pay for such in-demand ICT positions is frequently much greater.
Health and character:
You and any family members you may have must fulfil the standards for both character and health, as determined by police certifications from the nations you have resided in and medical examinations.
Process for Subclass 482 visa for ICT Professionals
Stage 1: Employer must become an approved sponser
Getting an Employer Sponsorship from an authorised standard company sponsor is the first step towards eligibility. Here, your employer must act as the sponsor and demonstrate that they are a legitimate company that can fulfil the sponsorship requirements. An employer’s permission is good for the next five years after it is granted.
Stage 2: Nomination of your ICT position
Once sponsored, the employer will need to sponsor you for the nominated position and the employer must demonstrate:
- That the nominated role is genuine
- It meets the salary requirement mentioned above and it align with the market rates
- The employer should also perform the Labour Market Testing (LMT) and must provide evidence they tried to recruit an Australian for this role but were unable to find the ideal candidate. This means if you are already employed, the employer may also need to go through the same LMT process. The position would need to be advertised in major job advertisement platforms for at least 28 days in the four months prior lodging the nomination.
Stage 2: Visa application
To apply for the subclass 482 visa for ICT professionals, the applicants must maintain and submit the above mentioned requirements of:
- ACS skills assessment
- English test results
- Work experience evidence
- Health and character checks
To ensure all the process is fully completed as per the requirements of the department of home affairs it is highly recommended to seek assistance from a registered migration agent operating in Australia.
Frequently asked questions:
Does Subclass 482 visa have a pathway to permanent residency for ICT professionals?
Yes, Subclass 482 visa have a pathway to permanent residency, as the rules and regulations are reviewed regularly by the Australian government, please reach out to your migration agent for further advice.
What are the common mistakes ICT professionals should avoid before lodging Subclass 482 application?
As the process is lengthy and full of complexcities, it requires expert guidance and is prone to mistakes made by applicants, such as:
- Choosing the wrong ANZSCO occupation
- Poorly prepared ACS skills assessment
- Salary below market rate for ICT roles
- Non-genuine or short-term job offers
- Assuming all ICT roles automatically lead to PR
Is Subclass 482 for ICT professionals an ideal option for international students?
Yes – if you already have solid and relevant ICT experience and an employer is willing to sponsor you and able to meet the eligibility requirements. If you are an international student looking forward to an internship check out our blog about: IT Internship for International Students in Australia
No – if you are a recent graduate with no ICT experience.
Disclaimer: This blog article does not provide legal or immigration advice; it is merely meant to be informative. Laws pertaining to immigration are complicated and dynamic. For information unique to your situation, always speak with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent (MARA).
