A partner also has full-time work allowed (for another employer) or they can attend college.

After two years working full time on the 457, providing the applicants have the last 12 months with an employer who wants them to stay, they can apply for an Employer Nominated Permanent Visa, the 856. After another two years, they are eligible to apply for citizenship of Australia, providing they have met the residency conditions.

Some of the advantages of this visa:

These temporary visas are particularly good for workers who need:

• A fast grant. If there are no problems, the 457s are usually granted in a few weeks. Contrast that to permanent visas that take anywhere from 6 months to several years.
• No points tests! Generally, the 457 has lower requirements.
• A visa for people who have good work experience but are short on full qualifications.
• A visa for workers whose English language ability is not good enough for an Independent Visa. Unless a higher English level is required for the occupation, most 457 visa applicants can successfully apply with only 5.00 on the IELTS test at General level.
• A more flexible visa. The 457 can be applied for while the applicant is overseas, and granted after they arrive in Australia (while holding another visa, for example an ETA). Or if the applicant for some reason has to leave Australia after lodging their 457, the visa can be granted offshore for them to return to Australia on their new visa.
• The primary applicant can come to Australia ahead of the family to start work, and their partner can remain in the overseas country to pack up the house and bring the children at the end of the school term. This does apply to some other visas too.
• Partners and children can be added to this visa after grant if the sponsoring employer is willing to sponsor other family members too.