Latest updates:
- Upcoming immigration changes 2021
- Upcoming Australia Immigration Changes 2021- Business and Investment Visas
- Top occupations for Permanent residency in 2019-20 Migration Program
- Major Partner Visa Changes, Family-Employer-Business Visas Prioritised Within 160,000 Places
- COVID-19 Concessions for Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visas (18 September 2020)
- COVID-19 Concessions for Skilled Regional 887 visa
- New Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List announced (2 September 2020)
- Australia announces important visa changes to support international students
- 1 July 2020 Migration update for Skilled and Business visas
NSW immigration will begin accepting for NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) on Monday 15 June 2020 and will stop accepting applications at 5 pm Friday 26 June 2020. Please see here for more information.
Are you prepared for the Australian Immigration changes in 2020? Many changes were introduced to the Australian Skilled (GSM) , Employer Sponsored visas (ENS) and Family Visa Program last year. We look at what is planned for 2020 in Australian Immigration.
COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus) has affected both for Australian visa holders and those who are waiting to be issued their Australian visas. Please see all updates here. To see the Latest COVID-19 concessions for Australian visas see here.
Australian Associated Press published an article which included the following: Migrants allowed to live and work in Australia if the invest at least $1.5 million could soon need to spend more money. The Morrison government is looking at increasing the investment thresholds for business innovation and investment visas. Encouraging more investment in regional areas will be a key priority. The government is also looking to “streamline” the program, which currently includes three visas and nine visa streams.
Skilled Migration Occupation Lists Review
This does not represent a decision of Government.
Please note: This Traffic Light Bulletin contains all occupations flagged for a change to their status and/or recommended for a salary caveat. If an occupation does not appear on the Traffic Light Bulletin then no change is proposed to the current status of that occupation. Stakeholders may make a submission in relation to any occupation, even if no change is proposed at this time.
Glossary
| Term | Description |
| ANZSCO | Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations |
| STSOL | Short Term Skilled Occupation List |
| MLTSSL | Medium Long Term Strategic Skills List |
| ROL | Regional Occupation List |
Guide to the Traffic Light Colours
| RED | Flagged for removal from the lists |
| ORANGE | Flagged for movement between lists – direction of movement is indicated in the Recommended Status column |
| GREEN | Flagged for addition to the lists |
| ANZSCO code | Occupation Name | Current Status on SMOLs | Recommended Status for Traffic Light Bulletin | |
| 1 | 272111 | Careers Counsellor | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 2 | 324212 | Vehicle Trimmer | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 3 | 342311 | Business Machine Mechanic | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 4 | 361199 | Animal Attendants and Trainers nec | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 5 | 362211 | Gardener (General) | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 6 | 391111 | Hairdresser | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 7 | 394213 | Wood Machinist | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 8 | 411611 | Massage Therapist | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 9 | 411711 | Community Worker | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 10 | 452311 | Diving Instructor (Open Water) | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 11 | 452312 | Gymnastics Coach or Instructor | STSOL | OFF (RED) |
| 12 | 321111 | Automotive Electrician | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 13 | 321213 | Motorcycle Mechanic | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 14 | 323313 | Locksmith | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 15 | 332211 | Painting Trades Worker | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 16 | 333111 | Glazier | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 17 | 333411 | Wall and Floor Tiler | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 18 | 394111 | Cabinetmaker | MLTSSL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 19 | 142115 | Post Office Manager | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 20 | 312511 | Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 21 | 612115 | Real Estate Representative | ROL | STSOL (ORANGE) |
| 22 | 234411 | Geologist | STSOL | ROL (ORANGE) |
| 23 | 131112 | Sales and Marketing Manager | STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $120,000) (ORANGE) |
| 24 | 135112 | ICT Project Manager (includes Blockchain Planner/Manager) |
STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $120,000) (ORANGE) |
