Why apply for an Australian PR?

• 8th Happiest country in the world
• Inviting half a million migrants by 2024
• 800,000 job vacancies for skilled professionals
• 100 times ROI with an Australia PR
• Access to Universal Healthcare System
• FREE Education for your children
• Retirement Benefits
• Easiest Path to Australian Citizenship

Australian permanent resident status is given to a candidate having a permanent residence visa. However candidates with Australia PR do not hold Australian citizenship. Permanent Residents in Australia can live, work, and study for 5 years permanently in the country. After living in Australia on PR status for 4 years, the candidate can apply for citizenship based on eligibility.

Australia PR process

Generally, the Australian PR process has the following three different stages.

• Australia Skill Assessment: This can be done through a designated skill assessment body. Get a faster response from them by submitting the requirements soon.
• Australia PR Visa Approval: Once you submit the required document, the DHA conducts thorough research of your profile. They will give you a visa grant if you meet their specific requirements.
• Preparation for Departure: Once the candidate gets Australia PR visa approval, the applicant needs to move to Australia as per the initial entry date mentioned on the visa grant letter.

The Australian government provides various pathways for foreign nationals to obtain Permanent Residency in Australia. In recent times, the Australian PR process has become easier for Indians if they apply through a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). As per the recent news update, Australia and India signed an agreement for easy immigration paths for skilled professionals and students (Read more…).

Visa options to become a Permanent Resident of Australia

Here are the popular visa options to become an Australian Permanent Resident:

• Subclass 189 visa
• Subclass 190
• Business Innovation Stream
• Investor stream
• Subclass 891 visa
• Graduate work visa
• Professional Year Program (PYP)
• GTI (Global Talent Independent Program)
• Australia parent visa 

Australia PR eligibility 

• 45 years of age
• 65 points in the Australian points grid
• Valid skills assessment
• IELTS or PTE score
• Health insurance
• Police verification certificate

Check your eligibility

Australia PR requirements 

65 points is the minimum score required to qualify for an Australia PR visa. The higher you score on the eligibility calculation, the brighter the chances of you being invited to apply for Australian PR. Scoring anywhere from 80 to 85 points can make you eligible for a quicker PR invitation to apply. There are various categories under which you can apply for an Australia PR visa with different eligibility requirements. But the general eligibility factors are as under:

Category	Maximum Points
Age (25-32 years)	30 points
English proficiency (8 bands)	20 points
Work Experience outside Australia (8-10 years)	15 points
Work Experience in Australia (8-10 years)	20 points
Education (outside Australia) – Doctorate degree	20 points
Niche skills such as Doctorate or master’s degree by research in Australia	10 points
Study in a regional area	5 points
Accredited in community language	5 points
Professional year in a skilled program in Australia	5 points
State sponsorship (190 visa)	5 points
Skilled spouse or de facto partner (Age, Skills & English language requirements to be met)	10 points
Spouse or de facto partner with ‘competent English’ (No need to meet Skills requirement or age factor)	5 points
Applicants without a spouse or de facto partner or where a spouse is an Australian citizen or PR holder	10 points
Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)	15 points

Age: You will gain a maximum of 30 points if your age is between 25 to 32 years. Your age should be below 45 years to apply for a PR visa

English proficiency: A score of 8 bands in the IELTS exam can give you a maximum of 20 points. However, the Australian immigration authorities allow applicants to take any of the English proficiency tests such as IELTS, PTE, etc. You can try for the required score on any of these tests.

Work experience: Skilled employment outside Australia with more than 8 years of experience in the last 10 years will give you 15 points; fewer years of experience means fewer points. Skilled employment in Australia with 8 to 10 years of experience from the date of application will give you a maximum of 20 points.

Skilled employment in Australia	Points
Less than 1 year	0
1-2 years	5
3-4 years	10
5-7 years	15
8-10 years	20

Education: Points for the education criteria depend on the educational qualification. Maximum points are given to a doctorate degree from an Australian university or a doctorate from a university outside Australia, provided the Australian government recognizes it.

Qualifications	Points
A Doctorate degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	20
A Bachelor’s (or Masters) degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	15
Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia	10
Any qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation.	10
Master by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution in the STEM fields	10

Language Proficiency: You should have proof that you have a competent level of proficiency in the English language.

Skilled Occupation Lists (SOL): The applicant must choose an occupation available in the following skilled occupation lists. The list contains the occupations that are currently acceptable for migration to Australia. The occupations in the lists are updated regularly and reflect the changes in the Australian labor market. There are three categories of the SOL:

• Medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
• Regional Occupations List (ROL)

Spouse application: If your spouse is also an applicant for the PR visa, you will be eligible for additional points to your Skill Select Expression of Interest. To get these additional 10 points, your spouse must meet the following requirements:

• Should be less than 45 years of age
• Should have the basic competent level scores in English
• Job occupation code should appear in the same occupation list as the primary applicant list

Other qualifications:  You can gain points if you meet any of the following criteria.

Study in a regional area	5 points
Accredited in community language	5 points
Professional year in a skilled program in Australia	5 points
State sponsorship (190 visas)	5 points
Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)	15 Points

*Check your score with the help of the Y-Axis Australia Immigration Points calculator.

How to get an Australian PR?

To get an Australia PR visa, candidates must follow the below 7 steps. Check the below steps to get Australia PR in a hassle-free process:

Step 1:  Check the eligibility for Australia

• Check if you meet the eligibility requirements.
• Verify if your occupation is present in the list of occupations in demand.
• Check if you have the required points based on the points table.

Step 2: Get your skill assessment done

Get your skills assessed by the Skills Assessment Authority, which will assess your skills, education, and work experience based on Australian standards.

Step 3: English Proficiency Test

Check if you have the required proficiency in the English language by taking the specified English language test. Fortunately, the Australian immigration authorities accept scores from various English ability tests like IELTS, PTE, etc. So, you can take any of these tests to obtain the specified score.

Step 4: Register your Expression of Interest

• The next step is to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) on Australia’s Skill Select website. You should fill out an online form in the SkillSelect portal where you should give responses to questions on your skill, which is again based on the visa subclass you are applying under. The SkillSelect program offers three visa categories under which you can apply for a PR visa.
• Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
• Skilled Nominated Visa 190
• Skilled regional (provisional) Subclass 491

The first two are permanent visas, while the third one is a temporary visa with a validity of five years, which can later be converted to a PR visa. You should provide all the required information in the online application.

Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Once you submit your application and meet all the requirements, you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Australia PR.

Step 6: Submit your Australia PR application

The next step is to submit your PR application. You must submit it within 60 days. The application must have all the supporting documents for processing your PR visa. These documents are your personal documents, immigration documents, and work experience documents.

Step 7: Get your PR visa and fly to Australia

The last step is getting your PR visa.

