Expanding pathways to PR (Subclass 186 & 187) for TSS Visa (subclass 482) holders!

To ensure temporary skilled workers have a pathway to PR, the Department of Home Affairs is working on changes to the:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) (TSS) visa

• Temporary Residence Transition stream (TRT) of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) (ENS)and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) (RSMS) visa subclasses.

Current pathways to PR for temporary skilled visa holders(subclass 482/457) are often limited. Thus, the Department of Home Affairs brought some changes to the TSS and TRT stream of the ENS and RSMS visa (Subclass 186 & Subclass 187) to provide more access to PR for all TSS visa holders. These changes will apply to new applications lodged on or after 25 November 2023 (subject to the approval of regulation changes).

Highlight of the changes from 25 November 2023:

# TSS (subclass 482) visa holders can make their 3^rd or more visas onshore.

# TSS visa holders from Short-term and Labour Agreement stream will be eligible for PR (Subclass 186 & Subclass 187) through the TRT stream.

# The nominated person will need to have held their TSS (or subclass457) visa(s) for 2 out of the 3 years before nomination through the TRT stream.

# Nominated occupations will no longer be assessed against skilled migration occupation lists, the nominated occupation only needs to be listed in the ANZSCO.

# TSS visa holders are required to have worked in a position with their sponsoring employer (or in the occupation for medical practitioners and certain executives) will be reduced to 2 out of the 3 years before nomination.

# Changes will be made to age exemptions for regional medical practitioner applicants and high-income earning applicants aged 45 years and over to allow for a two-year pathway.

• COVID-19-related age exemptions that will become redundant as a result of the two-year pathway, will be ended.