2020-21 Migration program planning levels of Australia

Australia’s Budget 2020-21 was handed down by the Treasurer at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Budget 2020-21 is being dubbed the Australian Government’s “Economic Recovery Plan for Australia” that will rebuild the economy, create jobs and secure the future of the country. The handing down of the federal budget was followed by the release of the 2020-21 migration planning levels soon after.

For 2020-21, the migration planning level for visas will remain at 160,000. The visa spaces allocation for Global Talent Independent [GTI] Program has been tripled, from 5,000 in 2019-20 to 15,000 in 2020-21. Similarly, allocations for Business Innovation and Investment Program [BIIP] have been doubled. Set annually, Australia’s migration program has a ceiling of 160,000 for 2020-21. The program can be broken down into 4 sections – skill, family, special ability, and child spaces.

The majority of the spaces – that is, 79,600 or 50.7% – are allotted to the Skill Stream designed for improving the productive capacity of the economy and filling of skill shortages in the labour market, including Australia’s regional areas. For the 2020-21 Migration Program, Australia will be prioritizing the Employer Sponsored, GTI and BIIP visas within the Skill Stream. Priority processing will also be given to onshore visa applicants as well as those Partner visa applicants wherein the relevant sponsor lives within any of the designated regional areas in Australia. The Family Stream, made up primarily of Partner visas, enables Australians to reunite with their family members from overseas providing them pathways to Australian citizenship. For 2020-21, around 49.2% or 77,300 of the total spaces have been set aside for the Family Stream. The third section is for those deemed to have Special Eligibility and covers visas for individuals in special circumstances. Another 3,000 child spaces are to be available for 2020-21.

2020-21 Migration program planning levels

Stream	Category	2020-21
Skill Stream	Employer sponsored	22,000
	Skilled Independent	6,500
	Regional	11,200
	State/Territory Nominated	11,200
	Business Innovation & Investment program	13,500
	Global Talent	15,000
	Distinguished Talent	200
Total skill		79,600
Family Stream	Partner	72,300
	Parent	4,500
	Other family	500
Total family		77,300
	Special Eligibility	100
	Child [estimated, not subject to ceiling]	3,000
TOTAL		160,000

 As per a Ministerial Statement – Growing a Strong and Resilient Regional Australia – the 2020-21 Migration Program will “drive economic recovery, encourage investment and support job creation” by prioritizing “highly skilled migrants in the employer sponsored Business Innovation and Investor Program and Global Talent visa cohorts”.

Further, the Ministerial Statement lays down that “the Migration Program will benefit regional communities through focussing on job-creating migrants and those who fill critical needs and contribute to economic recovery”. While the Migration Program planning ceiling of 160,000 visa spaces is to be retained, there will be an increased flexibility for shifting skilled places for adapting to the “changing labour market and economic needs”.

If you are looking to Migrate, Study, Invest, Visit, or Work Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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