| 25 | 224999 | Information and Organisation Professionals nec (includes Data Scientist) |
STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $90,000) (ORANGE) |
| 26 | 599612 | Insurance Loss Adjuster | STSOL | MLTSSL (with salary caveat of $80,000) (ORANGE) |
| 27 | 133612 | Procurement Manager | ROL | MLTSSL (ORANGE) |
| 28 | 231213 | Ship’s Master | ROL | MLTSSL (ORANGE) |
| 29 | 221212 | Corporate Treasurer | OFF | STSOL (GREEN) |
| 30 | 423111 | Aged or Disabled Carer | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
| 31 | 423312 | Nursing Support Worker | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
| 32 | 423313 | Personal Care Assistant | OFF | STSOL (with mandatory skills assessment) (GREEN) |
Occupations that are staying on their current list but have been recommended for a salary caveat
| ANZSCO code | Occupation Name | Current Status on SMOLs | Salary caveat | |
| 33 | 121321 | Poultry Farmer | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 34 | 351111 | Baker | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 35 | 351112 | Pastrycook | STSOL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 36 | 361112 | Horse Trainer | MLTSSL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 37 | 323212 | Fitter and Turner | MLTSSL | Salary caveat of $65,000 |
| 38 | 452499 | Sportspersons nec | STSOL | Salary caveat of $120,000 |
New Regional Visas with PR pathways
The Australian government announced 2 new regional visas and made changes to the points test.
The two new regional (provisional) visas are:
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa: The new 491 visa, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa will enable eligible skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years. Visa holders will be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence visa after three years. Applicants for this visa must be nominated by:
- an Australian state or territory government agency (491 occupations list) or
- sponsored by an eligible family member (MLTSSL list) residing in a designated regional area and be invited to apply for the visa, following submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored: Substituted the 187 (RSMS) visa and commenced November 16, 2019 the 494 visa has 10,000 places allocated per year. It requires employer sponsorship and the position must be likely to exist for 5 years. It has a 45 year age limit (exemptions apply), competent English, RCB advice and must meet the AMSR. Visa applicants must have a suitable skills assessment (on the 494 occupations list) and at least 3 years’ skilled employment.
- Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional): To meet the requirements of the permanent visa (from November 2022) applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, have complied with the conditions on that visa and have met minimum taxable income requirements.
Extra 1 or 2 year visa for international graduates from regional institutions
The Department of Home Affairs has announced a new initiative for an additional Temporary Graduate visa with an extra one or two year of post-study work rights for international students who:
- graduate from the regional campus of a registered university or institution with a higher education or postgraduate qualification; and
- maintain ongoing residence in a regional area while holding their first Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa
The second Temporary Graduate visa will require ongoing residence in a regional area.
The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Important change: Perth and Gold Coast are classified as regional areas.
- Regional postcodes
- Holders of the new Regional Provisional visas (491 visa and 494 visa) will be eligible for Medicare
Global Talent – Employer Sponsored program (GTES) and Independent program (GTIS)
The Department of Home Affairs announced it will make the Global Talent program (Employer Sponsored) permanent to attract the world’s best and brightest. Australian businesses and start-ups will have streamlined access to the best and brightest talent from around the world with the continuation of the Global Talent – Employer Sponsored program (GTES), formerly the Global Talent Scheme.
The Government recognises there is fierce competition globally for high-tech skills and talent, and that attracting these people helps to transfer skills to Australian workers and grow Australian-based businesses.
The Global Talent Scheme will consist of two components. Established businesses with an annual turnover of more than $4 million and the start up stream explained below.
The Department also announced the Global Talent – Independent program, which offers a streamlined, priority visa pathway for highly skilled and talented individuals to work and live permanently in Australia.
VETASSESS changes can be seen here.
Courses with good PR prospects in 2020
Australia is a top destination for students mainly because of stable and open economy, attractive career choices and universities, highly rated infrastructure, multicultural society and beautiful landscapes and English language.
