Temporary Skill Shortage visa (TSS)

The Temporary Skill Shortage visa has three different streams:

• Short Term Stream
• Medium Term Stream
• Labour Agreement Stream

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The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (TSS) is closed to new applicants: TSS

Short Term Stream

Temporary Skill Shortage visa applicants who are nominated for an occupation that is listed on the Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) will be eligible for the visa under the short term stream (with additional occupations available for regional Australia).  Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders under this stream will be permitted to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years. Temporary Skill Shortage visa applicants must satisfy case officers that they are a genuine temporary entrant and their visa may only be renewed once whilst they are onshore in Australia.

Medium Term Stream

Only visa applicants who are nominated for an occupation that is listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) will be eligible for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa under the medium term stream (with additional occupations available for regional Australia). Visa holders under the medium term stream will be permitted to live and work in Australia for up to 4 years. Medium term visa holders may apply for permanent residency after 3 years on their Temporary Skill Shortage visa.

The other key requirements for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa which apply to both of the above streams include:

1. Employer sponsor: All visa applicants must be nominated by a business which has been approved as a business sponsor.

• Market salary rate and minimum salary: Employers must pay Australian market salary rates for the nominated occupation. The salary and market rate for the occupation must be above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).  TSMIT currently is $53,900.

• Mandatory labour market testing: Employers must demonstrate that they have tried to source workers from the local labour market first unless an international treaty obligation applies.

• Discrimination test: Employers must pass a test to determine whether they are discriminating against the local labour market.

• Skilling Australians Fund: Employers must make a contribution to the Skilling Australians Fund. Read more about the Skilling Australians Fund

2. English language: Visa applicants must have obtained an average score of 5 (minimum 4.5 in each test component) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent test if applying under the short term stream. The minimum in each test component is 5 for medium term stream applicants.

3. Work experience: At least 2 years of work experience related to the nominated occupation will be required. The sc 482 visa applicant will also need to demonstrate they have the appropriate skills and qualifications to perform the nominated occupation. 

4. Character test: All visa applicants must pass a character test and penal clearances certificates will be mandatory.

Labour Agreement Stream

This stream permits the nomination of overseas workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia.

Read more about it:

sc 400 visaSponsoring Employees

Standard Business SponsorshipHow to become an approved sponsor?

Self-Sponsorship

Read more about a Self-Sponsorship:

Self-Sponsorship on a subclass 482 visa