The Skilled Independent 189 visa allocations have been nearly halved, from 30,375 in 2023-2024 to only 16,900 for 2024-2025. This significant reduction means that more people will be aiming for state-nominated 190 and 491 visas, making these allocations crucial.
The more state allocations there are, the better your chances of getting a visa.
Analysis and Patterns
The pattern is clear: states defined as regional have received the largest increases in allocations.
The overall strategy appears to focus on increasing the number of 190 PR visas for WA, SA, and NT, while NSW and Victoria saw most of their increases in the regional 491 visa, aimed at dispersing migrants outside Melbourne and Sydney.
Queensland's reduction in numbers was at the request of the QLD government.
It seems the Federal Government is worried about housing shortages and so is looking to give visas for regional areas.
The new financial year has brought significant changes to the Australian migration system. In this blog we will go through the main changes.
1. Visa Fee Increases
From 1 July 2024, most visa fees application increased by 2% to 4%, while student visa fees had a significant increase by 125%.
New Student Visa Fees:
Main applicant: From $710 to $1,600
Additional applicants over 18 years old: From $530 to $1,190
Dependents under 18 years old: From $175 to $390.
This increase will affect many planning to study in Australia. The current application fee for all types of visas are available on the Home Affairs website.
Northern Territory: an increase from 650 places to 1,200.
Australian Capital Territory: an increase from 1,200 to 1,800 places.
NSW and Victoria: both states are expected to remain the same as last year, with 3,150 for NSW and 3,300 for Victoria.
3. TSMIT Increase for employer sponsored visas
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has increased from $70,000 to $73,150.
The TSMIT is the minimum salary that employers are required to pay when they sponsor someone on a 482, 186, or a 494 visa.
Any new nominations from 1 July 2024 must meet this threshold, but existing holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2024 are not affected by this change.
4. Relaxation of Work Visa Conditions for 482, 494 and 457 Visas
Up to 180 days at a time to find a new employer or a maximum of 365 days in total across the entire visa grant period.
During the 180 days, employees who are looking for a new employer, can work in any job for any employer.
Employers and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF)
With the greater mobility for employees, it's time that the Department of Home Affairs revisits the promise in the Migration Strategy to reform the SAF.
Employers currently have to pay the Skilling Australian Fund upfront, which is a significant amount if an employee then leaves before their visa grant period. Fees: $1,200 per year for businesses with a turnover under $10 million, and $1,800 per year for those over $10 million.
Given the increased mobility within the 482 system, there's a risk that employers may opt out of sponsoring due to these fees, and therefore skill shortages could get worse if the employers don't want to sponsor people anymore.
5. No Student Visas for Visitors and Graduates Visa Holders
From 1 July 2024, Visitors (Subclass 600) and Graduate (Subclass 485) visa holders can no longer apply for a student visa onshore, as well the following visa holders
Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
Subclass 771 (Transit)
Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only
6. Graduate Visa Age Limit
Applicants looking to apply for a Graduate Visa must be 35 or under, with exemptions for Masters by research, PhDs, Hong Kong, and British Overseas passport holders up to 50 years old.
The Fair Work High-Income Threshold (FWHIT) has increased from $167,500 to $175,000. This means Global Talent applicants must have a minimum annual salary of $175,000 to apply.
8. Visa Closures
The Skilled – Recognised Graduate 476 visa has permanently closed
Philippines Passport Holders can now apply for a 462 Work and Holiday Visa with 200 places available. To be eligible, applicants must hold tertiary qualifications or have successfully completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study or post-secondary education and be 30 years or under.
UK Passport Holders
UK Passport Holders can now be granted up to three Working Holiday Subclass 417 visas without having to meet any specified work requirements. This is expected to lead to significant interest from young people from the UK, offering a work visa for up to three years in sunny Australia without the need to do agricultural work.
10. Health and Medical Changes
There have also been changes to the health and medical requirements including:
An Increase in the Threshold for Medical Costs from $51,000 to $86,000.
Mandatory Hepatitis B Testing for residents from high-risk countries, who are aged 15 and older.
11. Workplace Justice Visa Stream of the 408
A new visa has been introduced for employees who may have been exploited by their employer to stay and work. The employee will need a certificate stating there has been workplace exploitation. More details will be provided on this visa soon.
This was a summary of the main news in Australian immigration for the new financial year, July 2024. If you need assistance with applying for an Australian visa, please contact us.
As the end of the fiscal year approaches, many changes are being made to the Australian immigration system. Many of these changes stem from the Budget 2024-25.
We have already posted some videos about these changes, which you can find on our YouTube channel.
Today’s news includes an exciting 189 invitation round, restrictions on applying for student visas, skills assessment updates, and a new visa coming soon.
No Student Visas for Those with Tourist/Visitor or Graduate Visas
From 1 July 2024, visitor visa holders and temporary graduate visa holders will not be able to apply for student visas onshore. In the short term, this will lead to many graduate and visitor visa holders lodging applications before 30 June 2024.
