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Tag: Australia PR

Recent Australian Immigration Trends Promising More Skilled Worker Intakes In 2023 & Beyond

Expert commentaries and news from Australia continue to note the policies tilting towards economic-class immigration to support major skills gaps among local businesses. 

In 2020–21, the Australian immigration program outcome delivered 160,052 places – up 14.0 percent from the 140,366 places in 2019–20. About 50% (79,620 places) came from the Skill streams. 

Skilled visa to Australia requirements is based on points secured against various human capital factors like age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and more. 

Top Australian Immigration Trends Favoring Moving to Australia in 2023

We are seeing complementary and interesting recent Australian immigration trends that will reaffirm your decision to move to Australia soon. Here’s us presenting the top three immigration trends that also promise to boost permanent residency chances in Australia.  

  1. Permanent residency in Australia intakes increased to 195,000 places

The Australian government added another 35,000 places to the previous permanent residency in Australia’s annual intake targets in a bid to address the growing skills & labor shortage in the country. 

The government has increased places in almost all Australian visa subclasses, making pathways for permanent residency in Australia accessible to many. 

These targets will be valid for the year ending June 30, 2023. However, experts believe that Australia continue with similar or more targets in near future. 

  1. Australia posts 480,100 job vacancies in May 2022

Australia noted about 480,100 job vacancies as of May 2022. This is nearly a 100 percent increase from February 2020. Australia is currently facing skill shortages in different industries like Manufacturing, Retail, Tourism, Tech industry & Healthcare. 

Business Councils in Australia have even proposed to increase the Australian migration annual intake to over 220,000 places. Experts view this as an increase in the migrant cap that will most likely benefit these industries. 

  1. Australian census data for 2021 shows more dependency of tech & healthcare industries on immigration

The new 2021 Australia Census data shows Migration to Australia is helping close the skills gap in the tech workforce. 

Nealy two-thirds of Software and Applications Programmers were born overseas. Software and Applications Programmers are the third most common occupation for recent overseas arrivals, with 24,000 arriving since 2016.

Additionally, the health and community services workforce grew by 50 percent in the previous decade to August 2021 – almost 600,000 extra employees. 

Interestingly, more than four in 10 nurses and carers were born overseas. 

  1. Higher female representation in ICT jobs

One in five ICT Professionals and ICT Managers is female. This is great news for immigrant females from Asian countries who aspire to take up high-paying careers. 

Interestingly, one in three ICT Managers and ICT Business and Systems Analysts in Australia are female workers who are under the age of 30.  

  1. Unrestricted entry to Australia open since July 06, 2022

Australia was the only country that had implemented the strictest border restrictions following the onset of the pandemic in 2020. But from July 06, the nation removed all of its mandatory rules such as proof of vaccination or negative test report to enter. 

The unrestricted border entry to Australia comes at a crucial time when the county is expecting to expedite Australian student visa processing times & other skilled worker programs. This will also address the visa backlog issue which is currently slowing down the country’s foreign skilled worker intake.

  1. Boosting international student intake 

Following policy changes will facilitate more international student intake in 2023

  • Subclass 485 visa applications in the Graduate Work stream will no longer require nominating a skilled occupation and obtaining an assessment.
  • Job Ready Program (JRP) for international students will move from a four-step to a three-step program. This will save time and money for many international students.

Take this free assessment online to make the most out of recent Australian immigration trends. 

Plan your Australian Immigration with CanApprove

If you’re looking to improve your chances of immigration, we recommend getting in touch with a certified immigration consultant. 

CanApprove is a certified consultant for Canadian and Australian 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! 

Here, you can determine your eligibility and explore various options for skilled migration to Australia depending on your work experience and academic profile. 

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You can book a free appointment with CanApprove and consult an expert before deciding on your Australian visa application. 

Effective July 1 Brings Major Policy & Visa Changes For Skilled Immigration To Australia

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

  • The Australian government has fixed the 2022-23 permanent migration program ceiling at 160,000 places.
  • The government has increased places in almost all Australian visa subclasses, making pathways for permanent residence accessible to many. 
  • Subclass 485 visa applications in the Graduate Work stream will no longer require nominating a skilled occupation and obtaining an assessment.
  • Visa application fees to increase by 3 percent from 1 July.
  • Job Ready Program (JRP) for international students will move from a four-step to a three-step program. This will save time and money for many international students.

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! 

Which Is Better: Canada vs Australia Immigration Points System for Foreign Skilled Workers?

If you are thinking to migrate abroad for better career options and improved living standards, chances are high that Canada and Australia are already on your priority list. The world’s major immigration destinations – Canada and Australia – use a merit-based points system to determine whether or not a candidate is eligible to apply for immigration. Here we are comparing Canada vs Australia  immigration points system for you to make an informed decision.

