On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
The new CSOL fulfils the Government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program. The CSOL is a single consolidated list, informed by labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) that provides access to temporary skilled migration for 456 occupations.
The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
More details on other reform taking place on 7 December 2024, including the Skills in Demand visa and National Innovation visa, will be announced shortly.
Skills in Demand (SID visa (Sc 482) Specialist Skills stream |
National Innovation visa (NIV) (Sc 858) |
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Applicant profile | Highly skilled, earning at least $135,000, with an employer sponsor | Internationally recognised record of exceptional talent, prominent in their field |
Visa length | Up to 4 years (with pathway to permanent residency) | Direct to permanent residence |
Sponsorship requirement | Must have an approved sponsor | Must be nominated via approved form 1000 |
English | Competent English | Functional English or pay second VAC |
Age | Any age (PR requirements are separate) | Any age |
Occupation restrictions | Almost any occupation except trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers | No occupation restrictions |
Grants each program year | Demand driven | Planned program and must be invited to apply |
Ending onshore visa hopping
The Minister for Home Affairs published a media release that announces further changes to the migration system that were articulated within the Migration Strategy. These changes are to stop what is referred to in the Migration Strategy and the media release as visa hopping where temporary visa holders continue to apply for further temporary visas onshore to extend their stay in Australia with little prospect of becoming permanent residents.
As a measure to restrict visa hopping the media release outlines the following changes to commence from 1 July 2024:
- Visitor visa (sc 600) holders will not be able to apply for Student (Sc 500) visas onshore.
- Temporary Graduate (Sc 485) visa holders will not be able to apply for Student (Sc 500) visas onshore.
Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) increase
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has risen from AUD 70,000 to AUD 73,150. This increase reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that temporary skilled workers are adequately compensated and helps protect the Australian labour market. Employers must comply with this new threshold when sponsoring skilled workers.
Changes to visa conditions for 482, 457, and 494 visas
From 1 July 2024 visa conditions 8107, 8607 and 8608 are changing to help tackle worker exploitation and drive productivity as was outlined within the Migration Strategy.
Temporary Work (Skilled) (Sc 457) visa holders, Temporary Skill Shortage (Sc 482) visa holders and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (Sc 494) visa holders who stop working with their sponsoring employer will have more time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa or arrange to depart Australia.
These visa holders will have up to:
- 180 days at a time, or
- a maximum of 365 days in total across the entire visa grant period.
During this time, visa holders can work for other employers. This includes work in occupations not listed in their most recently approved sponsorship nomination. This will ensure that visa holders can support themselves while they look for a new sponsor.
Unless exempt, a visa holder cannot work for another employer unless they have ceased work with their sponsoring employer. Visa holders must remain in their nominated occupation while working for their existing sponsor.
Sponsors must still let the department know if there is any change in situation within 28 days. This includes ceasing sponsorship or if a visa holder resigns.
Visa holders must not do any work that is inconsistent with any licence or registration needed for their nominated occupation. This includes any conditions or requirements they are subject to.
The changes apply to existing visa holders, as well as those granted a visa on or after 1 July 2024. Any periods a visa holder stopped working for their sponsor before 1 July 2024 will not count towards the new time periods outlined above.
New exemptions for UK citizens on Working Holiday Visas
UK citizens can now benefit from new exemptions under the Working Holiday Visa program. These exemptions include an extension of the eligible age range from 30 to 35 years and the removal of the ‘specified work’ requirement, which typically involves completing certain tasks such as fruit picking, construction labour, or mining activities in designated regional areas of Australia to be eligible for a second or third visa. These changes aim to encourage more young UK citizens to participate in cultural exchange and work opportunities in Australia.
The Australian government released its much-anticipated Migration Strategy, which outlines a new vision for Australia’s migration system and a what to expect in 2024.
