Sponsoring Migrants TSS Visa
The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa also referred to as subclass 482, is a program that allows overseas workers to stay and work in Australia temporarily. As a business owner, you can sponsor someone from another country to fill a position in your company. The length of the TSS Visa depends on the occupation list, mainly the Short Term Skilled Occupation List and the Medium and Short Term Strategic List.

Businesses can only sponsor specific occupations under the Temporary Skill Shortage visa. Usually, every six months, the government authorities may remove or add the occupation list based on the shortages of skills.

What is the process for a TSS visa?

The Temporary Skill Shortage visa involves three stages:

SBS (Standard Business Sponsorship). If you want to sponsor someone to work for you, you need to obtain an SBS from the DHA (Department of Home Affairs) for approval. It is essential to meet the sponsorship requirements. As soon as your company has registered and has been approved as a sponsor, you only need to renew it after five years. It means you may sponsor as many work visas as you can for the entire duration of the sponsorship.


To get a standard business sponsorship:

  • Your company has to be operating legally in Australia.
  • There is no negative information regarding your company or the people in association with it.
Nomination. After choosing the overseas worker you want to sponsor, you need to nominate them and indicate the job position they will fill. The TSS program will need you to show proof of your Labour Market Testing completion. The nomination process includes benchmarking the salary of the migrant against the labour market of Australia. Your company is also responsible for paying the training levy.


This process also means that one of the reasons you are sponsoring a worker abroad is because a local worker is unable to fill the available job position.


Visa Application. This stage requires the overseas worker to fill the application. To be eligible, the applicant should provide proof that fits the criteria for the TSS Visa. These could be English language ability, skills and qualifications, character and health requirements, and relevant work experience.


What are your legal obligations as a sponsoring employer?

When it comes to sponsorship obligations, they are implemented to ensure your company meets the specified standards as well as to protect the migrant. These obligations and guidelines also help your business to continue hiring skilled overseas workers. These are:
  • The fair practices regarding employment, without any discrimination
  • Keep records in relation to the occupation of the overseas worker.
  • Make sure that the employment terms and conditions are in accordance with the purpose of the Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
  • Inform and be transparent with the Department of Immigration in case of any issues or concerns.
  • In case the holder of the TSS visa has to leave Australia, you need to cover the travel cost upon the request of the worker.
  • Does not transfer or charge any costs involving the process of sponsorship.

Full cooperation with the inspectors

When sponsoring people from other countries, you need to pay certain costs. The costs typically involve the nomination process, training levy, and SBS. The applicant should not be the one to pay these costs concerning the TSS Visa, but rather your business. With regard to other costs, the applicant or the business may pay for them.

Author bio: Nora George is a freelance writer and extremely fond of anything related to Digital Marketing and Business. She is writing Technologies as well as fiction, like good music, loves her cat and eats too much. More than anything, She loves to share the knowledge of Technology.