Benefits of Australia Permanent Residency

Australia has always been a popular choice for individuals who desire to migrate to another country.  The country has favorable factors such as a thriving economy which means there are more jobs in Australia. Australia promises a better quality of life and a multicultural society with peace and harmony. Australia offers a permanent residency or PR visa to immigrants. The Australia PR visa has a validity of five years. You can move into Australia with your family with a PR visa. You can apply for citizenship after living in Australia for four years with an Australia PR visa.

• Live in Australia for an indefinite period of time
• Travel anywhere in Australia
• Pursue higher studies in Australia and get eligibility to apply for an educational loan
• Eligibility for Social Security benefits
• Sponsor your relatives if they meet certain pre-requisites
• Eligibility to work in Australia
• Travel to New Zealand and can even apply for a visa there

What is an Australian PR Visa? 

Australia offers many options for applying for a PR visa. An Australian PR visa allows the eligible candidate to become a permanent resident in Australia.  Applicants can choose the appropriate option based on their eligibility and requirements. Below are popular options to get an Australian PR Visa: 

Australia 189 visa

This visa is for those invited foreign workers who possess the skills required by the Australian government. With a subclass 189 visa, you can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

• No nominator or sponsor is needed.
• You can only apply for this visa after being formally invited to do so.
• You must be below 45 years of age to be able to apply.

Australia 190 Visa

Allows nominated skilled workers to live, work/study anywhere in the nominated state/territory in Australia as permanent residents. Like subclass 189, to be able to apply for subclass 190, you must have received an invitation to apply.

With both subclass 189 and 190, you must –

• Score 65 on the points calculator
• Receive an invitation to apply
• Have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
• Be in possession of a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• English test scores will also be required.

Jobs in Australia for Indians

To work in Australia, candidates need to have the ability to enhance the Australian economy. There are 800,000 jobs in Australia, for overseas skilled professionals. Here is the list of top-in-demand occupations in Australia:

OCCUPATION	ANNUAL SALARY IN AUD
IT	$99,642 – $ 115, 000
Marketing & Sales	$84,072 – $103,202
Engineering	$92,517 – $110,008
Hospitality	$60,000 – $75,000
Healthcare	$101,569- $169279
Accounting & Finance	$77,842 – $92,347
Human Resources	$80,000 – $99,519
Construction	$72,604 – $99,552
Professional and Scientific Services	$90,569 – $108,544

Australian PR cost from India 

The total Australian PR cost for Indians is $4640 Australian dollars or approximately INR 275,000. The sum total of all these costs will give you the total cost of the PR visa along with the visa application fees.

Category	Fee Effective from 1st July 24
Subclass 189	Main Applicant -- AUD 4765
	Applicant above 18 yrs -- AUD 2385
	Applicant below 18 yrs -- AUD 1195
Subclass 190	Main Applicant -- AUD 4770
	Applicant above 18 yrs -- AUD 2385
	Applicant below 18 yrs -- AUD 1190
Subclass 491	Main Applicant -- AUD 4770
	Applicant above 18 yrs -- AUD 2385
	Applicant below 18 yrs -- AUD 1190

 

The application process for the PR visa through the General Skilled Migration program follows a set process that contains a series of steps. These include Skills Assessments, Sponsorship applications, English language tests, visa applications, medical tests, police clearance, etc. Each step comes with its own separate cost. 

Australia Skill Assessment:

It depends upon the Skills Assessment Authority with which you are applying. Basically, it ranges from AUD605 to AUD3000 or more as per the authority requirements.

Australia PR Processing Time

Generally, your Australia PR visa application takes 6.5 to 8 months to process. Each stage has a different time structure. Here is a breakdown of the time taken for each stage. The total processing time for your PR visa is determined by adding the time taken for each stage.

1. Skill assessment: The processing time ranges from 45 to 90 days.
2. Visa Approval: This process takes about 3 to 12 months.
3. Preparation for Departure: 2-3 weeks

Getting your PR visa for Australia can be a complicated process, but with the help of an immigration consultant, it can be easy. Our expertise of over 15 years has helped many individuals to get their Australia PR visas.

Factors affecting the Australia PR Visa processing time

Many factors can affect processing time. The time can vary every month because of factors such as the number of applications coming in, seasons that see a higher number of applications, a higher number of complex cases, or incomplete applications. Other reasons that impact processing times include:

• Incorrect applications
• Lack of supporting documents
• Time is taken to answer any queries raised by immigration officers
• Demand for the applicant’s occupation in Australia
• Inadequate points scored by the applicant in the SkillSelect online system
• Delay in the background verification process
• Time is taken to receive information from external agencies about health or character
• Number of places available in the migration program

Invest in Australia PR and get 100 times more returns

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Y-Axis - The Best Australia Immigration Consultants

Y-Axis, the world’s top overseas immigration consultancy, provides unbiased immigration services for every client based on their interests and requirements. Our impeccable services at Y-Axis include the following:

• Free eligibility check through the Australia Immigration Points Calculator
• Expert guidance/counseling for Australia Immigration
• Coaching services: Expert PTE coaching, IELTS proficiency Coaching 
• Free career counseling; book your slot today
• Complete guidance for Australia PR visa
• Job search services to find related jobs in Australia

Top tips to get your Australian PR visa processed on time

To ensure that your Australian PR visa application is processed on time, do not submit an incomplete application. For the smooth processing of your application, make sure you meet the requirements of the visa application process.

• Include the key requirements:  Your application must have two key requirements which are:

1. The Skills Assessment Report from the relevant Skill Assessing Authority
2. The results of your IELTS test

• Select the right visa category to apply: Analyze each visa category and choose the category that you feel is suitable.
• Select the right occupation for the Skilled Occupation List (SOL):  Choose an occupation from the SOL which is relevant to you.
• Make an application in the point-based system
• Ensure you meet the health and character requirements:  For this, you need to be certified as medically fit and good in your character.
• Check the progress of your application: After you have submitted your application, you can check on its status on the ImmiAccount page on the official webpage of Immigration and Citizenship of the Australian Government.

Reasons for rejection of Australia PR visa application

Here are some reasons why your PR visa application could be rejected

• Application for the wrong visa type
• Violation of conditions of your previous visa
• Incomplete or inconsistent information in your visa application
• Failure to meet health requirements for the visa
• Failure to meet the character requirements
• Lack of enough funds
• Inability to score the required level in English language proficiency test
• Failure to clear the visa verification process

The Australian immigration authorities are careful in their verification process. The Australian immigration authorities are careful in their verification process. They focus on reviewing the documents you send thoroughly. You will be barred from entering the country for a certain number of years if it is found that you have submitted false information. Check carefully for any inconsistencies before sending your papers.

Mistakes to avoid when filing your PR application

• Providing inconsistent information
• Conflicting information on social media
• No criminal convictions
• Do not submit the application without a review
• Reapplying for PR visa after rejection 

Latest Australia PR News

October 21, 2024

Australia announced 30,000 slots for Indian students through MATES program 

The MATES program will invite 30,000 Indian students to study in Australia. Indians aged between 18-35 years can apply for post-graduation courses. Indians applying through MATES can live and work in the country for up to 2 years.

