Australia’s new policy to offer skilled migration under priority skill list
After being one of the safest countries in the World Post Covid Australia reopens its gate for migration.
Australia Offers Permanent Residency Program under sub-class 189
State Nomination program under subclass 190
Regional Migration under subclass 491 and
Specials concessions under DESIGNATED AREA MIGRATION AGREEMENT FOR People above 45 of Age and under the Age of 50.
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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.
Migration Program Levels
- The migration program level would remain at 160,000 for the 2020-21 program year. Whilst the quota remained the same, the distribution of the quota will change. The family stream will increase from 47,732 places to 77,300. To ensure that Australia recruits talented individuals to help with the economic recovery,
Business, Investment and Innovation Program
- investment and innovation program has increased to 13,500. The government will be streamlining and improving the operation of the Business Innovation and Investment Program from 1 July 2021. The visa application charges will also increase by 11.3% from 1 July 2021.
From July 1, 2021, certain Australian business visas are to be closed for new applicants. These are the Venture Capital Entrepreneur, Significant Business History, and the Premium Investor visas for Australia.
- From 2021, holders of the Post-Study Work stream Temporary Graduate Visa [TGV] [subclass 485] – that had acquired their degree from an education institution in regional Australia and had lived in Australia’s regional areas on their first TGV – will be eligible for another TGV.
Skilled visa nomination programmes to reopen for Australian immigration
- Australian states and territories have received their final allocations for the interim skilled visa nomination programme for 2020-21, and international graduates hoping for permanent residence now anticipate the full programme to be reinstated in the new year. For example, Victoria is reopeningits skilled programme on Jan. 5, 2021 with the regular 3,543 allocations.
Australia’s Federal Budget was announced, following a three-month delay. The new Budget includes elaborate long-term plans to counteract the effects of Covid-19 on immigration and some interesting 2020-21 migration planning level changes
The Federal Budget: key takeaways
Furthermore, 2021 planning levels have reduced the State Nominated Skilled visa (subclass 190) to 11,200, down from 24,968 and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) down to 11,200 from 23,372 last year.
Changes to the Provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188)
Places have nearly doubled from 6,862 to 13,500 and the government will priorities the processing of these visas. The door has been left open to changing the criteria of these visas and increasing fees by almost 12% on 1 July 2021.
Government has made it known that there will be Visa Application Charge (VAC) refunds for visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia due to Covid-19, including
- Temporary skilled workers
- Visitor visa holders
- Prospective marriage visa (PMV) holders
- Pacific Labor Scheme visa holders
- Seasonal Worker Programme visa holders
Government also announced that a waiver of application fees would be available for those who had paid for visas and were unable to travel to Australia because of border
- Working Holiday visas
- Visitor visas
- Temporary skilled workers re-application
2020-21 Migration Planning Levels
Visa Categories |
Panned Levels |
Planned Levels |
Percentage Change |
Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482 and 186) |
30,000 |
22,000 |
-26.7% |
Provisional Business Innovation and Investment |
6,862 |
13,500 |
+96.7% |
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 190) |
16,652 |
6,500 |
-61.0% |
State Nominated Skilled Visa (Subclass 190) |
24,968 |
11,200 |
-55.1% |
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Sub class 491) |
23,372 |
11,200 |
-52.1% |
Partner Visas (Subclasses 820 and 801) |
39,799 |
72,300 |
-81.7% |