Upcoming Immigration Changes 2024

1.      Specialist Skills pathway – for highly-skilled migrants that are beneficial to Australia’s national productivity with guaranteed annual earnings at least AUD 135,000 and no less than Australian workers in the same occupation. All occupations except for trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers will be eligible for this steam;

2.      Core Skills pathway – for applicants whose occupation is on a new Core Skills Occupation list which relates to occupations identified by Jobs and Skills Australia as being in shortage and earning at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (“TSMIT”); and

3.     Essential Skills pathway– this will be for workers paid below AUD 70,000 with essential skills and is still under development by the government. Workers under this pathway are currently sponsored through labour agreements.

• Three pathways– the visa will be split into three different pathways, set out in detail below Tier 1 – Specialist Skills Pathway, Tier 2 – Core Skills Pathway, Tier 3 – Essential Skills Pathway.
• Time period– the visa will provide for a 4-year stay for all streams;
• Service standards– a commitment to median processing times of 21 days.
• Streamlined labour market testing– the Government has already removed the requirement to advertise (LMT) positions through Workforce Australia, and will subsequently increase the validity period of advertisements from 4 to 6 months;
• Increased employee mobility– visa holders will have 180 days to find a new sponsor if they cease employment with their sponsor (up from the current 60 day period). Visa holders can also work during this period.
• Increased pathways to permanent residency– all visa holders will have a pathway to permanent residency, and time spent with any approved employer will count towards permanent residency eligibility (as opposed to the current 186 visa Transition stream).
• Potential for reduced upfront employer costs– the Government will explore moving employer fees (such as the Skilling Australia Fund) to a monthly or quarterly model, to reduce upfront employer costs.
• Public sponsor register – the Government will develop a public register of approved sponsors, which will publish the numbers of sponsored workers and their occupations, to assist migrants seeking a new sponsor.

• The points test will be reviewed. Further consultation will occur on a new points test, with the development of a new analysis-based points test to identify more effectively the independent migrants who will make the greatest contribution to the country.   This pathway will have a faster pathway to permanent residence for graduates working in skilled jobs.
• A new Talent and Innovation visa resulting in a single, streamlined pathway to attract relatively small numbers of highly talented migrants to Australia
• As the government reviews the new Talent and Innovation visa, no new allocations for the Business Innovation and Invest Program will be provided

In early 2024, the Australian Government will increase the English language requirements for Student visas. The new English language requirements will better support learning and employment outcomes for you.

• The test score required for a Student 500 visa will increase from IELTS (or equivalent) 5.5 to 6.0.
  • The test score required for students undertaking an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) before their main course of study will increase from IELTS (or equivalent) 4.5 to 5.0.
• The test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training will be IELTS (or equivalent) 5.5.

• Concurrent Confirmation of Enrolment cannot be issued until students have completed 6 months of their courses
• Increase the amount of saving international students need to prove when apply for a student visa

Reducing the length of Temporary Graduate visas to:

• Bachelor degree or Masters by coursework: 2 years
• Masters by research or PhD: 3 years
• Students in regional areas: eligibility for second visa of 1-2 years in length depending on location

If you gain work in a skilled job during your post-study work period, you may be eligible to apply for the new 4-year Skills in Demand visa. This visa provides a clearer pathway to permanent residency. The work experience requirement for the TSS visa and future Skills in Demand visa will be changed for Temporary Graduate 485 visa holders, to enable better transition to a temporary skilled migration visa.

Initial stay periods for Indian nationals will not change, as agreed in the Australian-India Economic and Trade Agreement.

New age limit for Temporary Graduate visa applicants

• Temporary Graduate visa applicants will need to be under the age of 35 (down from the current age limit of 50)

New English requirement for SC485 visas from early 2024:

• The test score required for a Temporary Graduate 485 visa will increase from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score (or equivalent) of 6.0 to 6.5.

• Pandemic Event 408 Covid visa holders will be able to apply for a subsequent visa after 2 September 2023 until the visa is fully closed by February 2024.
• All other visa holders will be ineligible for the Pandemic Event visa from 2 September 2023.
• visa applications lodged before 2 September 2023 will be considered for 12 months validity and 2 years for Temporary Graduate 485 visa holder
• those lodging a visa application on or after 2 September 2023 must hold a Pandemic Event visa that expires in 28 days or less
• visa applications lodged on or from 2 September 2023 will be considered for up to 6 months stay.
• From 2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing Pandemic Event visa holders.

•  Current fees can be seen here

• State requirements for 190 visa
• State requirements for 491 visa

• a pathway through the 186 TRT stream to ENS SC 186 (and RSMS SC 187 in some cases) no matter which stream the applicant had been sponsored under on their TSS SC 482 or SC 457 visa
• applicants holding SC 482 or 457 are now able to apply for SC 186/187 after two years with their sponsor, done from three years
• applicants sponsored under Labour Agreements (LA) are also able to access these reduced time-frames, where they have not accessed concessions under the agreement.  Those who have accessed concession are required to complete the requirements for access to SC 186 visas as per the original LA
• COVID concessions were also ceased on that date, without prior warning, which led to consequential amendments to a number of visa classes
• SC 309, 820, 801 and 485 visas can now be granted no matter the location of the applicant at the time of grant
• SC 309 visa applicants were given direct access to appeal to the AAT for review of visa refusals.