In summary, from 1 July 2024, the following subclasses will not be able to apply for a student visa onshore:
Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
Subclass 600 (Visitor)
Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
This is in addition to the visas already listed which cannot make a valid student visa application, which are:
Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
Subclass 771 (Transit)
Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only
189 Invitation Round Released
A 189 Skilled Independent Visa invitation round has just happened On the 13th of June 2024! It includes invitations for a wide range of occupations with high points, many in the range of 85 to 100 points. The occupations include engineers, accountants, ICT professionals, and construction-related trades, such as carpenters and painters.
Before this round, the last few rounds only included invitations for health and teaching professions, which was discouraging for those in other occupations.
The June 2024 round is encouraging for many, as it opens up opportunities for a wide range of occupations.
State Nomination 190 and 491 Visas Updates
Only New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are still open. The other states are already closed and will reopen in the new financial year.
Increase in the TSMIT
From 1 July 2024, the TSMIT will increase from $70,000 to $73,150.
The TSMIT is the minimum salary that employers are required to pay when they sponsor someone on a 482, 186, or 494 visa.
Any new nominations from this date will need to meet the new TSMIT of $73,150.
This change will not affect existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2024.
Good News for People Seeking to Apply for the 482 Employer-Sponsored Visa
From November 2024, applicants will be able to apply for the 482 employer-sponsored visa after 1 year of experience. Currently, the applicant must have 2 years of full-time experience.
With the shortage of invitations in the points-based visas, this change for the employer-sponsored 482 visa will be welcomed by many students and 408 holders looking for their next visa.
Masters (research) and PhD graduates, as well as Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, will still be eligible if they are under 50 years of age.
Any applications lodged on or after 1 July 2024 will be assessed under the new subclass 485 visa requirements, which include the reduction of the age limit to 35 and under.
There has been much media commentary in relation to Directions 99 and the decisions of the AAT.
This pertains to visa holders with character issues and some decisions by the AAT to reinstate visas for those with criminal convictions.
A new Direction 110 has been released, emphasizing the protection of the Australian community in visa decisions involving character issues.
ORANA DAMA Expanded
The variation of the Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) has been expanded to include an additional 41 local government areas across inland NSW.
This expansion grants a geographical boundary extension to include the RDA regions of Riverina, Murray, Southern Inland, and Central West.
The variation will support the development and growth of regional NSW, expanding to 129 occupations under the Orana DAMA, giving businesses across 53 local government areas in NSW access to a broader range of skilled workers.
The Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy program is now available through the Migration WA Portal to help onshore migrants cover the costs of skills assessments, gap training, and occupational licensing by providing reimbursements of up to $7,500.
This support aims to assist migrants in gaining employment in Western Australia that aligns with their overseas qualifications, skills, and experience, thereby bolstering the state’s skilled workforce.
This new visa aims to attract exceptionally talented migrants to Australia, such as high-performing entrepreneurs, major investors, and global researchers. Streams of the National Innovation Visa could include:
VETASSESS reopened new applications for Chefs and Fitters, which they stopped last year.
In May, they also reopened to cooks, diesel motor mechanics, and motor mechanics.
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) Updates
The requirement for mandatory skills assessment through the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) has been removed for certain automotive trades from qualified applicants/countries of passport. Applicants can now have their skills assessed through the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) program. This change provides a less expensive documentary evidence-only assessment option.
Do You Need Help with an Australian Visa Application?
Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your visa application. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, we provide Australian immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world. You can book an appointment online or call us at (+61) 8 8351 9956.
As the end of the financial year approaches, many changes are being made to the Australian immigration system. In this article, we will go through some of those changes.
The SA regional DAMA now includes 128 new occupations across various sectors, including construction, trade, agribusiness, ICT, health, education, and renewable energy.
Some occupations added are registered nurse in child and family health, registered nurse in disability and rehabilitation, winery worker (beneficial for South Australia's Barossa and Clare Valley), sheep farm worker, truck driver, bricklayer, and floor finisher. Truck driver is particularly notable as it was previously a restricted occupation but is now available for the entire state.
From 10 May 2024, the financial requirement for Student visa applicants will increase from AUD 24,505 to AUD 29,710.
For a spouse or de facto partner of the Student primary applicant, it will increase from AUD 8,574 to AUD 10,394.
For a dependent child, it will increase from AUD 3,670 to AUD 4,449.
The last increase happened in October 2023, and this new increase was not expected for this financial year.
Recent changes to Australian student visa and graduate visa programs signal a significant shift in the landscape of international education and post-study opportunities in the country. Starting from 23 March 2024, these updates include increased English language requirements and the introduction of the genuine student requirement.
TOEFL iBT is now accepted for all Australian visas
TOEFL iBT tests taken from 5 May 2024 are valid for Australian visas and migration purposes. The test must be taken at a secure test center, as the department does not currently accept online English tests.
End of the 476 Visa
As widely expected, the skilled recognized graduate 476 visa will permanently close from 1 July 2024. This is disappointing for many, but it was expected.
Graduate Visa Changes
The main change will be the reduction of the maximum eligible age from under 50 to 35 years and under, proposed to be implemented from 1 July 2024.
Exceptions include Hong Kong and British overseas national passport holders, who will be eligible up to the age of 50.
