On 31 March 2022, the Minister announced a new legislative instrument titled Migration Amendment (2022 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2022.

Initially, migration regulations require applicants seeking to apply for a further TSS visa in the short-term stream to be outside Australia.

However, the recently announced instrument will allow eligible TSS (subclass 482) visa holders who have worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for a third TSS visa in the short-term stream without leaving Australia.

This amendment recognises that TSS visa holders in the short-term stream may have encountered difficulties traveling to and from Australia during the pandemic.

The above changes will take effect from 1 July 2022.

To be eligible to apply for the third TSS visa, you must:

• Have been in Australia as the holder of a TSS visa in the short-term stream for periods that total at least 12 months between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021; and
• Make the further application before 1 July 2023 (unless the Minister specifies a later date).

The recently announced changes will enable those eligible to apply for the third TSS visa to obtain this visa while remaining in Australia, facilitating an application for approval of an employer nomination and application for a permanent visa to ensure that their skills can be retained in Australia.

Feel free to contact us for more information.