Moving to Australia with a 457 visa
Looking to apply for the Australian 457 visa?
What is a 457 visa?
The 457 visa is Australia’s most common working visa that is often termed the ‘standard business sponsorship (subclass 457)’ visa. The visa was designed to let employers in Australia sponsor overseas workers to work within Australia on a temporary basis. The type of work must be ‘skilled’ to meet 457 visa requirements with the employee having the skills, qualifications and relevant experience to fill the position advertised.
Why is the 457 visa so popular?
The popularity of the subclass 457 visa is in part due to the length that migrants can stay within the Australia for up to a maximum four years and also can bring any eligible secondary applicants with them who can also work or study in Australia. 457 visa holders can apply for a permanent residency after a set period – they must pass a points test to receive permanency.
What is the process for receiving a 457 visa
The employer needs to become an approved standard business sponsor:
The employer starts the process for a 457 visa by applying and receiving approval by the Australian Government as an eligible employer to sponsor overseas workers. Once approval is received, the employer needs to specify what occupations they want to fill and ensure the pay of that position exceeds the minimum rates set by the Australian Government ($49, 300 from 1st July 2011).
The sponsor must apply & get the job as advertised:
The overseas resident needs to apply for the Australian advertised job. The employer also will need to follow guidelines and receive approval from the Australian Government for 457 visa applicants who should apply for this job. It is not until this individual receives and accepts an offer of employment that they can apply for the 457 visa.
Submitting a 457 visa application:
Once the applicant accepts the offer of employment, they are required to complete and submit the ‘Form 1066 – Application for a Subclass 457 – Business (long stay) visa’. There is also an option now to submit the application online which can be found on immi.gov.au website. It is critical that applications meet all the requirements stated including obtaining and securing adequate 457 visa health insurance. Some of the key requirements that are mandatory are listed below.
457 visa processing times:
All 457 visas are processed within Australia by the ‘Centre of Excellence’ which have four processing centre’s within Australia. Processing time service standards set for the 457 visa application which are:
- 2 months for ‘low risk’ passport holders
- 3 months for ‘high risk’ passport holders.
There are 34 countries that are considered ‘low risk’ including Canada, Ireland, USA and the United Kingdom.
Requirements for a 457 visa application
There are a number of obligations that an applicant must meet to receive approval to work in Australia under a 457 visa. They include:
- Must accepted an offer for a position in Australia that has approval to be filled by a sponsored employee on a 457 visa.
- Purchasing 457 Health Insurance that covers both themselves and any other member on the visa application is necessary. This health insurance needs to meet the Australian Government requirements so a specialist firm such as IMAN Australian Health Plans should be contacted. Once an application is made, a letter will be sent to the applicant for proof that this requirement has been met in the application.
- Demonstrating English language proficiency is essential, unless the applicant is from the Canada, New Zealand, The Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States of America (as these are exempt countries).
- Having the character requirement and values set by the Australian Government is mandatory as it focuses on areas such as the individual’s criminal history.
- Ensuring applicants/s have the skills, qualifications and experience for the nominated job they have accepted is important.
To view suitable health insurance policies that meet the Australian Government requirements please visit IMAN Australian Health Plans – offering over 30 years’ experience insuring temporary residents entering Australia.