Recruitment or transfer of skilled visa holders during COVID-19
Have you been approached by a Temporary Visa Holder already in Australia, during the COVID-19 Crisis?
Are you having difficulty in attracting a specialist skilled candidate in the current Australian Labour Market?
Options exist to transfer skilled workers and backpackers already in Australia to new employers.
Transfer of Subclass 457/482 Visa Holders already in Australia
Subclass 457/482 visa holders who retain valid visas may have the opportunity to transfer their visas to a new employer as per normal criteria.
In addition, if an employer is approached by a 457/482 visa holder who has been laid off and unemployed for less than 60 days, it may be possible to transfer his nomination to that employer. Employers need to be an existing Temporary Skill Shortage visa sponsor, or be willing to apply, and meet normal nomination criteria.
Transition of Backpackers to Employer Sponsored Visa's
If an employer is approached by a holder of a working holiday visa and the company has a full time position which he has been unable to fill, it may be possible to employ the visa holder under an employer sponsored visa. In this case the visa holder must be able to pass all the requirements for education, work experience and English language.
Employers need to be an existing Temporary Skill Shortage visa sponsor, or be willing to apply, and meet normal nomination criteria.
Travel exemption for Employer Sponsored visa holders/applicants
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant an individual travel exemption for a non-citizen:
with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services (such as in medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, aged care, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and the maritime industry)
Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List
The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies 17 occupations which fill critical skills needs that support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19 based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments.
Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing. All other skilled occupation lists will remain active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority.
The 17 occupations (ANZSCO code) currently on the list are:
CEO/Managing Director (111111)
Construction Project Manager (133111)
Mechanical Engineer (233512)
General Practitioner (253111)
Resident Medical Officer (253112)
Psychiatrist (253411)
Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
Midwife (254111)
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care & Emergency) (254415)
Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
Registered Nurses nec (254499)
Developer Programmer (261312)
Software Engineer (261313)
Maintenance Planner (312911)
If your company is involved in the supply of essential goods and services and is in urgent need of appropriately skilled staff from off-shore, this provision may be applicable.
Department of Home Affairs Update on COVID-19 Effects on Temporary Visa Holders
For details of the most recent update on the effect of the COVID-19 crisis, please see the following link.