Migrants—and soon-to-be migrants like you—remain an important part of Australia’s economic and social sectors. It was known that more than half of all Australians were born overseas or have a parent born overseas, and you can be one of them.
From 2023 to 2024, people arriving in Australia as immigrants were recorded to have reached more than 500,000—and still counting! However, it was also discovered that more people have been arriving than leaving, raising concerns about certain national and economic issues.
This issue prompted the Australian government to revise policies for immigration, planning to “return migration levels back to normal”. If you're planning to travel to Australia, you must know the latest changes policies and take note of them—better yet, contact us through our website at Legacy Migration for a personalised consultation!
New policies to look out for
Looking to work or study in Australia? Big decision right there. But before you pack your bags and process your papers, please pay attention to these new changes in the immigration policies—rules will be tighter with Australia's new Migration Strategy. Make sure you check them out!
Many changes will happen, as per the Department of Home Affairs. However, these are the ones you should look out for:
increase in minimum English language requirements for student and graduate visas (by early 2024)
shortening of graduate visa periods (by early 2024)
launching of Skills in Demand visa (to be implemented by late 2024)
These are just some of the many changes that come with Australia’s new Migration Strategy. If you would like to know more, you may contact us here for more information about the changes.
New visa system for skilled workers
If you are a skilled worker and a business happens to have labor shortage, a Temporary Skill Shortage 482 Visa would have been a suitable choice for you. This allows you to work and stay in Australia—two years for short-term stream and four years for medium-term stream.
But with the new Migration Strategy, the three-tiered Skills in Demand visa will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage 482:
Specialist Skills Visa Pathway: For those making over $135,000 a year. Trade and manual labor jobs aren't included here.
Core Skills Visa Pathway: Aimed at those earning between $70,000 and $135,000 annually. Trades workers will apply under this one.
Essential Skills Visa Pathway: Designed for those making under $70,000. Details are still being worked out, but it'll involve unions and focus on specific sectors.
These visas can last up to four years and holders can switch employers more easily. With this, you can move towards permanent residency much more clearly. But if you’re still not sure how it works, you can head on to our website for more information.
Changes in student and graduate visas
The Student visa and 485 Graduate visa programs were also changed because of the new migration strategy. So, if you’re planning to hit the books in Australia or have graduated already, these are the changes you should take note.
For Student Visas:
English language levels will be increased (from IELTS 5.5 to IELTS 6.0)
types of courses eligible for student visas will be reduced, focusing on retaining tertiary university courses
course swapping will be not allowed
For Temporary 485 Graduate Visa (TGV):
age eligibility will be reduced from 50 to 35
English language levels will be increased from IELTS 6.0 to IELTS 6.5
length of stay for international graduates will be reduced (from 3 years to 2 years for Masters by coursework; from 4 years to 3 years for PHD)
international graduates without skills in demand will be prevented from remaining in Australia
You’ll also need to take note that there have been many changes in the financial requirements. For instance, you’ll be required to show that you have enough money for your stay and education in Australia, which starts at AUD$43,710 or PHP 1,660,980 for vocational courses.
To give you a better idea of the costs, we encourage you to read our latest blog post at Understanding Student Visa Costs for Australia: Financial Guide for Studying in Australia — Legacy Migration.
Lastly, the Genuine Temporary Entrant has also been changed to the latest Genuine Student (GS) Requirement, which still ensures the visa program is used for its intended purpose for temporary studies. There will be more scrutiny based on the changes in the criteria, as the genuine student criterion will assess your situation more comprehensively. For more information about these changes, you can also check out our blog at Genuine Student Requirement — Legacy Migration.
The ones listed above are the latest changes to the Australian immigration policy, as per new Australian Migration Strategy. If you want to apply for a visa bound for Australia, it’s best to take note of these and be updated with the policies, as they may change from time to time.
For further information, come to us at Legacy Migration and we’ll help you know more about the latest Australian immigration policies. Plus, we’ll make sure to guide you through them, helping you understand them better—because at Legacy Migration, you matter.
Want to know more? Contact us at https://www.legacymigration.com.au/contact-us and we’ll help you get started!
The information, updates, news, and advice provided are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalised guidance. For accurate advice regarding your specific migration case, we invite you to reach out to us directly by sending a message through this link: https://www.legacymigration.com.au/take-your-first-step-to-living-working-or-studying-in-australia
Migration Agents Registration Number: 1797357
QEAC Number: S041
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