In June, the Australian Government announced changes to the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa and the Student (Subclass 500) Visa. Furthermore, some states and territories have made changes to their state-sponsored visa programs. Please find the details below. 1. Extension of post-study stay for eligible Subclass 458 visa holders The Australian Government has extended the post-study stay for eligible Subclass 458 visa holders by two years: From two to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees From three to five years for select Master’s degrees From four to six years for all Doctoral deg ..read more

Global competition for talent is intensifying. Australia has entered the race with its Global Talent Independent Program. The Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program is designed to attract the world’s brightest and best to Australia’s shores, and it offers migrants permanent residence through the Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858). The ‘target market’, so to speak, are exceptionally talented and prominent individuals in eligible fields that can help secure a strong economy for Australia and enhance Australia’s reputation on the global stage. Understanding the Global Talent Independent Program T ..read more

On 27 April 2023, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill announced in a speech to the National Press Club that her department is set on reforming Australia’s migration system. While most proposed changes are not in motion yet, two changes have been confirmed: The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) is increasing All temporary skilled workers will have a pathway to permanent residency by the end of 2023 Let’s look at these in detail. The TSMIT is increasing to AUD70,000 The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will increase from AUD53,900 to AUD70,000 on 1 July ..read more

April was a busy month! ACT Migration released a state nomination update, physiotherapists from South Africa now qualify for an express pathway of their skills assessments, and eligible New Zealanders will have a direct pathway to Australian residency from 1 July. 1. ACT State Nomination Update On Thursday, 20 April 2023, ACT Migration announced it’s easing nomination requirements for the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491). The announcement also included news of the expansion of the state’s skilled occupation list. Easing of state nomi ..read more

Skilled migration to Australia has a strict age requirement. You must be under the age of 45 to apply for a visa. However – there are Australian work visa options for people over 45! You could: apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482), or explore age exemptions options under the Designated Area Migration Agreements. Let’s look at each option in detail: 1. Applying for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) allows employers to sponsor overseas workers to live and work in Australia on a temporary basis. It al ..read more

Do you have questions about immigration to Australia? We bet you do! That’s why we’ve decided to answer the questions we often get from our clients. Go ahead – bookmark this page immediately. Then start reading! 1. Can anyone immigrate to Australia? No, it is not anyone who can move to Australia. You must be eligible for an Australian visa to immigrate to Down Under. 2. What are the different types of visas for Australia? Australia offers visas that enable migrants to do the following: Work in Australia as a skilled migrant or sponsored worker Set up and start a business Join an Australian o ..read more

On Friday, 2 September, the Australian Government announced that it’s immediately increasing the 2022-23 Migration Program intakes by 35,000 places to 195,000. That decision was only one of several resolutions made at the Jobs and Skills Summit on 1 and 2 September. The Summit was held to agree on actions to help build a stronger economy and a stronger Australia, and it brought together businesses, unions, and industry to address shared economic challenges. Below we’ll summarise all the actions and strategies the Australian Government undertook with regards to immigration. Immediate actions fr ..read more

Australia’s 2022-23 Migration Program year officially started on 1 July, and states and territories have started to open. To date, Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia have opened, with Tasmania to follow soon. 1. Victoria Skilled Migration Program Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program opened on 11 August 2022. It’s open to applicants living in Victoria and overseas. It provides two visa pathways – the subclass 190 and 491 visas: Skilled Nomination Visa (Subclass 190): Permanent visa for skilled migrants to live and work anywhere in Victoria Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa ..read more

InterNations has released the results of their annual Expat Insider survey – and Australia did well! The survey quizzed expats on topics ranging from their financial situation to career prospects, and expats in Australia rated the country highly in most categories. Overall, Australia ranked at the 9th position! What expats think of Australia Expats in Australia rated the country highly for offering employment prospects, a rewarding business culture, the multitude of leisure options and great weather, and the ease of settling in.   1. Great employment prospects When it comes to employmen ..read more