Read more…

October 17, 2024

Western Australia updated the invitation round on October 17

On October 17, 2024, Western Australia published the invitation round for State nomination.

Here are the details of the invitations issued:

Intending visa subclass	General stream	General stream	Graduate stream	Graduate stream
	WASMOL schedule 1	WASMOL schedule 2	Higher education	Vocational education and training
Visa subclass 190	125	150	75	50
Visa subclass 491	125	150	75	50

*To know more about the Australia Skilled Migration Program contact Y-Axis.  

October 11, 2024

Updates on NSW State Migration Program for 2024-25 

Skilled professionals can apply for the New South Wales state migration program 2024-25 as it has opened the application process and introduced new updates for more opportunities.

NSW priority sectors:

The NSW priority sectors includes occupations that are facing skill shortages:

• Construction (infrastructure and housing)
• Renewables (net zero and clean energy)
• Care Economy (aged care, disability services, early childhood care)
• Digital and Cyber (across industries)
• Education (teachers)
• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Advanced Manufacturing

Skill List

The skill list for the Subclass 491 visa and subclass 190 visa has recently been updated.

Invitation rounds for Subclass 190 visa 

The subclass 190 visa invitation rounds will be opened soon.

*Note: It is necessary to have valid evidence that up-to-date SkillSelect EOI. 

For Subclass 491 visa 

• Subclass 491 visa( Pathway 1 and 3) will soon be available 
• A new pathway was introduced for Regional NSW Graduate Pathway and is for eligible candidates from regional NSW institutions under Pathway 3.

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (Pathway 1 - Subclass 491)

In the Pathway 1 - Subclass 491 candidates that are selected for skilled occupation will get a 10% reduction in the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold).

Skilled Employment Criteria

It is easier to submit an EOI for a NSW program.

Application Fee

Currently the application fee is A$315 (If applying from Australia GST would be added as well).

*To know more about the procedure for an Australia Subclass 491, talk to Y-Axis. 

October 10, 2024

An increase in application fee for VETASSESS Professional and General occupation

VETASSESS will increase the  application fees for General and Professional occupation from November 20,2024. Trade occupations are not applicable.

• The application fee will not increase for Priority Processing
• The increased fees will not be effective for applications documented before November 2024.

*To know more about the Australia Skilled Migration Program contact Y-Axis.  

September 26, 2024

Australia has opened registrations for first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa 

From  1 October 2024, applicants can register for the first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballots from India.

Below are the information of open and closed dates for the ballot registration for the program year 2024-25. 

Registration Open Date	01-10-2024
Registration Close Date	31-10-2024

Below are the ballot selection open and close dates for the program year 2024-25:

Selection Open Date	14-10-2024
Selection Close Date	30-04-2025

Note: During an open selection period, the department can conduct one or more selections for a country ballot and extend the open period. Once the selection open period ends, all registrations for that ballot will no longer be valid.

Requirements to register from your country

Applicants need to complete the following when registering:

• Create an ImmiAccount
• Must be under the age of 30 years 
• Valid passport holder issued by an eligible ballot participating country.
• Registered and issued from an eligible ballot participating country a valid national identity card(PAN card for Indian passport holders).
• Have valid and verified  email address
• Agree to the registration form’s declarations.
• Pay the registration fee (AUD25).

Note: Applicants have 28 days to file the visa upon selection through ballot.

*To know more about the Australia Work and Holiday visa contact Y-Axis.  

September 24, 2024

Vetassess announced to process top 10 occupations under the general occupation category  

Vetassess will process this top 10 mentioned occupation which will process according to the given general occupation:

• Marketing Specialist.
• University Lecturer
• Cafe of Restaurant Manager
• Information and Organization Professional (NEC)
• Human Resource Adviser
• Recruitment Consultant.
• Management Consultant
• Organization and Methods Analyst
• Program or Project Administrators
• Private Tutors and Teachers (NEC)

Note: Vetassess notified candidates should provide a letter and proof of two payments to be processed with the application. If the roles are not offered on letterhead, they can proceed only with the self-statutory declaration.

*To know more about the Australia Skilled Migration Program contact Y-Axis.  

September 20, 2024

Foreign graduates can submit an EOI for Victoria Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491)

For the upcoming 2024-25 program, the Victoria government will provide opportunities to foreign graduates to apply for Subclass 491 visas. This program will provide 500 nomination places to foreign graduates who can apply for skilled regional visas. This change will prioritise Victoria education institution graduates who can contribute to regional communities of the countries. Foreign graduates living in Melbourne can now submit an ROI that will provide a developed pathway for their career in regional Victoria.  

*To know more about the procedure for an Australia Subclass 491, talk to Y-Axis. 

September 19, 2024

Announcement: Upcoming skill select invitation are declared

On September 5, 2024, the Skill EOI invited select, and the tie-break date for the Skill Select invitation round was also held.  

Here are the lists of issued invitations for occupation and the minimum score:

Category	Subclass 190 Invitations	Subclass 491 Invitations
Canberra Residents
Matrix nominating Small Business Owners	Not considered	Not considered
Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders	12	1
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	43	29
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	13	32

 Note: The next draw will be held before 8 November 2024.

To know more about the procedure for an Australia Subclass 491, talk to Y-Axis.

September 16, 2024

The 1st result of invitation announced by DHA for FY 2024-25

On September 1st, 2024, DHA announced the result for the 1st invitation for FY 2024-25. DHA issued a total of 7,973 for Subclass 189. Professions such as engineers, trade occupation specialists, IT professionals, social workers, healthcare professionals, and other general occupations receive invitations. The minimum score required to receive an invitation was 65 points.

Below given table is the list of points allotted for each occupations that received an EOI:

 The table below has the total number of invitations issued by the states from July 1, 2024 to date.

 *Looking for assistance with Australian immigration? Let Y-Axis guide you with the process. 

September 13, 2024

Queensland migration program registration is open now, FY 2024-25

Below are the requirements that offshore applicants must fulfil to apply for Subclass 190 and 491.

A new category was added called Priority processing for Energy Workers. Below are requirements to apply for the stream:

Note: The list includes Vetassess general, trades, professional engineers, teachers, and medical occupations, but it does not include IT Occupations except ICT security specialists.

* To know more about the procedure for an Australia Subclass 491, talk to Y-Axis.  

September 10, 2024

Requirements, eligibility, and processing data to apply for an Australia Working Holiday visa as an Indian

The Australian government declared it would open the ballet process for an Australian working holiday visa. Under the Ballot procedure, three countries qualified: India, China, and Vietnam. Candidates must meet the given criteria to apply for the Working Holiday visa to apply under the ballot procedure. Applied candidates will be selected randomly and invited to apply for the visa.

Eligibility requirements of Work and Holiday Program (Subclass 462) - India

• Be an Indian citizen.
• Aged between 18 -30 years(when applying for a visa)
• Not a holder of Work holiday visa earlier
• Residing outside Australia
• University degrees, diplomas, and other graduate certificates with a minimum of two years of study (above the post-secondary level) will be accepted. 

