Summary of the three tiers is outlined below.
I wanted to note that all trade workers will fall into the most difficult category of Tier 3 regardless of income, requiring consultation between employers and unions prior to application. What other regulation will be placed around this tier is currently unknown.
Our advice to employers who sponsor trade workers is to move to have workers sponsored prior to changes using the flexibility of the current system. If you have workers on temporary 482 visas that need to be extended do this before the changes are implemented.
Three tiered program:
Tier 1 – Specialist Skills Pathway:
• Aimed at high-income earners, with a minimum annual earning threshold of $135,000.
• This tier does not have a specific occupation list but excludes trades workers, machine operators, drivers, and laborers.
• Offers visa processing times of approximately 7 days.
Tier 2 – Core Skills Pathway:
• Designed for individuals earning at least $70,000 annually.
• Focuses on occupations listed on a regularly updated Core Skills Occupation list managed by Jobs and Skills Australia.
• Processing of application to be completed within 21 days.
Tier 3 – Essential Skills Pathway:
• Targets occupations earning under $70,000 per year, focusing on essential skill sectors.
• This pathway is currently under assessment by the government and is expected to be more regulated and sector-specific. This pathway will involve union consultation by employers prior to applying.
