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Immigration News: June 2023

In June, the Australian Government announced changes to the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa and the Student (Subclass 500) Visa.

Furthermore, some states and territories have made changes to their state-sponsored visa programs.

Please find the details below.

1. Extension of post-study stay for eligible Subclass 485 visa holders

The Australian Government has extended the post-study stay for eligible Subclass 485 visa holders by two years:

  • From two to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees
  • From three to five years for select Master’s degrees
  • From four to six years for all Doctoral degrees

To qualify for this extended stay, international students must have graduated from Australian higher education providers with eligible qualifications in areas such as science, medicine, healthcare, engineering, and technology.

2. Increase in permitted working hours for Subclass 500 visa holders

From 1 July 2023, Student Visa holders and associated bridging visa holders are allowed to work 48 hours per fortnight. The permitted working hours were 40 hours per fortnight up to January 2022, when the limit was temporarily relaxed to allow students to work unlimited hours.

The only exception to the new measurement is Student Visa holders already working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023. These students can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.

3. Australian State-Sponsored Visa Programs updates

Several state-sponsored visa programs have recently undergone changes, and some programs have closed until the new financial year:

Australian Capital Territory

  • The next SkillSelect invitation round will be held before 14 July 2023.
  • The ACT Nomination Guidelines have been updated:
    • The eligibility criteria have been adjusted, and
    • changes have been made to the Canberra Matrix.
  • The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) has closed for this financial year.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has new offshore General Skilled Migration nomination criteria, including:

  • Reduced work experience requirement – one year down from three years for most occupations
  • More occupations added to the Priority Occupations Stream
  • Expansion of the Family Support Stream to enable regional provisional (Subclass 489, 491 and 494) visa holders and those who hold bridging visas after having applied for regional permanent residency (Subclass 887 and 191 visas) to support family members who are applying for nomination

South Australia

  • General Skilled Migration Programs (Registration of Interest, Subclasses 491 and 190, 491 and 190 and the Business Innovation and Investment Program) closed to new applications on 8 June 2023. South Australia will:
    • delete any applications that had commenced but weren’t lodged before 8 June 2023 from the system, and
    • continue to assess existing applications that were lodged before 8 June 2023.
  • Pending an allocation of Subclass 190 visa nominations from the Commonwealth Government for the 2023-24 program year, applicants who are assessed as eligible for Subclass 190 visa state nominations will receive a nomination in the upcoming program year.

Victoria

  • The Victoria state nomination program has closed to Registrations of Interest (ROI).
  • Submitted ROI will continue to be assessed and selected for invitations to apply for Victorian visa nomination. If an ROI is withdrawn, applicants won’t be able to submit a new one until the 2023-24 program opens.

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Your Guide to Australia’s Global Talent Independent Program

global talent independent program

global talent independent programGlobal competition for talent is intensifying. Australia has entered the race with its Global Talent Independent Program.

The Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program is designed to attract the world’s brightest and best to Australia’s shores, and it offers migrants permanent residence through the Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858).

The ‘target market’, so to speak, are exceptionally talented and prominent individuals in eligible fields that can help secure a strong economy for Australia and enhance Australia’s reputation on the global stage.

Understanding the Global Talent Independent Program

The Global Talent Independent Program offers a migration pathway for individuals with internationally recognised records of exceptional and outstanding achievement in high-priority sectors that align with Australia’s desire for economic growth and innovation.

The sectors are as follows:

  • Resources
  • Agri-food and AgTech
  • Energy
  • Health industries
  • Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
  • Circular economy
  • Digitech
  • Infrastructure and tourism
  • Financial services and FinTech
  • Education

The GTI’s eligibility criteria

The Global Talent Independent Program sets strict eligibility criteria for migrants who want to apply for a Global Talent Visa. Let’s look at these in detail:

  • Internationally recognised: You must be internationally recognised with a record of achievement in an eligible field or high-priority sector, as listed above.
  • Exceptional and outstanding: You are currently prominent in your field and have been for the past two years, and:
    • have superior abilities to others in your field, and
    • are acclaimed as exceptional in any country where your field is practised, and
    • have a record of sustained achievement that is unlikely to diminish in the future.
  • Respected field: You must participate in a field that:
    • is recognised and accepted in Australia, and
    • has international standing.
  • Nomination: You must be nominated by an Australian citizen or permanent resident or eligible New Zealander or organisation with a national reputation in your field.
  • Meet the high-income threshold: You must be able to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work high-income threshold, which is currently AUD162,000 per annum. You can meet this requirement by:
    • Having a current salary at or above the threshold, or
    • Being able to show future job offers offering at or above the required remuneration, or
    • Having academic or professional qualifications relevant to a defined sector

You must prove your achievements

You must be able to prove your achievements when applying for a Global Talent Visa. You’ll submit the following evidence as proof:

  • Relevant qualifications and awards, particularly from internationally recognised organisations
  • Supporting statements from government, professional, scientific, cultural, sporting or other relevant bodies
  • Documentary evidence which demonstrates an exceptional and outstanding record of achievement that positions you amongst the very best in your field.

You must also demonstrate prominence in your field within the two years preceding your visa application. The proof should include the following:

  • A reference from a person or organisation qualified to assess your claims
  • Profiles of your achievements in any media, such as magazines, newspapers or TV programs

Younger than 18 or older than 55?

If you’re younger than 18 or older than 55, you must prove that you would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community. The evidence you can submit includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Statement regarding your professional plans upon settling in Australia
  • Job offer or employment in Australia
  • Service agreements or business contracts in Australia
  • Pitch deck or business planning documentation for Australia
  • Grants associated with planned research in Australia
  • Membership or appointment on industry advisory boards or regulatory authorities in Australia

What does the Global Talent Independent Progam offer you?