With the Working Holiday visa, applicants are not allowed to bring their family members.

Proof of English Language requirement is not required if:

• Visa holder of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland.
• Proof of  English language test or assessment ( with a band score of 4.5 including all four components in IELTS general or PTE 30 )
• Proof of educational qualifications: from primary English medium school with three years of English experience. 

Requirements for Working Holiday Visa

• Sufficient funds , approximately AUD 5,000
• Health Insurance 
• Provide certificates of character and police clearance
• Any debts are from the applicant's side, must be cleared before applying for the visa

Visa validity: 12 months

Application processing fees: 

Ballot cost: AUD25

Visa application cost: AUD 635.00

Options for Visa extension:

Applicants can apply for a second work holiday visa for more than 12 months if they meet the specified work for at least three months.

Industries and areas that are approved for the Working Holiday visa 

Below are the mentioned industries that are approved for the Working Holiday visa:

  *To know more about the procedure for an Australia Working Holiday visa, talk to Y-Axis.  

September 09, 2024

'Right to Disconnect' law for Australian Employees will be effective from today!

From September 9, 2024, the 'Right to Disconnect' law for Australian Employees will be effective for Australian employees. This law allows employees to avoid work-related texts or calls after working hours. Australia is on the list of twenty countries other than Europe and Latin America.

Read more…

August 30, 2024

Australia plans to welcome 185,000 PRs in 2025. Apply now!

The Australian government announced the Permanent Migration Program planning level for FY 2024-25. 85,000 places would be allocated to immigrants. The Program will issue invites from immigrants under the Skill and Family streams.

Read More…

August 19, 2024

Result announced for Western Australia Invitation Round 

 *To know more about the procedure to apply for Australia Subclass 190 visa contact Y-Axis.

August 15, 2024

South Australia opened an application for the General Skilled Migration Program for FY 2024-25 by reviewing the Skill Occupation list.

Eligible onshore applicants can submit an ROI for any one of the 464 occupations available within three streams:

• Skilled Employment
• South Australian Graduates
• Outer Regional Skilled Employment

Currently, new candidates are not allowed to apply for the Business and Innovation and Investment Program, as previous visa holders can only apply for extensions or permanent residency.

*To know more about the procedure to Australia work visa contact Y-Axis.

August 15, 2024

Victoria opened the latest application procedure for the Skilled Migration program 2024-25. Apply now!

The latest Victoria 2024-25 Skilled Visa Nomination Program application is open for applicants under Subclass 190 or 491. The applicant must submit their EOI through the Australian Government’s Skill Select system. The ROI must be submitted to receive an ITA to apply.

 *To know more about Subclass 190 visa? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance. 

August 13, 2024

Invitation round for Act Canberra Matrix

Here is the upcoming Invitation round for Act Canberra Matrix:

*To know more about Subclass 190 visa? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance. 

 

August 13, 2024

Applications opened for FY 2024-25 for NT General Skilled Migration (GSM) Nomination

Northern Territory Migration is currently accepting and evaluating onshore applications for nomination under the General Skilled Migration program. On August 14, 2024, the onshore NT Family Stream and Job Offer Stream application will reopen. The priority occupation stream is closed due to the many applications received.

*To know more about the Australia Skilled Migration Program contact Y-Axis.

August 02, 2024

Australian Government has announced 26,260 sponsorship application allocations for 8 states and territories

The Australian government issued 26,260 sponsorship application allocations for the FY2024-25. Eight states and territories of Australia received visa nomination places for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.  

Australian state	Visa Name	Number of allocations
South Australia	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Western Australia	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000
Northern Territory	Subclass 190 visa	800
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Queensland	Subclass 190 visa	600
	Subclass 491 visa	600
New South Wales	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000
Tasmania	Subclass 190 visa	2,100
	Subclass 491 visa	760
Australian Capital Territory	Subclass 190 visa	1,000
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Victoria	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000

Read more...

August 2, 2024

Australian Government has announced 26,260 sponsorship application allocations for 8 states and territories

The Government of Australia announced sponsorship applications for FY2024-25. 26,260 allocations were allotted to 8 states and territories in Australia. 

Australian state	Visa Name	Number of allocations
South Australia	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Western Australia	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000
Northern Territory	Subclass 190 visa	800
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Queensland	Subclass 190 visa	600
	Subclass 491 visa	600
New South Wales	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000
Tasmania	Subclass 190 visa	2,100
	Subclass 491 visa	760
Australian Capital Territory	Subclass 190 visa	1,000
	Subclass 491 visa	800
Victoria	Subclass 190 visa	3,000
	Subclass 491 visa	2,000

Read More...

July 23, 2024

2,860 nomination places received by Tasmania for FY 2024-25

Tasmania received 2860 nomination places for FY 2024-25, of which 2100 places were received for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa and 600 places for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa. Registration of Interests for Tasmania’s Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will be accepted in the coming weeks, and details will be announced soon. 

Nomination applications lodged, but decision has not been made yet 

Applications that are registered by Migration Tasmania but have not been decided yet will be processed against the same requirements that were specified at the time of application. Candidates who qualify will be nominated in SkillSelect. 

Subclass 491 applicants seeking subclass 190 nomination

Applications for subclass 491 nomination that have been lodged but not yet decided will not be considered for subclass 190 nomination. Applicants wishing to be considered for Subclass 190 nomination should withdraw their application and apply freshly when the FY 2024-25 registrations open. New Invitation to Apply for Subclass 190 will be based on the level of interest and the pro-rata of nomination places available at the time. 

July 22, 2024

3800 nomination allocations received  by South Australia for FY 2024-25 

South Australia received 3800 nomination places for FY 2024-25 or subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas. The skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa received 3000 places, while the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa received 800 place nominations. 

July 22, 2024

South Australia has received nomination allocations for the FY 2024-25

3800 nomination allocations for or subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas were received by South Australia for FY 2024-25. 3000 places nominations were received for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa alone, and the remaining 800 places were received for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa. 

July 22, 2024

Offshore applicants can apply under 3 streams for NT sponsorships

Northern Territory sponsorship applicants from outside Australia can now apply under 3 streams mentioned below: 

1. Priority Occupation Stream

• The job role of the applicant must be listed under the NT Offshore occupation list.
• Specific work experience requirements should be met as mentioned in the NT sponsorship occupation list.

2. NT Family Stream

• A family member or relative of the applicant must be staying In the Northern Territory for minimum of  12 months who is an Australian Citizen/PR holder/eligible NZ citizen or has one of the following visas:
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 489
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 494
• A bridging visa granted in association with an application for a Skilled Regional Visa subclass 887 or Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 visa

Note: Family members living in Northern Territory must support applicants with finding employment and accommodation. 

3. NT Job Offer Stream

• Applicants must provide an employment offer in the nominated occupation in NT with an NT business / company that has been active in the NT for a minimum of 12 months.

