As of September 14, sponsors of 457 visa employees are now required to pay the employee market salary rates and meet a range of obligations. These include co-operation with Department of Immigration and Citizenship inspectors; equivalent terms and conditions of employment; payment of travel costs to enable sponsored persons to leave Australia; payment of costs incurred by the Commonwealth to locate and remove unlawful non-citizens, and an obligation to keep certain records and provide records and information to the Minister.

Obligations also include ensuring that the primary sponsored person works or participates in the nominated occupation, programme or activity; and an obligation not to recover certain costs from a primary sponsored person or a secondary sponsored person.

Also, the responsibility for health cover is transferred from sponsoring companies to employees. All 457 visa applicants will be required to provide the department with evidence that they have adequate arrangements for health insurance for the period of their intended stay in Australia. This evidence will usually be in the form of a letter from their health insurer.

The requirement for English language proficiency has also been increased.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter