NEW "SKILLS IN DEMAND" VISA- Coming soon!
Big changes are underway in Australia's immigration landscape as the announcement for a new "SKILLS IN DEMAND” VISA has been unveiled. The Australian immigration system is gearing up for a significant revamp, aiming to attract individuals with the skills the country needs.
In this blog post, we'll explore the key details about this new visa and what it means for prospective immigrants.
What We Know So Far:
The New Visa Streams: According to the Migration Strategy plan released last December 2023, the upcoming visa will be available in three streams, each designed to identify and accommodate the specific skills Australia is in need of:
Specialist Skills Pathway, to drive innovation and job creation:
This pathway will be for highly skilled workers and welcomes applications from nearly all occupations (except trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers).
The primary requirement will be an annual salary of at least $135,000.
An annual cap of available spots will most likely be enforced.
Core Skills Pathway, to bring in the skilled employees Australia needs now and in the future:
Individuals seeking sponsorship through this stream will have an occupation listed in the relevant Core Skills Occupation list, with salaries ranging from $70,000 to $135,000 per year.
This pathway is expected to be central, covering a majority of the visa applications. Unlike the Specialist Skills Pathway, trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers will be eligible to apply.
The Core Skills occupation list will be regularly updated to reflect Australia's evolving needs for skilled workers.
Essential Skills Pathway:
This stream will be for workers with skills essential to Australia, but their salaries are below $70,000.
Initially, the department is expected to open this stream to applicants employed in aged care and disability assistance sectors. However, this pathway is still considered an area for future reform, with consultations scheduled to begin in early to mid-2024.
Additional Highlights:
Sponsor Transfers: Sponsors can be transferred within 180 days instead of the current 60 days.
Expanded Work Opportunities: Unlike the current restriction where individuals can only work for the nominating employer, Skills in Demand visa holders will be able to work for multiple employers. Employment with any approved employer will count towards permanent residence requirements.
It's important to note that these changes are not yet officially legislated, and the exact timeline for implementation remains uncertain (we expect them to become active from late 2024). As of now, the existing work visas like TSS 482, ENS 186, and Regional 494 remain in effect.
For more information on these visas and recent reforms already in place, click here.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on immigration and visas in Australia!
Australia- UK Free Trade Agreement (AUKFTA)
The Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement officially came into effect on May 31, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the economic ties between these two nations.
Boosting Trade Relations
The United Kingdom stands as one of Australia's key trading partners, and the numbers speak for themselves. In 2022, the two countries engaged in a robust $10 billion worth of two-way goods trade. Thanks to this landmark agreement, over 99% of Australian products can now enter the UK market without incurring any duties or tariffs. Moreover, UK tariffs on Australian industrial goods have been completely eliminated. The agricultural sector also sees a positive shift, with products like beef, sheep meat, sugar, and dairy now enjoying duty-free transitional quotas, eventually leading to the elimination of all tariffs.
Strengthening Ties
Beyond the economic aspect, this agreement enhances the people-to-people connections between the two nations. Australian professionals now have access to the UK job market on par with their counterparts from the European Union, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland.
Facilitating Mobility
The agreement doesn't stop at trade—it also focuses on fostering mobility for skilled workers and young people in both directions. Starting from July 1, 2023, UK passport holders can apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive (up from the previous limit of 30). Additionally, beginning July 1, 2024, UK passport holders can obtain up to three separate Working Holiday visas without needing to meet specific work requirements.
Exemption from Labour Market Testing
A notable highlight of this agreement is the exemption of UK citizens (including UK Permanent Residents) from Labour Market Testing (LMT). LMT is a requirement for employers to demonstrate that they couldn't find a suitable Australian worker before sponsoring an overseas employee.
This free trade agreement is set to bring significant opportunities and benefits to both Australia and the United Kingdom, fostering economic growth and closer ties between the two nations.
Student visas - Increase to financial capacity
With the just released legislative instrument 19/198 the Department of Home Affairs has reviewed,
as of tomorrow 24th October,
the requested evidence of financial capacity for student visa applicants.
Not all student visa applications require the applicants to show evidence of funds, however, the Department of Home Affairs has the right to request such evidence.
The previous figures are updated as follows.
Student visa applicant must have access to:
$21,041 for a primary applicant (currently $20,290)
$7,362 for a spouse or de facto partner (currently $7,100)
$3,152 for a dependent child (currently $3,040)
Annual school costs (unchanged)
The Department will be satisfied that the requirement is met where the applicant can demonstrate an annual income of $62,222 (currently $60,000) where there is one only applicant;
$72,592 (currently $70,000) where there is a secondary applicant.
Make sure you meet the above requirement among the others before lodging your student visa application or ask for professional advice.
Temporary Skills Shortage 482 visa - Policy update
The Department of Home Affairs has just released an update to the Subclass 482 (short term stream) policy about the length of the employment contract. It is now specified that the contract of employment that is one of the requirements for the “Nomination” stage “…cannot be longer than the maximum period of stay for a TSS visa” (2 years).
A little detail of huge impact since the refusal of a nomination can determine the loss of the ever-increasing application fees (SAF levy included).
For a safe visa application, always hire a registered migration agent.