July 19, 2024

Western Australia State Nomination Open for FY 2024-25

Applications are now open for the Western Australia State Nomination program. A fee waiver of AUD 200 on application has been announced by Western Australia for FY 2024-25. Invitation rounds may take place in the 1st week of every month and the 1st round will begin from August 24 onwards. An employment offer is required for Subclass 191 but not for Subclass 491. Candidates must have a minimum qualifiable score in IELTS/PTE Academic or equivalent exams.

Note: A provisional skills assessment issued for a subclass 485 visa application will not be considered.

 

June 26, 2024

Australia State and Territory Nominations from 1st July 2023 to 31st May 2024

Nominations were issued by the State and Territory governments in Australia from July 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. The table below has lists the details of the total number of nominations issued: 

June 24, 2024

Australia announces new changes for Skilled Worker Visas, effective from July 01, 2024

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has announced recent updates to subclass 457, subclass 482, and subclass 494 visas which will be effective from July 01, 2024. Under the new update, workers willing to change their jobs will have more time to look for a new sponsor, apply for a new visa or depart from Australia. 

Read more…

June 7, 2024

Vetassess to accept Chef and Fitter profiles!

Vetassess announced the acceptance of occupations like Chef and fitter that were not processed/ accepted by Vetassess until September 23.

Applicants will be able to lodge new applications for:

• Chef (Commercial Cookery), ANZSCO Code 351311
• Chef (Asian Cookery), ANZSCO Code 351311
• Fitter (General), ANZSCO Code 323211

This applies to Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 applications under OSAP and TSS programs.

June 5, 2024

Australia's Subclass 485 Visa now open to applicants aged below 50

The Australian Department of Home Affairs announced the minimum age requirement for a Subclass 485 Visa that will be effective from July 1, 2024. To be eligible to apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa program, applicants must be less than 50 years old. The two-year extension on Temporary Graduate 485 Visa Streams has come to an end in 2024.

Read more…     

May 20, 2024

Australia Immigration Planning Levels 2024-25

Australia announced that the Immigration planning levels for the 2024-25 Permanent Migration Program (Migration Program) will be set at 185,000 places. The Subclass 189 quota has been significantly reduced, applicants are expected under Subclass 190 and Subclass 491. The allocations for each State will be announced later, and the notifications will be sent later.

Skill Stream Visa
Visa Category	2024-25 Planning Levels
Employer-Sponsored	44,000
Skilled Independent	16,900
State/Territory Nominated	33,000
Regional	33,000
Business Innovation & Investment	1,000
Global Talent Independent	4,000
Distinguished Talent	300
Skill Total	1,32,200
Family Stream Visa
Visa Category	2024-25 Planning Levels
Partner	40,500
Parent	8,500
Child	3,000
Other Family	500
Family Total	52,500
Special Category Visa
Special Eligibility	300
Grand Total	1,85,000

May 18, 2024

Australia launches new innovation visa to attract skilled professionals

Australia announced a New Innovation Visa as a replacement for the Global Talent Program to attract skilled workers. The Business Innovation and Investment Visa Program (BIIP) will be terminated.

Read more…

May 15, 2024

Australia announces new changes in Temporary Graduate Visa. Apply now!

The Australian Government announced new changes to the Temporary Graduate visa starting July 1, 2024. The Temporary Graduate Visa allows international students who have completed a course that is registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Read more…

May 09, 2024

Australia State and Territory Nominations in FY 2023-24

The total number of nominations issued by State and Territory Governments from 1 July 2023 to 30 April 2024 is given in the following table: 

Visa Subclass	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)	530	2,092	247	748	994	549	2,648	1,481
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated	463	1,211	381	631	975	455	556	774

April 3, 2024

NSW Government Announces Changes to Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa)

The NSW Government announced an update to the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) under Pathway 1. The employment duration for skilled workers has been reduced from 12 to 6 months.

March 25, 2024

Australia immigration grew by 60% in 2023 and expected to remain steady in 2024

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the population in Australia increased by 2.5%. There were around 765,900 overseas migration arrivals in 2023. The most migrants to Australia in 2023 were from India and China.

Read more…

March 22, 2024

Fee increase from 01 July 2024 - Engineers Australia

Fee increases for the 2024-2025 financial year

From 1 July 2024, Australia migration skills assessment fees will increase by 3–4 percent to align with the wage, consumer, and producer prices. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has approved the changes.

Migration skills assessment fees

Our migration skills assessment fees for 2023 to 2024 are below.

International Accords qualification assessment fees

	Current	Current	From 1 July	From 1 July
Item/s	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD
Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord qualification assessment	$460	$506	$475	$522.50
Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord qualification assessment plus relevant skilled employment assessment	$850	$935	$875	$962.50
Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord qualification assessment plus overseas PhD assessment	$705	$775	$730	$803
Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord qualification assessment plus relevant skilled employment assessment plus overseas engineering PhD assessment	$1095	$1204.50	$1125	$1237.50

 

Australian accredited engineering qualification assessment fees

	Current	Current	From 1 July	From 1 July
Item/s	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD
Australian Engineering Qualification Assessment	$285	$313.50	$295	$324.50
Australian engineering qualification assessment plus relevant skilled employment assessment	$675	$742.50	$695	$764.50
Australian engineering qualification assessment plus overseas engineering PhD assessment	$530	$583	$550	$605
Australian engineering qualification assessment plus relevant skilled employment assessment plus overseas engineering PhD assessment	$920	$1012	$945	$1039.50

 

Competency demonstration report (CDR) assessment fees

	Current	Current	From 1 July	From 1 July
Item/s	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD	Fee excl. GST AUD	Fee incl. GST AUD
Standard competency demonstration report	$850	$935	$880	$968
Competency demonstration report plus relevant skilled employment assessment	$1240	$1364	$1280	$1408
Competency demonstration report plus overseas engineering PhD assessment	$1095	$1204.50	$1130	$1243
Competency demonstration report plus relevant skilled employment assessment plus overseas engineering PhD assessment	$1485	$1633.50	$1525	$1677.50

 

February 23, 2024

Register for consideration of priority processing

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) applicants living in regional Queensland

Migration Queensland invites Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) applicants living in regional Queensland and meeting the nomination criteria to register for attention of priority processing. Applicable applicants can register their details with Migration Queensland from Friday, 23 February - Tuesday, 27 February 2024.

Required documents by applicants

1. Documents must be ready to submit
2. Currently should be living and working in regional Queensland
3. Full-time ongoing employment in regional Queensland for a further six months at the time of EOI lodgement
4. Meet all other Queensland nomination criteria for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

Additional notes:

• This is for individuals who are truly interested in a 491 nomination. If you are nominated for a Skilled Work Regional 491 visa, Migration Queensland will not nominate you for the Skilled Nominated Permanent 190 visa. 
• Graduates of a Queensland university who meet the requirements of the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) are encouraged to register for priority processing.
• This targeted campaign seeks expressions of interest for decision-ready applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Registering your interest does not guarantee a nomination, as places are still very limited, and the process is competitive.
• If you are interested in a 491 nomination, this will be one of your final chances to be considered for nomination this program year.
• It will be closed if your application does not meet Queensland criteria or the documents are not ready.
• Migration Queensland continues to process other pathways within our skilled nomination allocation for the 2023 - 2024 financial year.

