Migration Strategy for 2024 – Jetting off for a new start

The Australian Government has rolled out a strategy for the next phase of changes to the Australian Immigraiton legislation. The stragegy is based on 8 key actions that are listed below:

1. 1. Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility 

1. 1. Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity

1. 1. Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education 

1. 1. Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system 

1. 1. Planning migration to get the right skills in the right place

1. 1. Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Maker program to support regional Australia and its workers

1. 1. Deepening our people-to-people ties in the Indo-Pacific

1. 1. Simplifying the migration system to improve the experience for migrants and employers 

Skilled temporary visas 

A new three tiered system of visa pathways to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS), subclass 482 visa. 

1. 1. The ‘essential skills’ visa for those earning under $70,000

      The details of the essential skills visa pathway are yet to be finally determined. This visa will involve union oversight, be capped and be restricted to specific sectors.  To date the aged care and disability sectors have been mentioned.

1. 1. the ‘core skills’ visa for the $70-135,000 cohort

      The core skills visas pathway are expected to provide the majority of visa for the program.  trades workers will be required to apply under this visa based on a revised ‘skills in demand list’ developed by Jobs and Skills Australia.

• • the ‘specialist skills‘ visa for those earning over $135,000 per year

    The specialist skills visa pathway will not have an occupational list and a processing turnaround of 7 days.  Trades occupations, machinery operators, drivers and labourers will be excluded from this visa class. There will be 3,000 places allocated per year. 

The new visas will be granted for up to 4 years

Visa holders will be able to change employers more easily and provide clear pathways to permanent residency. 

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) which was increased July 2023 to $70,000 will be indexed annually and a public register of employer sponsors to allow more ease with moving between employers.

Labour Market Testing in the future

Labour Market Testing (LMT) is to be streamlined and we expect an announcement over the next few months to increase the advertising period  from 4 to 6 months. 

The Government has indicated that LMT will be gradually phased out as Jobs and Skills Australia data on skills shortages improves and a Core Skilled Occupation List created as an alternative to LMT under the new visa programs. We will provide any updates as they come through.

Skilling Australians Fund

Consideration will be given to collecting the SAF in smaller increments over time in recognition of the greater freedom of visa holders to change employers.  A monthly or quarterly payment model will be explored.

Temporary Graduate Visas – subclass 485

There will be considerable change to these visas as they become more targeted towards international graduates with skills required by Australian employers, including:

• • reducing the length of stay for these international graduates

• • preventing holders of the new graduate visas from moving back onto student visas

• • preventing the stay of International graduates without skills in demand from remaining in Australia.

• • reducing the age eligibility from 50 to 35 years of age

• • increased English language levels for temporary graduate visas 

Student visas

Significant changes will be made to the student visa program that will include:

• • higher English language levels for student visa applicants

• • reducing the types of courses eligible for student visas – focus on University courses 

• • preventing course swapping

• • higher visa integrity around the genuineness of applying as a student

Our team are here to support you should you require any immigration assistance.

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