Expanding Access to the TRT Stream
Required amendments – have been released – to the Regulations to give effect to the changes that expand pathways to permanent residence for the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream (TRT) Subclass 482 and 457 skilled workers.
Key changes that have come into effect from 25 November 2023:
- Expanded access to the TRT streams of Subclass 186 or 187 visas for all holders of Subclass 482 and Subclass 457 visas, regardless of the stream in which their visa is held;
- Reduction in the length of the eligibility period that is required for approval of a nomination in the TRT stream eligibility period now 2 years in 3 years, down from 3 years in 4 years;
- Removal of the requirement for the occupation identified in the nomination to be on the Medium Long-Term List or the Regional Occupation List, ensuring that applicants under the TRT stream are not disadvantaged if their occupation is removed from the relevant occupation list;
- Extends the permission to allow all employers including parties to a work agreement who sponsored a worker under a labour agreement, to make a nomination under the TRT stream;
- Removes the limit on the number of Subclass 482 visa applications in the Short-term stream that can be made whilst in Australia.
End of COVID Concession
The COVID-19 concession period ceased on 25 November 2023. From early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in international travel restrictions and deteriorating business and employment conditions. Temporary measures were previously implemented to provide concessions for applicants of certain visa subclasses affected by travel restrictions which made it difficult for them to meet visa requirements. This included where the applicant must be located at the time of application.
The concession period is no longer relevant as all COVID-19 international travel restrictions have been lifted.
The initial concession period commenced on 1 February 2020 and at that time no fixed end date was specified. The Minister has announced that the end date for the concession period will be at the end of the day on 25 November 2023.
The removal of the concession applies to visas including employer-sponsored, skilled regional, family, BIIP, safe haven enterprise, and temporary graduate visas.