January 25, 2024

Australia to prioritize 2024 Student visas under Ministerial Direction 107

The Australian Government has signed a New Ministerial Direction 107 on December 14, 2023 and it prioritizes the student and student guardian visa applications. The Ministerial Direction outlines clear priorities for different sectors within the student and student guardian visa applications, and the top most priority is given to student visa applications registered outside Australia. Notably, secondary applicants will be given the same priority as the primary applicant.

January 02, 2024

Australia Draws - State and Territory nominations 2023-24 program year

In Australia, 8689 nominations were issued from State and Territory Governments from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023.

Visa subclass	ACT	NSW	NT	QLD	SA	TAS	VIC	WA
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)	454	966	234	505	830	370	1,722	913
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated	407	295	243	264	501	261	304	420
Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

December 27, 2023

New visa to be launched by Australia, to fill 800,000 job vacancies

Australia has introduced a new visa which is the “Skills in demand” visa, and will replace the Temporary skills shortage (Subclass 482) visa. This will address the labour shortage and will facilitate the workforce in the nation by allowing migrants to fill 800,000 job vacancies. The visa is valid for a four year term and provides a clear pathway to permanent residency in Australia.

Australia to launch New Skills in Demand Visa, to fill 800,000 job vacancies. Apply now!

December 18, 2023 

DHA Austalia issued 8379 Invitations 

The table below shows the number of invitations issued in the SkillSelect invitation round on 18 December 2023.

Visa subclass	Number
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)	8300
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family-Sponsored	79

December 14, 2023

Australian to process visas faster for candidates with high salary

Australian government is aiming on reducing the waiting times for candidates who received an employment offer with high salary. The visas will be processed faster on an average within a week for candidates with a salary of $135,000 or more under the new specialist pathway. This new initiative by the Australian government for processing visas faster will boost the budget by $3.4 billion over the next decade.

Australia will process visas faster for high earners - Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister

December 13, 2023

Australia implements new visa rules, will not affect Indian students

Australia has decided to narrow the visa rules for foreign students and planned on admitting only the right and well matched students. This move will not be affecting the opportunities for Indian studies as both the countries Australia and India are protected under the Australia-India Economic Corporation and Trade Agreement.

Did you know that the new Australia immigration & visa rules are not going to impact Indians.

December 01, 2023

ACT Invitation round, November 2023

On 27 November 2023, ACT invitation round took place issuing invitations to Canberra residents nominating small business owners, 457/482 visa holders, critical skill occupations, and for overseas applicants in critical skill occupations. The next round will take place before 5 February 2024.

November 14, 2023

NSW’s new enhanced and clear pathways for nominations

NSW introduced more streamline and clear pathways for nominations and has updated the procedures for Skilled Work Regional visa under two primary pathways which are direct application (pathway 1) and Invitation by Investment NSW (pathway 2). The government is aiming to start accepting the pathway 1 direct applications and would initiate the invitations for pathway 2 in the near future.

November 14, 2023

WA State Nominated Migration Program draw

WA state nomination held draw on 14 November for visa subclass 190 and visa subclass 491.

Intending Visa Subclass	General stream WASMOL Schedule 1	General stream WASMOL Schedule 2	Graduate stream Higher Education	Graduate stream Vocational Education and Training
Visa subclass 190	300 invitations	140 invitations	103 invitations	75 invitations
Visa subclass 491	0 invitations	460 invitations	122 invitations	0 invitations

November 14, 2023

Migration Tasmania processing times and nomination places; November 14

Migration Tasmania selection process is done on the basis of Registrations of Interest, with 30 invitations that are issued weekly only the most competitive ones are chosen for the nomination. The new plan is to provide outcome for applications within 10 days. 286 nominations have been used out of 600 places for Skilled Nomination visa, and 206 nominations have been used for Skilled Regional Work visa.

November 9, 2023

Migration Tasmania processing times and nomination places; November 9

Migration Tasmania selection process is done on the basis of Registrations of Interest, with 30 invitations that are issued weekly only the most competitive ones are chosen for the nomination. The new plan is to provide outcome for applications within 10 days. 274 nominations have been used out of 600 places for Skilled Nomination visa, and 197 nominations have been used for Skilled Regional Work visa.

November 9, 2023

11 new occupations are added by NT DAMA

NT DAMA II is extended by one year which is valid till 24 December, 2024, and increased the total eligible occupations to 135 by including 11 new occupations. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold for selected occupations is reduced to $55,000 and the foreign workers will be eligible to be nominated for permanent subclass 186 visas after working 2 years of full time work in the NT.

November 08, 2023

India-Australia Education Ministers signed 450+ tie-ups, boosting chances for Indian Students! 

Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister of India met Australian counterpart Jason Clare on Monday, and both countries signed an agreement of increasing student and faculty exchange programs. Minister said that the two countries have more than 450 tie ups and have agreed to conduct more research in areas like minerals, logistics, agriculture, renewal energy, healthcare, water management, and artificial intelligence.

November 2, 2023

Tasmania overseas applicants nominations

Tasmania will nominate you for Overseas Applicant pathway OSOP if you live outside of Australia and you hold a job offer from an employer in Tasmania. There is more possibility for nominations if you receive job offer in health or Allied health professions.

October 25, 2023

Details of the nominations in Skilled work Regional Subclass 490 visa; 2023-2024

The Government of Northern Territory has announced the details of the nominations for applications in the Skilled work Regional Subclass 490 visa for the year 2023-2024, starting from 23^rd October, 2023. Applicants need to be aware of many changes that are made in the eligibility criteria; as for Exclusion of NT Graduates, NT Residents work requirement, and limited offshore priority occupation stream.

October 25, 2023

Migration Tasmania processing times and nomination places; October 25

Migration Tasmania selection process is done on the basis of Registrations of Interest, with 30 invitations that are issued weekly only the most competitive ones are chosen for the nomination. The new plan is to provide outcome for applications within 10 days. 239 nominations have been used out of 600 places for Skilled Nomination visa, and 178 nominations have been used for Skilled Regional Work visa.

September 29, 2023

FY23-24 South Australia Skilled Migration Nomination Program Open for all. Apply now!

The Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for 2023-2024 is now accepting eligible candidates in South Australia, featuring several updates from the previous fiscal year. South Australia Migration has adopted a Registration of Interest (ROI) system to effectively handle the overwhelming volume of applications, given the limited availability of nominations.

