The full title of this subclass of visa was Temporary Business (Long Stay) and was introduced soon after John Howard became Prime Minister in 1996.
Holders of a 457 visa may be employed for a period of up to four years and may bring any eligible family members, including partners, who have unrestricted work and study rights in Australia.
Some trades occupations and passport holders from certain countries may be required to do a skills assessment (see the TRA website).
[4] The Australian Government reviewed the 457 skilled immigrant visa and made some provisions to quicken the transition to permanent residency starting on 1 July 2012.
Furthermore, the Australian government has recognised that 457 visas deserve priority in review as they are highly responsive to the needs of the market.
[5] An audit by the Fair Work Ombudsman conducted between September 2013 and June 2014 found that 40% of 457 visa holders were no longer employed by a sponsor or were being paid well below the statutory minimum wage of $53,900.
[7] In December 2014, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection released recommendations to relax 457 visa requirements.