The key Australian immigration changes in 2024 are:
Summary | Details |
Creation of a new Skills in Demand visa with 3 targeted pathways to encourage migration worker mobility in the labour market. The visa streams will include:
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. |
The government will implement a new Skills in Demand visa, will replace the current TSS 482 visa. The key aspects of the new Skills in Demand visa are:
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The government will explore a reformed Points Test for permanent skilled migration and a new Talent and Innovation visa for migrants who can drive growth in sectors of Australia’s interest. |
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Student SC500 visas (GTE and higher English requirements)
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For student visa applications, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement will be replaced with a new Genuine Student (GS) requirement. It will require evidence to help the Department of Home Affairs ensure that applications are received from genuine students.
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.
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Simplified Temporary Graduate SC485 visas
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The length of post-study work visas will change. However, Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa will still give you time to gain valuable work experience and demonstrate your skills to Australian employers.
Reducing the length of Temporary Graduate visas to:
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
New English requirement for SC485 visas from early 2024:
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Closure of the 408 Covid visa |
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Visa Application Fee increases from July 2024 |
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State requirements for 190 and 491 visa in 2024 | |
Significant number of changes came into effect on 25 November 2023, these included; |
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Migration Program Planning
The government will extend migration planning beyond the current 12 month planning cycle to fill critical skills shortages and ensure better collaboration with the states and territories.
Net overseas migration numbers are expected to fall from 510,000 in the 2022-23 financial year to 375,000 next financial year (2023-2024) and 250,000 in 2024-25. The numbers are predicted to stabilise at this lower level from that time on.
International student numbers grew to 270,000 in 2022-23 up from 170,000 in 2028-19 prior to COVID, which also saw a return to Australia of students who had been forced to study online and offshore during the pandemic.
Temporary visa holders, ie Temporary Skilled, Working Holidays Maker and COVID pandemic event visas, accounted for 180,000 places in 2022-23, up from 100,000 in 2018-19.
Student visas (sc 500):
- The minimum test score for the for the English proficiency requirement increases from International English language Testing System (IELTS) 5.5. to 6.0 (or equivalent)
- The minimum score to undertake a packaged English Language Intenstive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) course increases from IELTS 4.5 to 5.0 (or equivalent)
- Students undertaking recognised university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training require a score of IELTS 5.5. (or equivalent) these recognised courses will be listed on the Department’s website.
- For students studying English only through ELICOS, there will be no change
Temporary Graduate 485 visas
- The minimum score required increases from IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 (or equivalent) with a minimum score of 5.5 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
- Passport holders from Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) are not required to meet this increases minimum English language requirement. The settings for this cohort remains at IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.0 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
- The test validity window for all Temporary Graduate visa applications decreases from three years to one year. Applicants must provide evidence that they have completed an English language test no more than one year immediately before the date of the visa application.
Despite the document stating that these changes commence on 23 March 2024, there are currently no legislative instruments released on the Federal Register of Legislation that bring these changes into effect.
Reform of Skilled Migration – The Points Test
The Skilled Migration Points Test was introduced through ‘Skill Select’ in 2012, and has not been materially altered since then. Consultation is taking place to establish how the Points Test can be amended, to attract the best candidates to Australia. This will apply to Skilled Visas – Subclasses 189, 190 and 491.
Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa – work experience reduced
The Government will reduce the work experience requirement for the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa from two years to one year for all applicants from 23 November 2024 onwards
Highlights of 2023 – Australia immigration changes
- 482 TSS and 186 ENS visa changes
- The government has already established a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for eligible New Zealanders to reflect the strong ties between the two countries
- 851 RoS visa- Resolution of Status
- 485 visa
If you wish to discuss your migration matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team today.
Related:
Core Skills List (CSOL), Skills in Demand (SID) and National Innovation visa (NIV) available 7 December 2024
RPL and TSS 482 visa
Excessive waiting times for parent visas
Northern Territory – Nomination Requirements (2024-2025)
Ending ‘visa hopping’ – 600 and 485 visas to student