Other changes for the graduate visa include increasing the minimum English requirement and reducing the validity period for English tests from three years to just one year prior to the application date.
This means applicants may need to check and complete their English tests before applying.
The Australian Government published a paper discussing potential changes to the points test for the 189, 190, and 491 visas.
The review may alter the available points by removing and reducing factors and adding new ones.
Expected changes include reducing or removing points for regional study and NAATI-approved language.
Points for partners may increase, age points might be allocated on a gradual scale, and English points might also follow a more gradual scale.
New Core Skills Occupation List
Jobs and Skills Australia has opened a consultation about the Core Skills Occupation list.
This list will be for the Core Skills visa, designed to replace the 482 employer-sponsored visa with similar requirements.
The consultation categorizes occupations into three groups:
Confident On List – Occupations that Jobs and Skills Australia is certain should remain on the list.
Occupations such as Registered Nurse, Social Worker, Diesel Motor Mechanic, and IT Network Administrator are on the Confident On List.
Confident Off List – Occupations recommended for removal based on current labor market insights.
Occupations such as Cafe or Restaurant Manager, Cattle Farmer, ICT Project Manager, and Real Estate Representative are on the Confident Off List.
Targeted for Consultation – Occupations that require further input from stakeholders to determine their necessity and priority.
Occupations such as Chef, Cook, Finance Manager, Web Designer, Hairdresser, and Marketing Specialist are on the Targeted for Consultation List.
Will your occupation be on the new Core Skills Occupation List? Full article here.
VETASSESS Skills Assessment
VETASSESS is accepting new applications again for cook, diesel motor mechanic, and motor mechanic.
Some other trade occupations paused in 2023 are not yet accepted by VETASSESS.
State Nominated 190 and 491 Visas
Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory have already closed for expressions of interest. Other states and territories may close soon.
This was a summary of the main news in Australian immigration at the start of May 2024. If you need advice on your specific situation, please book an appointment.
Do you need help with an Australian visa application?
Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your visa application.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia, we provide Australian Immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world.
What are the 5 best courses to study in Australia in 2024 to obtain Permanent Residency?
Australia is home to 43 universities, some of which are among the world's top 100. Australia is a safe and welcoming country attracting many students who want to settle in Australia and obtain Australian Permanent Residency. So, let's get started!
After completing their studies, there are two main visa paths students can follow to obtain PR:
Social Work is on the medium-term list and can lead to a Skilled Independent visa or 190 or 491. Employer sponsorship is also an option.
Under a Ministerial Direction, Social Work currently receives priority processing.
Skills assessment: The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Number 4: CARPENTER
With a shortage of houses in Australia, the Government is encouraging the construction of more houses. Carpenters are in high demand in terms of employability:
Diploma-level qualifications related to Carpentry is a two-year course with a tuition fee of approximately AUD 10,000 per year.
This is a very good option if you are looking for a trade course that may lead to PR.
Trade occupations must complete a job-ready program to get a positive skill assessment from TRA with a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience or equivalent.
Be aware that graduates of trade courses can only obtain an 18-24 month temporary graduate visa 485.
Skills assessment: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).
Here are some common types of carpenters in Australia:
Joiner carpenter
Framework carpenter
Formwork carpenter
Green carpenter
Number 3: CIVIL CONSTRUCTION DESIGN
Advanced Diploma in Civil Construction Design is a two-year course with a tuition fee of roughly AUD 12,000 per year.
One of the advantages of the course is that you can get a skills assessment done by Engineers Australia without any work experience and apply for a 485 Graduate Visa, and then further for any of the GSM visas.
The occupation related to this course is on the medium- and long-term skills list, which means that this occupation is eligible for all three GSM visas, including 189, 190, and 491.
After obtaining this qualification, potential job roles may include:
Civil Engineering Technician
Civil Engineering Design Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Senior civil construction designer
Structural Engineering Drafting officer
Road Design Draftsperson
Number 2: TEACHER
A Bachelor of Teaching is a 4-year degree with a tuition fee of approximately AUD 18,000 per year.
For those with a relevant degree, a Master of Teaching is a two-year course.
Teachers are on the medium-term list with several PR application options, and they are also a high priority in processing, similar to Registered nurses.
Different universities have different admission criteria, so be sure to check with us if you are interested in this course.
Under a Ministerial Direction, Teaching currently receives priority processing.
Skills assessment: Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).
To work as a teacher, you will need to register as a teacher after completing your course.
In-demand teachers in Australia include:
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
Middle School Teacher
Primary School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher
University lecturer
Special Education Teachers
Number 1: REGISTERED NURSES
Registered Nurses have the highest priority in processing.
Registered nurses are on the medium-term list with several PR application options such as Skilled Visa (Subclass 189, 190, and 491), Employer-Sponsored Visa, and DAMAs.
A Bachelor of Nursing is a 3-year degree with a tuition fee of roughly AUD 30,000 per year.
One of the basic requirements for enrolment in this course is an English test result equivalent to IELTS 7 bands in each module.
Skills assessment: Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).
As a Registered Nurse, you may choose from various specialties, including:
Many more course options can provide you with a pathway to permanent residency. Please contact us if you are looking for something that suits your career needs.