Immigration in a literal sense means obtaining a permanent residency visa in the country of choice. The points awarded in such an immigration system will take into account a variety of core human capital factors such as

  • Age,
  • Work Experience,
  • Language Proficiency,
  • Education, and
  • Spouse/Partner skill set.

The higher the number of points, the more likely you will qualify to migrate abroad to Canada or Australia!

Quick Comparison Between Canada vs Australia Immigration Points System

If you observe closely, both these countries exhibit a very different approach to allowing immigrants or granting permanent residency to eligible skilled workers.

Canada’s given immigration points system corresponds to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, which happens to be the most popular program among foreign skilled workers for permanent residency.

If you score 67 points or higher, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. If you meet the other requirements too, you can submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. Once you’re in the Express Entry pool, your profile will be evaluated and ranked based on a different system called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

If you’re interested in Australian permanent residency, four visa subclasses evaluate your eligibility. You must score 65 points or higher to qualify under two direct pathways for Australian PR (Subclass 189, Subclass 190) or two provincial pathways (Subclass 491, Subclass 188).

Some minor details may have been overlooked here for sake of uniformity. Contact our immigration consultants now for a full update on Canada vs Australia immigration points system based on your profile.

  • Applicant Age Criterion

Canada Immigration Points System Australia Immigration Points System
Age Group Points Age Group Points
18-35 years 12 18-24 years & 33-39 years 25
36-40 years 11-7 25-32 years 30
41-46 years 6-1 40-44 years 15
47 years & above 0 45 years & above 0

In terms of age criteria, Canada awards maximum points to the younger population over 18 years who would typically pursue higher education before gaining work experience in related occupations and On the other hand Australia prefers candidates who are in their prime working age (25-32 years) to qualify for permanent residency.

  • Applicant Work Experience Criterion

Canada Immigration Points System Australia Immigration Points System
Work Experience Points Work Experience Points
1 year 09 1-3 years (outside Australia) 0
2-3 years 11 3-4 years (outside Australia) 05
4-5 years 13 5-7 years (outside Australia) 10
6+ years 15 8+ years (outside Australia) 15

Australia is biased in awarding points based on work experience.

Australia awards maximum points to eligible skilled workers who have had work experience inside Australia. For example,

  • 3-4 (experience in Australia): 10 points
  • 5-7 (experience in Australia): 15 points
  • 8+ (experience in Australia): 20 points

On the other hand, Canada remains neutral and prefers any candidates with work experience outside or inside Canada.

Australia considers eligible candidates with more than 3 years of work experience as against Canada which considers skilled workers for immigration with just over 1 year of work experience.

  • Language Proficiency Criterion

Canada Immigration Points System Australia Immigration Points System
English Proficiency Points English Proficiency Points
CLB 9 or higher 24 Competent English 0
CLB 8 20 Proficient English 10
CLB 7 15 Superior English 20

The distinguishing factor here is Canada has two official languages: English and French, whereas Australia considers English as its official language. Therefore, interested candidates have to qualify for language proficiency according to the requirements of the permanent residency program.

CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and is equivalent to the standard proficiency test available for English and French. Those who show proficiency in French are given an additional 4 points along with their band score in CLB.

  • Applicant Education Criterion

Canada Immigration Points System Australia Immigration Points System
Education Points Education Points
Degree/Diploma 19 Degree/Diploma 10
Bachelor’s Degree 21 Bachelor’s Degree 15
Doctorate 25 Doctorate 20

Canada is more liberal in awarding assessment points based on the applicant’s educational qualification. This is more because Canada allows for direct immigration of eligible candidates even without study or work experience in any of the Canadian provinces or territories.

Further, Canada awards assessment points for additional categories like

  • HS or SC Diploma: 5 points
  • College Certificate: 15 points
  • BS/MBA/Master’s: 23 points

Both the countries favor retaining international students after graduation. While Canada awards Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for 3 years, Australia offers a flexible work visa for graduating students. These visa holders gain work experience inside the country and may be eligible to qualify for permanent residency after a certain period.

Final Verdict: Canada vs Australia Immigration Points System

When it comes to Skills of Partner/Spouse, Canada awards a maximum of 5 points whereas Australia awards a maximum of 10 points. However, it will be premature to conclude that Canada does not favor family immigration.

Canada is pursuing the most ambitious immigration plan in its history to welcome over 1.7 million new permanent residents in the next three years. Over 60 percent of the target is said to be economic-class immigration programs and whereas about 20 percent would be fulfilled from the family-class programs.

Earlier in April 2022, the Morrison Government called for increasing permanent skilled migration numbers. The cause to increase immigration to Australia post-pandemic is reflected well in Australia’s federal budget for 2022-23. The Australian government has fixed the 2022-23 permanent migration program ceiling at 160,000 places.

While both the countries are poised well to welcome more skilled immigrants to boost post-pandemic recovery, you have to book a free appointment with CanApprove and consult an expert before making a decision.

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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!