English Language Requirement

It Is Important That The Main Applicant Can Speak, Write And Understand A Sufficient Level Of English While Working In Australia. The Following Tests Are Used To Determine The Level Of English Language Proficiency:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Overall Test Score Of At Least 5.0 With A Score Of At Least 4.5 In Each Of The Four Test Components
Occupational English Test (OET) – Score Of At Least ‘B’ In Each Of The Four Components
Test Of English As A Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL IBT) – Total Score Of At Least 36 With A Score Of At Least 3 For Each Of The Test Components Of Listening And Reading, And A Score Of At Least 12 For Each Of The Test Components Of Writing And Speaking.
Pearson Test Of English (PTE) Academic Test – Overall PTE Academic Test Score Of At Least 36 With A Score Of At Least 30 In Each Of The Four Test Components
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Test (Which Was Conducted On Or After 1 January 2015) – Overall Test Score Of At Least 154 With A Score Of At Least 147 In Each Of The Four Test Components.

Other Requirements

Health Requirements – All Applicants Must Meet Certain Health Requirement. The Health Examinations Will Depend On Various Personal Factors Such As Country Of Citizenship, Period Of Stay, Time Spent In Another Country During The Last Five Years And The Intended Activities In Australia. Health Insurance – All Applicants Must Have Adequate Health Insurance Which Should Provide At Least The Level Of Coverage Required For The Purpose Of The Stay. Character Requirements – All Applicants Must Meet Certain Character Requirements And May Be Requested To Provide Police Certificate, If Applicable.

Processing Stages

The Steps Involved In Applying For 457 Visa Can Be Categorized Into Three Stages.

Sponsorship – The Sponsor, A Lawfully Operating Business With No Relevant Adverse Information Against It, Must Take Approval For Sponsoring And Appointing Overseas Employees To Be Posted In Australia. The Validity Of A Sponsorship Approval Can Be Up To 6 Years And An Approved Sponsor Might Appoint Overseas Employee As Per Requirement For Up To Four Years. If The Sponsor Is An Australian Business, It Must Also Demonstrate Its Commitment To Employing Local Labour As Well As Non-Discriminatory Recruitment Practices.There Are Two Ways To Become An Approved Sponsor:

•   Apply to be a standard business sponsor
•   Negotiate a labour arrangement

2. Nomination – The Sponsor, An Approved Business Or A Business With A Sponsorship Application In Process, Must Identify A Position To Be Filled By An Overseas Skilled Worker And Nominate The Overseas Skilled Worker For The Identified Position. In General, A Successful Nomination Is Valid For 12 Months Since The Day It Is Approved.The Nomination Must Meet And Justify Various Factors Such As:

•   Relevancy of the nominated occupation to the position to be filled
•   Relevancy of the skills and experience of the nominated overseas worker to the position to be filled
•   The salary rate to be paid to the prospective overseas employee

3. Visa Application – The Visa Applicants, The Nominated Prospective Overseas Skilled Employee And Eligible Dependent Family Members Include In The Visa Application, Must Submit Relevant Documents To Prove That They Meet The Criteria For The Grant Of The Visa. Seeking The Help Of Professional 457 Visa Agents Would Be Beneficial As They Provide Guidance And Assistance In Visa Application.

Including Family In The Application

The Main Applicant, Upon Written Consent From The Sponsor, Can Include The Following People In The Visa Application At The Time Of Lodgement:

•   Partner
•   Dependent Children

These Family Members Must Meet The Set Requirements For Inclusion And Documentary Evidence Of Their Relationship To The Main Applicant Should Be Provided.

Visa Holder’s Obligations

Primary And Secondary Visa Holders Must Comply With Certain Conditions, As Failure To Do So Might Result In The Visa Being Cancelled.

The Primary Visa Holders Must:

•   only work in the nominated occupation and for the sponsor, who nominated the position
•   start work within 90 days’ deadline, as applicable
•   Not cease employment for a period of more than 90 consecutive days
•   obtain any licence, registration or membership necessary to perform your occupation in Australia within the set 90 days’ deadline, as applicable and comply with any provision, regulation and obligation.
•  
• All Primary And Secondary Visa Holders Must:
• •   maintain adequate arrangement for health insurance while in Australia
  •   report changes in circumstances including new residential address, new passport, or pregnancy, birth or death in the family.