In a media release from the Australian Government on 23 August, it has been confirmed that the Australian Agriculture Visa will go ahead in 2021. In the statement it was announced that new Regulations would be in place by the end of September 2021. Speculation about the promised visa has been widespread since Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, announced in June that it would be coming soon. We wrote an article about the Agriculture visa at the time of the announcement, based on Minister Littleproud’s assertions, but the scope of the visa seems to have expanded substantially over the last few months creating more places in more industries.
If you're an engineer, getting a nominator just got easier! In positive news for engineers with who fit the Global Talent visa criteria, Engineers Australia has been accepted as a certified nominating organisation for the Global Talent visa program. This means engineers who could not find a suitable nominator for the Global Talent visa can now apply to EA for a nominator.
If you think you are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa, take 5 minutes to complete our free online Global Talent assessment form. Our lawyers and registered migration agents will assess your eligibility and get back to you.
On 15 April 2021, the Minister for Immigration gave a directive to expand the definition of “character reasons” as a reason for visa cancellation. The new rule, Ministerial Direction 90, focuses on family violence and means some Australia visa holders who were previously ok to stay, could have their visas cancelled.
Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud, has announced an agriculture visa will become available in 2021. The new visa is a result of Australia’s trade discussions with the UK in which it was agreed that British backpackers would no longer be required to work on Australian farms to retain their visas. The arrangement will release British tourists from often undesired requirement, and provide an opportunity for other travellers to visit Australia.
While Covid is keeping most Australian states and territories closed for offshore applicants, South Australia announced in May 2021 that it is now considering sponsoring offshore applicants for 491 and 190 visas.
They raised you, supported you, and loved you… and now in return, you want to bring them to Australia. They’re your parents. But what is the best way to get them here, and how much is it going to cost?
Since Australia closed its border in 2020 due to Covid, international students have been locked out of the country where they are enrolled to study. This crisis is escalating as thousands of people’s lives are thrown into turmoil, and the Australian economy suffers from the loss of this lucrative industry. As months turn into years, the growing frustration and resentment can be heard echoing through the internet as students, universities, and Australian businesses cry out for a return strategy.
In a speech given to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Federal Minister Alan Tudge said the country would not see a return of international students until 2022 but are students willing to wait until then?
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden announced yesterday that travellers from Australia will be able to enter the country without mandatory quarantine starting 11:59pm on Sunday, April 18 New Zealand time.[i]
An exemption to travel restrictions, allowing people to leave Australia, will not be required for those travelling to New Zealand.[ii]
This bubble will effectively allow people to travel freely between Australia and New Zealand, subject to certain conditions.
The Australian immigration department has recently offered COVID-19 concessions to international students for Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate. During COVID-19 pandemic, many visa applicants and international students have been adversely affected by circumstances beyond their control, including Border closures, stand-downs and disruptions to courses.
Today, 10 September 2020, the interim nomination allocations for 190 visa, 491 visa, 132 visa and 188 visa for 2020 for the different state nomination programs have been released.
We noticed that Immigration South Australia has changed its name to Move to South Australia.
Move to South Australia has updated its criteria for interim 491 and 190 nominations to support and prioritise South Australia’s economic recovery and public health response.
Victoria Business Nomination Remain Closed 26 November 2020 - 188 visa and 132 visa
Business innovation and investor visa nomination applications (subclass 188A, 188B, and 188E streams and subclass 132A and 132B streams) remain closed to new applications as announced on 26 November 2020. Significant Investor (subclass 188C) visa nominations have opened on 30 November 2020 in Victoria.
Victoria has reopened its 2020-2021 nomination for 188 visa and 132 visa on 8 September 2020.
All applications must meet new criteria and be submitted before 21 September 2020 at 5 pm AEST, giving only 2 weeks to apply!
Explanation of what your contribution to the recovery will be (200 words or less) in either:
Business activity
Investment activity
This is according to news published by Live in Melbourne. We expect further information following the Federal Budget around 6 October 2020.
Victoria Skilled Migration - 491 visa and 190 visa
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that Victoria continues to use the interim allocation places beyond 5 October 2020.
By 02 October 2020, Victoria's temporary allocation for 2020-21 were:
600 places for skilled subclass 190
200 places for skilled subclass 491
400 places for the business innovation and investment program
Victoria has received more than 2,400 registrations of interest received from skilled migrants, and more than 480 application from business migrants.
