Temporary Work Skilled Visa (subclass 457)

The Temporary Work Skilled visa (subclass 457) allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to four years. A business can sponsor you only if they cannot find a permanent resident or an Australian citizen. This application can be done from inside or outside of Australia. The basic terms are sponsorship by an approved business and required skills for a position in an approved business.

The extensive requirements to apply for this visa are:

• be nominated to work in an approved occupation on the Skilled Occupation Lists
• meet the skill requirements for the nominated occupation
• meet registration and licensing obligations
• speak professional English
• have been nominated by an approved business

 Your occupation must match the occupations stated on the Skilled Occupation Lists by the Australian government .You must work in a skilled occupation that has been approved by the Australian Government and be prepared to show enough evidence to support it. The list will also consist of an ANZSCO code which has more detailed information regarding qualifications and experience. The evidence of your skills and experience in the nominated occupation has to be shown with documents specified in the checklist.

For the English language requirements, the two tests that are allowed are International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) to determine your English language aptitude. It is important for you to speak, write and understand a certain level of English whilst in Australia.If you are sponsored by a standard business sponsor, you must show that you have English language aptitude that is equivalent to:

• an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score of at least 5 in each of the four bands of speaking, reading, writing and listening, OR
   
• a score of at least 'B' in each of the four components of an Occupational English Test (OET).You do not need to show that you meet this requirement if your nominated occupation does not need a level of English language proficiency .

To be eligible for the visa you also need to meet health requirements based on personal circumstances, period of stay, country of citizenship, time in other countries in last 5 years and intended activities in Australia. This also applies to dependent family members included in your application. These are valid for 12 months. You will also need health insurance unless you have Medicare. This insurance can be from Australia or your home country and needs to be able to provide the level of cover for your stay. The insurance must also cover dependent family members. The character requirements needed are a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during past ten years after the age of 16. This also includes dependent family members who are over the age of 18.

This visa allows you to: work in Australia for up to four years, bring your family to work or study in Australia and travel in and out of Australia as often as you want.