There is a particular focus on prioritizing the retention of international graduates and temporary visa holders who are currently in South Australia. These industries include:

• Trades and Construction
• Defence
• Health
• Education
• Natural and Physical Science
• Welfare Professionals

September 27, 2023

NSW will focus on priority sectors rather than skilled occupation lists from now!

NSW will focus on priority sectors rather than skilled occupation lists. As per the FY 2023-24, NSW will focus on the Target sector groups, which include the following:  

• Health
• Education
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Infrastructure
• Agriculture

The Australian government plans to focus on key sectors, and the high-ranking EOIs submitted in non-priority sectors may also be considered based on the workforce demands.

September 20, 2023

Canberra Matrix Invitation Round invites 285 applicants

ACT held the Canberra Matrix Draw and issued 285 invitations on September 15, 2023. The details of the no. of invitations issued to Canberra residents and overseas applicants are given in the below table: 

An Overview of the Canberra Matrix Invitation Rounds in September 2023
Date of invitations issued	Type of applicants	For	No of. Invitations Issued	Matrix scores
September 15, 2023	Canberra residents	ACT 190 Nomination	55	90-100
		ACT 491 Nomination	58	65-75
	Overseas applicants	ACT 190 Nomination	43	NA
		ACT 491 Nomination	130	NA

September 16, 2023

WA State Nominated Migration Program Invitations issued to 487 candidates 

Intending visa subclass	General stream	Graduate stream	Graduate stream
	WASMOL	Higher education	Vocational education and training
​Visa subclass 190	302	150	35
Visa subclass 491	–	–	–

September 15, 2023

Queensland's FY 2023-24 Program Update

Queensland is accepting applications for its state nomination under the skilled migration program for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year. However, in FY 2023-24, the Department of Home Affairs allocated 1,550 skilled nominations. Invitation rounds will be held in September 2023 and continue every month, with capped invitations to maintain fairness.

September 12, 2023

FY 2023-24 Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program is now open. Apply now!

The 2023-24 program is now accepting applications from individuals residing in Victoria as well as those from abroad. This program offers skilled migrants a path to get a Permanent Residency in Victoria. One must file a Registration of Interest (ROI) to be eligible for a state nomination.

On-shore applicants can apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), and off-shore applicants can apply for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) in FY 2023-24. 

September 04, 2023

Australia’s Covid-era visa – Subclass 408  will no longer exist from February 2024

Australia’s Covid-era visa will be stopped from February 2024, the Aussie government announced recently. The Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said, “From February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This will provide certainty to our visa system now that the circumstances that drove the operation of the visa no longer exist.”

August 31, 2023

Australia Immigration Plan Levels FY 2023-24

The 2023-24 Permanent Migration Program has a planning level of 190,000, emphasizing skilled migrants. The Program has an approximately 70:30 split between skilled and family visas.

Australia Immigration Plan 2023-24
Stream	Immigration numbers	Percentage
Family stream	52,500	28
Skill stream	1,37,000	72
Total	1,90,000

*Partner and Child visa categories are demand-driven and not subject to a ceiling.

Read more...

August 25, 2023

Australian Visas for GPs program will cease on 16 September 2023

The “Visas for GPs” initiative will conclude on 16 September 2023, eliminating the need for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) employers to secure a Health Workforce Certificate (HWC). Starting from 16 September 2023, when employers in Australia intend to nominate IMGs for primary care roles, they will no longer need to include a HWC in their nomination submission.

August 21, 2023

New amendments in immigration by Western Australian – Simplified Pathways for Skilled Migrants

From July 1, 2023, the Western Australian (WA) Government has introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for the WA State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP).

• Implement an invitation ranking system treating both Interstate and Overseas candidates equally.
• Prioritize invitations for candidates with occupations crucial to WA’s industry sectors, according to the WA State nomination invitation ranking system.
• Lessen employment requirements for invitees from WA’s building and construction sector (based on WA State nomination Occupation lists).
• The expected start of invitation rounds for 2023-24 is August 2023.

August 18, 2023

Australia Global Talent Visa assessment fee update

The assessment fee for Australia Global Talent Visa for overseas applicants is $835 (excluding GST) and for Australian applicants it is $918.50 (including GST).

August 17, 2023

Australian visas are now processed within 16-21 days. Apply now for faster visa approvals!

The Australian Department of Home Affairs recently announced that the processes have led to reductions in visa processing times across various categories. The processing time for Australian Student Visas has been reduced to 16 days. The earlier processing time was up to 49 days. The Temporary Skilled Shortage 482 visas are now processed in 21 days.

August 01, 2023

List of courses revealed for students to receive extended Australia post-study work rights

There are over 3,000 eligible courses available for International graduates who have enrolled in these courses can get an additional two years added to their Temporary Graduate visa. 

July 30, 2023

A new fee of $3,374 for AAT migration review applications will be applicable from July 01, 2023

From 1 July 2023, the application fee for review of a migration decision under Part 5 of the Migration Act 1958 increased to $3,374.

July 26, 2023

Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement

Australia and India have established a significant Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), setting a new precedent for cooperation on migration matters. The MMPA reconfirms the currently available visa options that enable movement and migration between the two nations – covering students, visitors, business individuals, and other professionals – and introduces a fresh mobility pathway. This new route, known as the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), is designed specifically for Indian graduates and early-stage professionals.

July 14, 2023

Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 14 July 2023

ACT Invitation Round held on 14 July 2023 issued 822 invitations. 

Canberra residents	190 nominations	491 nominations
Matrix nominating Small Business Owners	18 invitations	6 invitations
Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders	8 invitations	3 invitations
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	138 invitations	88 invitations
Overseas applicants
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	299 invitations	262 invitations

 

June 23, 2023

Subclass 191 Visa Application fee increase effective from 1st July 2023

Subclass 191 Permanent Residence Regional – if applications for the SC 191 visa can be made by both primary and secondary SC 491 visa holders. The regulations do not stipulate that a primary applicant for a subclass 191 visa must have been either the primary or secondary applicant in the provisional visa application. Therefore, a subclass 491 visa holder can apply for a subclass 191 visa if they meet the relevant requirements, regardless of whether they were granted the subclass 491 visa as the primary or secondary applicant. 

Subclass Visa Type	Applicant	Fee Effective from 1st July 23	Current visa fee
Subclass 189	Main Applicant	AUD 4640	AUD 4240
	Applicant above 18 yrs	AUD 2320	AUD 2115
	Applicant below 18 yrs	AUD 1160	AUD 1060
Subclass 190	Main Applicant	AUD 4640	AUD 4240
	Applicant above 18 yrs	AUD 2320	AUD 2115
	Applicant below 18 yrs	AUD 1160	AUD 1060
Subclass 491	Main Applicant	AUD 4640	AUD 4240
	Applicant above 18 yrs	AUD 2320	AUD 2115
	Applicant below 18 yrs	AUD 1160	AUD 1060

 

June 03, 2023

India and Australia’s New Pact promises new work visas

Last week India and Australia signed a mobility and migration partnership pact. This partnership opens up many opportunities for educational researchers, students, and business people. This new scheme offers Indian graduates who have gained their education from any Australian tertiary institute on a student visa they can easily apply to pursue professional development and work in Australia. They can apply without any visa sponsorship for up to eight years.

