Australia Immigration Rule Changes from 1 July 2022

These measures involve Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 (Short-term stream) and Temporary Work (Skilled) subclass 457 visa holders. Find out more details.

Key Australian Visa Changes applicable from 1st July

From July 1, 2022, Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Australia is going to apply a few crucial visa changes, i.e.

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa holders in the short-term stream

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa holders in the short-term stream can now apply for PR Visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa.

For this to happen, TSS visa holders must:

• have been in Australia for minimum 1 year between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021
• Fulfil all other nomination and visa requirements for the TRT stream of the ENS visa.

This pathway is available for 2 years from 1 July 2022.

These provisions also applicable to Temporary Work (Skilled) subclass 457 visa holders with an occupation on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). This will permit entitled subclass 457 visa holders to apply for the TRT stream of the ENS without any need to apply first for a TSS visa.

Transitional arrangements for subclass 457 visa holders looking for a PR pathway via the TRT stream of the ENS became effective when the TSS visa replaced the subclass 457 visa. These transitional arrangements were suppose to end on 18 March 2022, however, will continue to be available, to be reviewed within 2 years.

Legacy Temporary Work (Skilled) subclass 457 visa holders who no longer meet the age requirement

Entitled legacy subclass 457 visa holders can access an age exemption when applying through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa.

To become eligible for the age exemption legacy subclass 457-visa holders need to:

• have held a subclass 457 visa on or after 18 April 2017
• have been in Australia between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 for at least one year
• Fulfil all other nomination and visa requirements for the TRT stream of the ENS visa.

The age exemption will be accessible for 2 years from 1 July 2022.

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 (Short-term stream) visa holders who are unable to apply for a further TSS visa in Australia

Eligible former TSS visa holders, who have experience of working in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, can now apply for a third short-term stream TSS visa while in Australia. This will support prospective candidates to stay in Australia and fulfil nomination requirements for an ENS visa under the TRT stream.

To be eligible candidates must:

• have held not more than 2 short-term stream TSS visas 
• have been in Australia between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 for minimum 1 year while holding a TSS (Short-term stream) visa
• Fulfil all other nomination and visa requirements for the TSS (Short-term stream) visa.

To apply for a TSS visa candidates must hold a bridging (A, B or C) visa at the time of application. The third TSS visa is accessible for 1 year from 1 July 2022.

Also read- Australia has revised the Visa Fee for most of its Visa Subclasses from 1st July 2022

Revised Visa Fee from 1st July

Australia has revised the visa fee for most skilled, visit and sponsored visa categories. The new visa fee is applicable with effect from July 1, 2022.

New Visa fee applicable from 1st July

Visa subclass	Old Base application charge	Charges Applicable from 1st July 2022
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points tested stream	AUD4,115	AUD4,240
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)	AUD4,115	AUD4,240
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491	AUD4,115	AUD4,240
Visitor Visa Subclass 600	AUD140	AUD150

To know more or to apply for most appropriate Australia visa in 2022, you may contact qualified Immigration and visa experts at Visas Avenue. You may call VA Australia Immigration Expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar