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Australia is changing its immigration system, but the country is still hungry for skills. Here’s what you need to know about the changes and how to apply for a Skilled visa.
Changes to Australia’s immigration system
In 2023, the Australian visa system will undergo significant changes following a long-awaited review of the country's immigration policies.
This system is the most complicated among major Western admission countries and the review found several flaws in it that could potentially lead to exploitation.
The government aims to reduce both complexity and exploitation through the following changes:
- Raising the minimum salary threshold for temporary skilled visas from AUD 53,900 to AUD 70,000 from 1 July 2023
- Creating a clear pathway to permanent residency for temporary visa holder.
- Dividing the immigration system into three tiers, one for essential workers in lower paid sectors, one for middle-income earning skilled workers and one for high earners.
Australia still wants skilled workers
Australia is a country built on the skilled migrant workforce, so rest assured that changes to the immigration programme will not reduce the country’s appetite for skilled individuals.
The latest immigration quotas are a clear reflection of this. On 9 May 2023, there were 137,100 places for skilled migrants, which represents 72% of the Migration Programme.
The government has designed the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program to address persistent and emerging skills shortages and to attract people with specialist skill sets that are difficult to find or develop in Australia.?
The country is in desperate need of people skilled in trades such as plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers. Australia is also sorely lacking in people who can build roads, bridges, airports and railways, such as civil engineers, construction project managers, railway engineers and diesel mechanics. There are also ongoing shortages in some teaching and healthcare occupations.
- Construction managers
- Civil engineering professionals
- Early childhood teachers
- Registered nurses
- ICT (information and communications technology)
- Software and applications programmers
- Electricians
- Chefs
- Child carers
- Age and disability carers
How to apply for an Australian skilled visa
Under the current system, Australia has a range of visas available to skilled individuals that do not require employer sponsorship.
Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent visa
This allows skilled workers to live and work anywhere in Australia. Very few of these visas are issued.
Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa
This visa is state nominated and allows skilled workers to live and work in the state that has extended the invitation.
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia.
Any city or region outside of the major metropolitan areas is considered regional, including Perth and the beautiful Sunshine Coast, which is only around an hour’s drive from Brisbane. Each regional area has its own list, based on local regional labour market shortages, and these lists have a wider spread of occupations than the state or national lists, meaning the subclass 491 visa is often easier to obtain than the 189 or 190.
To apply for one of these visas, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and, based on your skills, and how much you score on the points system, the government might invite you to apply for a visa.
It’s important to understand that submitting an EOI doesn’t guarantee you an invitation and an invitation doesn’t guarantee you a visa. However, if you have skills in an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List, and you are invited to apply, then you have a reasonable chance of success if your evidence matches your claims in the EOI.
This system is set to be discontinued by the end of 2023, so if you’d like to apply using these rules there’s no time like the present.
- be under the age of 45
- work in a skilled occupation
- have a skills assessment done, if required in your occupation, to prove your knowledge and abilities
- pass an English language test
- be in good health and of good character
- have above a certain total of “points”, which are awarded for factors such as age, experience and education. The Australian government has a points calculator available on its website where you can check your total points according to the visa you wish to apply for.
If you have the skills and think that you meet the requirements, we can help you apply.
Contact us on +27 (0) 21 657 1526 or migration@sableinternational.com and let your consultants guide you through the complex visa application process
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by Sable International.
