The Minister for Home Affairs released the Government’s 100 page Migration Strategy which provides a road map of the changes that will be introduced from early 2024 and beyond. The strategy outlines 8 action areas: Targeted Temporary Migration through: A new 4-year, temporary skilled visa to replace
Changes to Labour Market Testing (LMT) Requirement With a change announced to the Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements for Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 (TSS) visa and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional subclass 494 visa. From 8 December 2023, there is no longer a requirement for employers
Disruption with processing times – delays The Department advised that the processing slow down over the holiday period was caused by absences associated with staff leave and further exacerbated by staff contracting COVID. Processing is now returning to more normal timeframes. The Department is attempting
Permanent Residency for those who would otherwise note be eligible STSOL occupations and pathways to PR In November 2021 Minister Hawke announced that enhanced visa pathways to permanent residency would be available to existing Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482)/Temporary Work Skilled (subclass 457) visa holders
Section 48 Bar Lifted for Skilled and Regional Visas From the 13th of November 2021, the section 48 bar (i.e. those who had a previous refusal or cancellation in Australia) will be lifted for eligible visa applications for limited visas. Three New Options Skilled Work
Departing Australia From the 1st of November 2021, fully vaccinated Australian permanent residents/citizens will no longer need a travel exemption to depart Australia. Temporary visa holder may depart and return to Australia. However, they should be advised that there is no set date on when the current border
Parents From 1st of November 2021, parents of adult Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to apply for an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions to visit their Australian children. This includes biological parents, legal parents including adoptive parents, step-parents and in law. Applicants will
New Occupations Additional occupations have now been added to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). Added 27 July 2021 Hospital Pharmacist (251511) Industrial Pharmacist (251512) Retail Pharmacist Added 22 June 2021 Accountant (General) (221111) Management Accountant (221112) Taxation Accountant (221113) External Auditor (221213) Internal
Tourism and Hospitality visa Businesses in Tourism and Hospitality who are struggling to find workers can now access the Subclass 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa. The Department of Home Affairs has announced that Tourism and Hospitality have been added to the critical sectors (previously only included
New Agriculture Visa Coming The Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management recently announced a new seasonal agriculture worker visa to assist with the shortage of workers in the sector. In the course of negotiations with the United Kingdom over the Australian-UK Free Trade Agreement,