New Temporary Skilled Visa Takes Effect

The Temporary Skilled (457) Visa has been abolished from 18 March 2018, replaced with a new Temporary Skill Shortage (482) Visa. This gives effect to the Government’s policy announcement in April 2017, which seeks to ensure that temporary work visas are more closely aligned with skill needs.

In 2016-17, 129 Temporary Skilled Visas were issued to applicants nominating the occupation “architect”. (AACA Profile of the Profession in Australia, 2018)

The new Temporary Skill Shortage Visa has two streams: the Short Term Stream and the Medium Term Stream. Architects are in the Medium Term Stream, which means they remain eligible for four year renewable Visas.

The most significant changes for Medium Term Stream applicants are the requirement for two years’ relevant work experience and an increase in the English language standard. Applicants now require an overall IELTS score of 5.0 (with a minimum score of 4.5 in any element) or the equivalent in other testing systems.

There are a number of other detailed changes which are described in full on the Department of Home Affairs website

See here for more information about AACA’s Overseas Qualifications Assessment processes.