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EMPLOYMENT VISA SCHEMES
The eligible Australian or Overseas businesses unable to meet their needs from within the Australian labour force, can sponsor employee from overseas countries for up to 4 years on a Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (Subclass 457).
Employment visas are available under arrangement for:
A. Sponsorship by Australian or Overseas Businesses;
B. Labour Agreements;
C. Invest Australia Supported Skills Agreements;
D. Service Sellers.
A. Sponsorship by Australian or Overseas Businesses:
Under this category, business unable to find their skills needs from within the Australian labour force, may sponsor staff from overseas country on a temporary working visa. If there are emerging shortages are significant and likely to continue for up to 3 years and are not adequately covered by existing sponsorship arrangement, a Labour Agreement may be an alternative arrangement to bring skilled overseas workers in Australia.
B. Labour Agreements (LA)
It has two visa categories (a) Temporary Subclass 457 and (b) Permanent Visa. Business entity can't hire staff directly from the overseas or within Australia without approval of DIMIA. Labour Agreement is one of the alternative options where Commonwealth Government and Employer/Business can negotiate for working visa in formal procedures. Upon formal negotiation, employers enable to recruit a specified number of workers from overseas in response to emerging shortages in the Australian labour market. Agreements are usually valid for 2-3 years.
Business entity entering into negotiated Labour Agreements have access to streamlined immigration processing requirements, and applications lodged under Labour Agreements are given priority processing. There is not charge for negotiating a Labour Agreements.
C. Invest Australia Supported Skills (IASS) Agreements:
This scheme offers streamlined immigration arrangements and covers both permanent and temporary entry visas subclasses. It is designed to encourage international business to choose Australia as a location for foreign direct investment. It allows companies that make a significant investment in Australia to bring out key expatriate managerial and specialist employees from within the company group who are essential to establish operations in Australia. These agreements are for 3 years, however, individual visas, once granted may extend beyond the period of the agreement.
D. Service Sellers"
The Service Sellers visa stream was introduced as part of Australia's participation in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). It allows representative of overseas suppliers of services seeking to negotiate, or enter into, agreements for the sale of services to apply for a temporary business visa which is valid for a period of initial stay of 6 months and up to a maximum of 12 months. No sponsorship or nomination is required for this visa. |
