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The beginning of the new financial year on 1 July means reshaping and readjusting targets under skilled immigration to Australia programs and opening up new opportunities for people from overseas.
Australia elected its 31st Prime Minister on May 23, 2022, following the Parliament majority secured by the Australian Labor Party. A new Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs is also appointed following the 2022 federal elections.
As Australia moves into its post-pandemic recovery phase, the permanent migration program for 2022-2023 is put forth to facilitate future economic growth and handle the COVID-19 response.
Major highlights
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Check your eligibility on the Australian skilled migration point calculator here.
Is Australia Looking for Skilled Immigrants?
Australia is looking for skilled immigrants in its post-COVID economic recovery. The entry of immigrants to Australia also increases the tax revenues that contribute to building a more dynamic and multicultural society.
The country’s leading economists are endorsing a return to the highest immigration intake on record, saying Australia should aim for at least 190,000 migrants per year, up from the target of 160,000 per year set ahead of COVID. However, the Australian government has fixed the 2022-23 permanent migration program ceiling at 160,000 places.
Melbourne University economist John Freebairn argued a larger immigrant population would enable Australia to capture economies of scale and fill gaps in high-skill and low-skill jobs.
Ironically, 30% of all Australians currently are born overseas. For 20% of Australians, one or both parents were born overseas. Policy analysts and Immigration experts believe that Australia without open immigration would not be prosperous as it is now.
Overview of Immigration Policy and Visa Changes 2022-23
Following the start of the new financial year, Australia resets its immigration targets. The government has already increased places in almost all subclasses. Seats in subclass 189 will be increased from 6,500 to over 16,000, and for subclass 491, the seats have been doubled from around 11,000 to over 25,000.
The increase in places will make Australian permanent residence pathways more accessible. Let’s explore further changes.
Subclass 485 visa applications in the Graduate Work stream
Applicants under the Graduate Work stream usually were required to fulfill the following criteria to qualify:
- nominate an occupation on the medium and long-term strategic skills list to have a degree or
- qualification closely related to that occupation and
- be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for that occupation.
Effective from July 01, these requirements are removed for all applications lodged during the 2022-23 financial year. Experts believe more international vocational education and training (VET) graduates will be encouraged to stay and work in Australia for longer following the change.
We could see more visa streams open for the broader range of graduates with diplomas and trade qualifications that are not closely related to occupations on the skilled occupation list.
Visa application fee hike
The Australian government is expected to increase visa application fees for most visas by 3% in 2022. Get in touch with our consultants for the latest updates on visa application fees.
Changes to Job Ready Program (JRP)
Good news for international students as the Job Ready Program (JRP) will move from a four (4) step program to a three (3) step program.
JRP is a program for international students who have completed a qualification issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) during their studies in Australia.
Following this, the Provisional Skills Assessment, where the applicant had to complete 360 hours, will be removed. This will save time and money for many international students.
Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility and plan your immigration to Australia.
| Does Australia Need Immigrants?
The demand for skilled immigration in Australia is so high that the government is encouraging active reforms to divert Australian immigration interest to more regional areas. Western Australia has already opened state nominations to Overseas Skilled Workers & Graduates in over 330 occupations. Learn more about it here. |
Who is Eligible to Immigrate to Australia?
Skilled visa to Australia requirements is based on points secured against various human capital factors like age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and more.
We encourage you to check out our previous blog post that distinguishes between Canada and Australia’s immigration points systems for skilled migration and learn more about points required for skilled migration to Australia. Click here.
How to Apply for Skilled Migration to Australia?
We recommend getting in touch with a certified immigration consultant to apply for skilled migration to Australia. You can determine your eligibility and explore various options for skilled migration to Australia depending on your work experience and academic profile.
While countries like Canada, and Australia is poised well to welcome more skilled immigrants to boost post-pandemic recovery, you can book a free appointment with CanApprove and consult an expert before deciding on your Australian visa application.
CanApprove is a certified consultant for Canada and Australia immigration services and overseas education counseling. With a rich experience of 20+ years in the industry, CanApprove has had major successes in fulfilling the dreams of thousands of migrating abroad!