International students aiming to study, work and live in Australia after their studies should firstly apply for a Australia Student Visa to come and study in Australia. After 2 years of studies in Australian universities/ Vocational schools/ colleges offering higher education (and CRICOS approved), an international student could be eligible to apply for an Australian post study work visas under subclass 485. An Australian post study work visa may issued for varied time periods depending on your qualification.
- Latest changes to 485 visa duration
- Courses with good PR prospects in 2020
The student can then look for a permanent residency pathway in Australia if they meet the points test and other eligibility criteria. Alternatively if they have an employer willing to sponsor them for a TSS visa or the permanent ENS 186/RSMS 187 visa. If applying through General Skilled Migration, the applicant must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority and have an occupation that is listed as eligible for the visa type.
An important thing to note here is, your study area and your nominated occupation must match even though in some cases relevant work experience may substitute for the formal qualification. Please note that the occupations list changes often and according to the needs of the economy and labour market.
Planning the permanent Migration Program for 2020
Update: Australian Migration Intake in the COVID-19 era
Australia’s Migration Program settings are designed to ensure that migration is beneficial for the current and future economic and social development of Australia. The Migration Program is currently planned and managed annually, with the Program set at an annual planning ceiling of 160,000 places for four years from 2019-20.
The permanent Migration Program consists of three streams:
- Skill stream improves the productive capacity of the economy and fills skill shortages in the labour market, including those in regional
- Family stream allows Australian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with close family members, including partners, and certain dependent
- Special Eligibility stream provides visas for those in special circumstances that are not provided for in other streams, including former residents, and visas granted under Ministerial
- Child category allows parents to sponsor their child who is outside Australia to come to Australia.
Changes to the 2019-20 Migration Program settings provided a greater focus on allocating more places to the State/Territory Nominated and Employer Sponsored visa categories, including setting aside 25,000 dedicated places for regional Australia. To support this, the Government introduced two new skilled regional provisional visas (491 and 494 visa), that commenced on 16 November 2019, which encourage migrants to live and work in regional areas.
Migration Program 2019-20 Planning Ceilings
|
Category |
2019–20
Planning Ceilings |
| Skill Stream | |
| Employer Sponsored | 30,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,652 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 24,968 |
| Regional Category
Skilled – Employer Sponsored Regional- 494 visa Skilled – Work Regional- 491 visa |
25,000 |
| Business Innovation and Investment Program | 6,862 |
| Global Talent Program | 5,000 |
| Distinguished Talent | 200 |
| Skill Total | 108,682 |
| Family Stream | |
| Partner | 39,799 |
| Parent | 7,371 |
| Other Family | 562 |
| Family total | 47,732 |
| Special Eligibility | 236 |
| Total Migration Program | 156,650 |
| Child (outside the Migration Program ceiling) | 3,350 |
| Total permanent migration places | 160,000 |
Australia relaxes English requirement for migrant farm workers, offers pathway to permanent residency
Horticulture farmers around Australia will now receive more support to resolve labour shortages with the signing of a new Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement. The new agreement means horticulture growers will have access to a skilled and semi-skilled workforce to help deliver the fruit and vegetables enjoyed by all Australians. The Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement follows the success of labour agreements in other industries such as the dairy, meat and pork industry.
The HILA will allow Australian businesses in the industry to sponsor overseas workers across 31 occupations, and provides concessions to standard skilled visa requirements.
Key features include:
- additional occupations not on existing Skilled Occupation Lists
- salary concession (10 per cent discount on the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, currently $53,900 per annum)
- age concession (up to 50 years of age)
- English language concession
- pathway to permanent residence
While the HILA is not a new visa product it will complement existing temporary and permanent migration programs to support regional horticulture employers and communities, including the Working Holiday Maker Program, Seasonal Worker Program, the Pacific Labour Scheme and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
A full summary of approved occupations, terms and available concessions are available, see New Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement.
From 1 January 2020 , horticultural employers will be able to access the conditions under the Industry Horticulture Labour Agreement by lodging a Labour Agreement Request
© VisaEnvoy
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