May 23, 2023 

Australia announced expanded Pathways to PR for Subclass TSS Visa Holders

Australian government increased Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to $70,000. This is applicable from 1st July 2023. Temporary Residents Transition pathway of subclass 186 visa will be open to all TSS visa holders till end of 2023.

Australia increased Temporary Skilled Income Threshold to $70,000 and expanded TR to PR pathways

May 17, 2023 

Australian to scrap Covid visa. What do Indian temporary workers and students need to do?

The Australian Government to scarp Covid work visa. Indian students and temporary workers with COVID visas in Australia can stay till December 31, 2023. International students working in the aged care sector will be exempted from this cap until December 31, 2023.

May 16, 2023 

Australia invited 400,000+ overseas immigrants till date in FY 2022-23 

Australia’s net overseas immigration level crossed 400,000, which is more than double compared to the immigration plan for FY 2022-23. The country might invite more candidates as it has 800,000 job vacancies.

May 04, 2023

Australia announced ‘Direct citizenship pathway for New Zealanders from 1 July 2023’

​From 1 July 2023, New Zealanders living in Australia for four years are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship directly. They no longer need to apply for an Australia PR visa to get citizenship.

May 02, 2023

Changes in Australia’s Immigration Policy: New Visas and Regulations for 2023-24 

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has released the long-awaited review in its immigration policies. Many changes will be taking place like increasing of the salary threshold for immigrants, all the skilled temporary workers will get to apply for Australia PR, introduction of immediate graduate visa for international students, etc. 

Changes in Australia’s Immigration Policy: New Visas and Regulations for 2023-24

April 1, 2023

1,800 Indian chefs and yoga instructors to receive 4-year visas under the Australia-India treaty

India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) took effect on March 30. Under this agreement, 1,800 Indian chefs and yoga instructors will be allowed to live, work and stay in Australia for up to 4 years. It is expected to magnify India-Australia bilateral trade from $31 billion to over $45-50 billion in 5 years.

1,800 Indian chefs and yoga instructors to receive 4-year visas under the Australia-India treaty

March 08, 2023

‘Indian Degrees will be recognized in Australia,’ Anthony Albanese

The Australian prime minister announced a scholarship for Indians to study in Australia after the “Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism” program was finalized between India & Australia. The commercial opportunities offered by Australian education give Indians a more convenient and innovative education system for Indian students. The Deakin University of Australia plans to set up a foreign branch in the GIFT city of Gujarat, India.

‘Indian Degrees will be recognised in Australia,’ Anthony Albanese

March 07, 2023

New GSM Skills Assessment policy accepts 60-day invitation period. Apply now!

Australia has announced new policies for candidates in the skilled migration category. The government of Australia has announced changes in the immigration policies for candidates in the Skilled Migration category. As per the update, the candidates will be eligible to apply for visas through the category of General Skilled Migration if they have a skill assessment report of their nominated occupation. They are required to apply under 60 days of being issued the invitation to apply for the visa.

New GSM Skills Assessment policy accepts 60-day invitation period. Apply now!

March 06, 2023

New Zealand launches ‘Recovery Visa’, eased policies for overseas professionals

Recovery Visa has been introduced by the New Zealand government to accelerate the entry of overseas specialists who can help to recover the country from the current weather-related disasters. A Recovery Visa is a New Zealander visa to enable skilled workers to enter the country immediately and support the on-going tragedy in different ways like, direct recovery support, risk assessment, emergency response, infrastructure and housing stabilization and repair, and clean-up.

March 03, 2023

Australia and India signed a framework for easy immigration paths for professionals & students. Apply now!

India and Australia signed an agreement to recognize the qualifications to ease mobility for international professionals and students. India and Australia signed an agreement at the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit held on March 21, 2022. The agreement is a comprehensive mechanism for the reciprocal recognition of qualifications. It will help streamline the mobility of professionals and students in India and Australia.

February 22, 2023

Canberra Matrix draw issued 919 invitations on February 22, 2023

Australia held its 3^rd Canberra Matrix and issued 919 invitations. The draw was held on February 22, 2023, and candidates were invited to apply for ACT Nominations. The invitations were issued to Overseas applicants and Canberra residents under Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas. The details can be found in the table below:

Type of residents	Occupation group	Under nomination	Number of candidates invited	Points
Canberra Residents	Matrix nominating Small Business Owners	190 nominations	24	75
		491 nominations	1	70
	Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders	190 nominations	7	NA
		491 nominations	1	NA
	Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	190 nominations	322	NA
		491 nominations	156	NA
Overseas applicants	Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	190 nominations	13	NA
		491 nominations	395	NA

Canberra Matrix draw issued 919 invitations on February 22, 2023

February 24, 2023

International grads can now work in Australia for 4 years with the extended Post Study Work Permit

Australia will introduce cap on working hours for international students from July 1, 2023. The working hours for students will increase for 40 hours to 48 hours per fortnight. This cap will help the students to support themselves financially by more earnings. Work restrictions on student visas were removed in January 2022 so that students can work for 40 hours each fortnight. This cap will come to an end on June 30 and new cap will come into effect from July 1, 2023.

The post study work rights will be extended by two years on their Temporary Graduate Visa. Extensions for other degrees can be found in the table below:

Degree	Extension in post degree work rights
Bachelor	2 to 4
Masters	3 to 5
Doctoral	4 to 6

January 23, 2023

Second Australia Canberra Draw in 2023, invited 632 candidates

Australia held its second Canberra Matrix draw in 2023, in which 632 candidates were invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut off score for this draw was between 65 and 75. Candidates can later apply for Australia PR after residing for some years in the country. The invitations were issued to Canberra residents and Overseas Applicants through the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas. The details of the draw can be found in the table below:

Type of residents	Occupation group	Under nomination	Number of candidates invited	Points
Canberra Residents	Matrix nominating Small Business Owners	190 nominations	9	75
		491 nominations	3	65
	Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders	190 nominations	1	NA
		491 nominations	0	NA
	Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	190 nominations	200	NA
		491 nominations	99	NA
Overseas applicants	Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations	190 nominations	17	NA
		491 nominations	303	NA

The total number of invitations issued to Canberra residents and overseas applicants can be found in the table below:

Immigrants	Number of invitations
Canberra Residents	312
Overseas Applicants	320

The number of invitations issued under the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas can be found in the table below:

Visa	Number of invitations
Subclass 190	227
Subclass 491	405

 

January 13, 2023

Australia Canberra Matrix draw issued 734 invitations for ACT Nomination

A recent Canberra Matrix draw held by Australia on January 13, 2022, invited 734 candidates to submit applications for ACT nomination. Canberra Residents and Overseas Applicants received the invitations. The cut-off score for this draw was between 70 and 85.