Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
Various changes to legislation for this visa commenced on 2 April 2005 including:

• labour market testing requirements for approval of a position nominated under the ENS is removed
• introduce lists, specified by Gazette Notice, of skilled occupations and minimum salary levels in particular locations, with which a proposed nominated position must comply
• require that visa applicants under the ENS must have worked in the nominated occupation in Australia for at least 2 years as the holder of a temporary visa; or be nominated to fill a highly paid senior executive position with a salary of at least a minimum level specified by the Minister in a Gazette Notice; or have at least 3 years experience in the nominated occupation and have their skills assessed as suitable by an independent assessing authority specified by the Minister in a Gazette Notice
• enhance the integrity of the ENS by requiring employers to be actively and lawfully operating in Australia, and to have a satisfactory record of compliance with immigration law and relevant workplace relations law
• require that all applications for the relevant subclasses must be made in Australia, irrespective of whether the applicant is offshore or onshore at the time of applying.

Subclass 457 - Business Long Stay Visa
From 2 April 2005, subclass 457 visas can be granted to applicants whether they are in Australia or overseas at time of decision and irrespective of where they were at the time of their application.

Migration Occupation in Demand List
This list was last updated on 20 September 2006.  It is a list of occupations identified as being in demand in Australia.

Skilled Occupation List
This list was last updated on 15 December 2005. If you are applying for any visas under the Skilled Migration category, you must have skills and qualifications relevant to an occupation on this list.

Sydney and Selected Areas Skilled Shortage List
This list was last updated on 1 November 2005. It contains skilled occupations where there is a demand in Sydney, Gosford, Newcastle or Wollongong.

Allocation of MODL Points to Hairdressers

For Skilled applications made on or after 8 September 2004, Hairdressers with a positive skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will not be required to demonstrate that they have at least 3 years relevant experience following completion of their hairdressing qualification in order to receive MODL points. 

They will receive 20 MODL points if they have a job offer as a hairdresser in Australia from an organisation that has employed at least 10 people on a full time basis in the 24 months immediately prior to the date you lodged your application

They will receive 15 MODL points if they do not have a job offer as a hairdresser in Australia

Occupations for Subclass 457 - Business Long Stay Visa
This list was last Updated on 2 April 2005. If you are applying for a Business Long Stay visa, you must have skills and qualifications relevant to an occupation on this list.