On 26 November 2020, Victoria has annouced that the skilled program (subclass 190 and subclass 491) remain closed to new applications. They continue to select high calibre skilled migrants for nomination from the pool of Registration of Interest submissions.
Once Victoria receives confirmation of its full 2020-21 nomination allocations for the skilled and business migration programs, it would reopen its 2020-2021 nomination for 491 visa and 190 visa soon.
It will only select applicants to apply for Victorian visa nomination if their Registration of Interest demonstrates they are working in health or medical research and contributing to Victoria’s economic recovery and/or health response.
To be considered for Victorian visa nomination, you must submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination. Applicants who register their interest may then be selected to apply for Victorian visa nomination.
To be eligible to submit your Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian visa nomination (subclass 190 and 491) you must
be currently living in Victoria, and
be currently employed in Victoria (minimum six months), and
work in a highly-skilled occupation in health or medical research, which supports Victoria’s economic recovery and/or health response
VIC will then select the best candidates to apply for Victorian visa nomination.
The Global Talent Independent Visa is a hot new initiative by the Australian government to encourage highly skilled workers to migrate to Australia. We are seeing great interest in this visa from skilled professionals in Australia and around the world.
If you think you are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa, take 5 minutes to complete our free online Global Talent assessment form. Our lawyers and registered migration agents will assess your eligibility and get back to you.
Australian permanent visa processing times can often be more than 12 months, sometimes up to almost 2 years. The GTI visa has one of the fastest processing times of all Australian permanent visas.
At the Law Council's Immigration Law Conference on 20 March 2020, respresentatives from the Department of Home Affairs stated that applications under the GTI program are being given priority processing. Processing times vary from 2 day to 2 months with many being decided in one to two weeks!
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman has also signed Ministerial Direction no 85 in November 2019. Direction no. 85 enables the Department of Home Affairs to give priority processing for the Distinguished Talent cohort (subclasses 124 and 858) to “support the responsive processing of applicants that are identified as highly desirable by Government.”
The GTI program uses the Distinguished Talent subclass 858 and subclass 124 visas, but provides a new pathway to these by invitation.
Global Talent Post-Coronavirus
The recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown how important Australian permanent residency visa status can be for receiving support in difficult times and the right to enter Australia. The GTI program allows for the grant of a permanent visa in what is likely to be the fastest time of any program.
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has hinted at the potential development of the GTI program as an integral part of the Australian migration program for the 2020-21 migration year, post-pandemic.
The Australian Government is keen to ensure its 5,000 spots are filled in the 2019/20 migration program year, which ends on 30 June 2020, so it is important that you get into the program while you can.
If you are interested in coming to live in Australia and meet the high income threshold, the Global Talent Independent Visa Program is a great opportunity for highly skilled individuals to migrate to Australia. It’s easy to see why the program is so hot right now!
491 Visa - Australian (Skilled Worker Regional) Provisional - Questions and Answers
As the Visa subclass 491 is still quite a new visa subclass for the Australian Department of Immigration, we have been receiving a huge amount of questions, so we thought we would collate them all in one place. Hopefully you will find these answers useful, if you don’t find the answer to your 491 visa question please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Throughout the 2018/2019 programme year, Australian immigration has witnessed some massive changes. These changes range from new government, policy changes, the abolishment of the 457 visa, and new visas being implemented. Scroll the index below to find an in-depth summary of changes and what we predict will come in 2019.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank one of your colleagues, Connor Deegan, for his dedication in completing his work study program with Work Visa Lawyers. Connor executed a diverse array of tasks that made him a valuable contribution to my business, and to the work of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA). Throughout his placement, Connor was dependable, motivated, and demonstrated thorough attention to detail.
Alan Tudge Speech On Australian Immigration and Regional Visa Policy Aimed to Promote Regional Migration in An Attempt to Solve the Population Problem in Sydney, Melbourne, & Southeast Queensland
When starting a business in Australia you need to make sure you have the right visa. You can do this by using a registered Australian migration agent such as, Work Visa Lawyers. Whether you want to establish a large or small business in Australia, it is important that you and your business have all the correct certifications. To do this, we recommend you get help when structuring your business. ABN Australia is a trusted and establish company who can help you do that. It is also important that you use an analyst to monitor your investments, expenses, and general accounting to ensure your business is operating legally.
Key Terms: How to become an Australian Citizen - Permanent Residency (PR) - Work Visa - Citizenship by conferral and decent - Am I eligible to be an Australian Citizen
