Legislative changes offer 482 visa holders pathway to Permanent Residency
Australia has announced a groundbreaking change for Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa holders, offering them a clear path to permanent residence from November 25, 2023. The key changes include reducing the required employment duration with the same employer to two years and eliminating skilled occupation lists for transitional Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 applications. While some criteria, like […]
Australia’s Migration System Reforms Announced
As the new fiscal year approaches, changes are coming to Australia’s migration system. The government plans to spend $18.3 million over the next four years, starting in 2024-25, to improve the system, boost the economy, and ensure fairness. A big part of this budget, $15.0 million over three years, will go towards helping migrant workers understand their rights and protections […]
Australia Unveils Permanent Migration Program for 2024-25
On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced the permanent Migration Program planning level for 2024–25 at 185,000 places. Of these, 132,200 places (about 70%) will be allocated to skilled workers to support Australia’s economy. From 2025–26 onward, the government will plan migration numbers for four years at a time instead of just one year. (Budget paper 2, p8) This change is […]
Government Charges and TSMIT Increase Effective from July 1st
With the federal budget being released on Tuesday evening, we have confirmed the following changes: TSMIT Increase: The Department of Home Affairs has announced that the TSMIT will increase from $70,000 to $73,150 effective from 1 July 2024. New 482, 494 & 186 nomination applications that are lodged from 1 July 2024 will need to meet […]
Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) Consultation Opens
The Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) is seeking input on a draft list of occupations for skilled migration to address workforce shortages in Australia. This consultation allows industry groups, employers, and others to suggest which occupations should be included or excluded. A draft list has been tabled with some high-demand occupations, such as Motor Mechanic, […]
Employment Offers – Clarifying the TSMIT and AMSR
Navigating employment offers for temporary skilled migration to Australia involves understanding three key concepts: Guaranteed Annual Earnings (GAE), Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR). Where you are relying on guaranteed overtime to exceed the TSMIT level, the expectation is that your Australian employee also has access to the same arrangement. This […]
The Australian Government offers support for domestic violence survivors
Australia is stepping up its efforts to help victim-survivors of domestic and family violence through more support initiatives. Recent data shows that domestic violence is still a big problem in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), one in six women and one in sixteen men have experienced physical or sexual violence from […]
Family joining a 482 visa holder
When it comes to your employees sponsored through the 457 or 482 visa programs, it is important to know that their families can only join them in Australia if you give them your approval. This is because certain sponsorship obligations that apply to your sponsored worker also extend to their family members. Employees who have been […]
What lies ahead for COVID Pandemic visa holders?
The Australian Government stopped accepting new COVID Pandemic visa applications (subclass 408) on 1 February 2024. The visa was created in April 2020 to help temporary visa holders stay legally in Australia during border closures and to address job shortages in critical sectors. Now that the borders are open and the number of temporary visa holders is […]
Increased Scrutiny in 482 Nominations
In recent months, we have observed a higher level of scrutiny and subsequent refusals in 482 nomination applications. Of particular focus are companies with a lower turnover or where the salary package includes guaranteed overtime as a part of the salary package. The Department has also stopped asking for further information in these cases and move to […]