Australia allows pathway to permanent residency for a specific group of Subclass 482 visa holders

Australia’s Immigration Ministry has issued a new legislative instrument to allow the pathway to permanent residency for a specific unit of Subclass 482 visa holders in the short-term stream. This update will come in to effect from July 1, 2022 along with few more changes. The candidate needs to have been a resident in Australia, for some period to get the access to this pathway. Find out more.

Pathway to permanent residence for Subclass 482 visa holders

Australia’s Migration Regulations 1994 received changes/modifications for a few visa subclasses. A key change is for 482 visa holders in the Short-term stream who will now can make further onshore 482 visa applications in this stream with effect from 1 July 2022 to 1 July 2023.

Since the start of Subclass 482 visas, candidates for this visa in the Short-term stream need to be offshore in case they have held 2 or more 482 visa in the Short-term stream and was in the land down under, when they applied for their last visa.

This change also permit the Minister to modify the end date if s/he requires. The Explanatory Statement indicates that this is to support in enabling them to transition to a permanent employer-sponsored visa, i.e. either a 186 visa /187 visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. 

Also read- How to apply for State nominated skilled visa in Australia.

Age limit lifts for legacy 457 visa holders

A new instrument recorded on 4 April 2022, however, beginning on 1 July 2022 introduces a new definition of legacy 457 worker, i.e. an individual who held a subclass 457 visa on or after 18 April 2017; and was in Australia for minimum 12 months between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021.

This description will be placed in into the instrument that exempts an age condition for a subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa under the TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream only.

Other key amendments includes the following:

• Extending and stimulating subclass 476 – Recognised Skilled Graduate visas to 14 April 2024 if the primary visa holder was outside Australia before the original end date of their visa and sometime between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021, and the visa not cancelled before it expired. The original end date of their 476 visa also needs to be before 14 April 2024. This all together comes into effect on 31 January 2020 so any person affected, and whose visa expires after this date will have their 476 visa extended.
• Adding regulations that have specific necessities for subclass 601 – Electronic Travel Authority visas (ETA visas) to be genuinely lodged.

To confirm further details or to apply for relevant skilled visa in Australia this year, you may get in touch with Australia immigration Expert at Visas Avenue on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar