WHATSAPP
Australia has tackled the coronavirus pandemic better than most other countries. The country is ranked No.2 in the world, only next to New Zealand in Bloomberg’s COVID Resilience Ranking.
However, the success of Australia in preventing a major health crisis has come at a cost of border closures and travel restrictions, which may continue till the end of the year. It has a significant impact on immigration which is a lifeline to Australia’s strong economy.
According to one estimate on population projections, Australia’s population will most likely be 1.11 million less than it could have otherwise been without COVID-19. This in turn creates a unique opportunity for Australia to become a ‘haven’ for skilled migrants looking to relocate or study, which will start to fill the gap left by the 1.11 million fewer people living in Australia in June 2030.
Focus on Welcoming International Students
Leveraging the international student sector to contribute to economic recovery is not a new tool for Australia’s policymakers. International students are younger than the Australian population as a whole and can be expected to be retained in the country and contribute to the national economy as a result of their educational attainment after completing their studies.
Experts believe that Australia will resort to focus more on attracting international students in a post-COVID-19 world.
KPMG Australia’s report Pathways to recovery: International students will boost our living standards projected Australia’s population could be in the order of 1.08 million less than it could have been without COVID by June 2030, which is broadly consistent with the projections released in December 2020. This leaves ample space for Australia to work on increased intake targets, once the travel restrictions are lifted.
Get in touch with our overseas coordinators to know about the current openings at Australian Universities/Colleges for higher education.
Attracting Immigration To Regional Australia
Australian businesses are feeling acute labor shortages in areas historically filled by temporary visa holders that have been restricted from entry due to border closures. Shortages have been more pronounced in agriculture, tourism, and hospitality sectors,and especially in regional Australia.
The shortages are being reported even after opening Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, which identifies 18 occupations that fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) permits state or territory-sponsored overseas workers to reside and work in a designated regional location for a period of five years.
Further, the holders of this visa can apply for permanent residency after living and working in a designated regional location for at least three years.
In near future, we expect the Australian government to relax Labour Market Testing for the employer-sponsored streams and lower English language requirements in regional areas temporarily to welcome more and more workers for economic recovery.
Global Talent Stream & Business Immigration
The Federal 2020-21 Budget committed nearly $29.8 million over two years for a Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce. This will enhance Australia’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled workers in key growth sectors.
Read our previous blog on how to apply for Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program.
As an experienced immigration consultant for more than two decades, CanApprove is inclined to interpret the present economic modellings/statistics as a golden opportunity for international students, skilled professionals, and other talented foreign workers to try their chances at qualifying for Australian immigration. However, travel exemptions and visa processing are still restrictive, you can utilize this period to improve work & language skills to better your chances of immigration.
Take this free assessment online or get in touch with our consultants to know about your eligibility for immigration.