The GTI Program is a pathway to living in one of the most desirable countries in the world. Australia is beautiful, safe, and prosperous, and Australians enjoy a lifestyle second to none.

On a more practical level, having a Global Talent Visa offers you all these benefits:

  • You’re a permanent resident, meaning you can live in Australia indefinitely
  • You can work and study in Australia
  • You can enrol in Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme
  • You can sponsor eligible relatives for Australian residency
  • You’ll be eligible to become an Australian citizen

That’s not all the Global Talent Visa offers, though. You’ll also benefit from the following:

  • You don’t have to provide a skills assessment
  • You don’t have to meet a minimum points threshold
  • You don’t need state or territory nomination
  • You can be up to 55 years old or older provided you can demonstrate exceptional economic benefit to Australia
  • You can be a recent PhD graduate in one of the key target sectors

The advantages of the GTI Program for Australia

The Global Talent Independent Program not only benefits migrants; it also offers major advantages to Australia.

For starters, it positions Australia as an attractive destination for skilled professionals looking to contribute their expertise, further their careers, and be part of a vibrant and inclusive society.

Furthermore, the Global Talent Independent Program fosters economic growth, skills enrichment, and innovation.

Let’s look at these in more detail:

1. Fosters economic growth

By attracting highly skilled professionals from around the world, the Global Talent Independent Progam brings expertise and talent to Australia that contribute to the growth of various industries.

Global Talent Visa holders often start businesses, invest in research and development, and create job opportunities, leading to economic stimulation and increased productivity.

2. Addresses skill shortages

The Global Talent Independent Program enables Australia to fill critical skills shortage gaps by bringing in professionals with specialised skills and knowledge that may be scarce in the local labour market, especially in STEM, healthcare and other high-demand sectors.

In turn, this allows industries such as science, technology, engineering, and healthcare to thrive and remain globally competitive.

3. Enhances research and development capabilities

Australia has a strong focus on research and development to drive innovation. Many of Australia’s top universities are known for their innovation initiatives.

The Global Talent Independent Program supports this focus by attracting researchers, scientists, and academics at the forefront of their fields. These individuals bring cutting-edge ideas, collaborate with local institutions, and contribute to groundbreaking research initiatives, positioning Australia as a hub for innovation and discovery.

4. Increases Australia’s global competitiveness and raise its reputation

The ability to attract global talent enhances Australia’s reputation on the global stage, and it shows that Australia offers opportunities, a favourable business environment, and a high quality of life.

As a result, Australia stands to attract further investments, collaborations, and talent, making it even more competitive in the global marketplace.

Explaining the Application Process

You’ll go through six steps when applying for a Global Talent Visa through the GTI Program:

Step 1: Eligibility Assessment

It’s crucial to determine if you qualify to apply for a Global Talent Visa before embarking on the application process. You can do this by completing an eligibility assessment with a licensed advisor.

Step 2: Gathering your documents

You’ll have to submit various documents with your application to support the claims you make in your application and show you meet the visa criteria. These documents include but are not limited to:

  • Evidence of your achievements in an eligible field
  • Identity documents
  • Nominator documents
  • Partner documents, if your spouse or de facto partner is joining you

Step 3: Preparing and submitting your Global Talent Expression of Interest

You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to indicate your interest in applying for a Global Talent Visa. Your EOI form and all supporting documentation must be submitted in English.

At this stage, you should already have a suitable nominator and a completed Nomination for Global Talent – Form 1000 as well as your nominator’s supporting documents to add to your EOI. These documents increase your chances of getting an invitation to apply for the Global Talent Visa.

Step 4: Receive an Invitation to Apply for a Global Talent Visa

If your Expression of Interest is deemed to be successful, you will receive an Invitation to Apply for the Global Talent Visa. Invitations are usually valid for 12 months.

Step 5: Applying for your Global Talent Visa

You can submit your visa application once you’ve received an Invitation to Apply and have gathered all the required documents.

Step 6: Visa outcome

You’ll get the outcome of your visa application once Australia has decided on it. You can be in or outside Australia when your application is decided.

Processing times:

The Department of Home Affairs assess visa applications on a case-by-case basis, and processing times can vary due to individual circumstances. For example:

  • Whether you’ve lodged a complete application, including all required supporting documents
  • How quickly you respond to requests for additional information
  • How long it takes to perform required checks on supporting information that you provided
  • How long it takes to receive extra information from external agencies about health, character, and national security requirements
  • How many places are available in the migration program

The Department of Home Affairs does however state on its website that 90% of Global Talent pathway applications are processed within seven months (May 2023).

Addressing Misconceptions about the Global Talent Independent Program

There are a handful of misconceptions about the Global Talent Independent Program, as with many other Australian visa categories.

Let’s clear up four prominent misconceptions:

1. The Global Talent Independent Program is only for individuals in highly technical fields like science and technology

While the Global Talent Independent Program is designed to attract individuals in STEM fields, it is not limited to these areas.

The GTI Program welcomes talented professionals from various industries, including but not limited to healthcare, academia, the arts, and business.

The focus is on exceptional talent and skills that can contribute to Australia’s economy and society across a broad range of sectors.

2. The Global Talent Visa is difficult to obtain, and the application process is complex

While the Global Talent Visa requires applicants to demonstrate exceptional talent or skill, it is not unattainable or excessively complex.

The GTI Program has clear eligibility criteria and application guidelines. By following the steps and providing the required evidence, individuals with outstanding achievements in their respective fields have a fair chance of securing a Global Talent Visa.

Seeking assistance from migration agents or lawyers can also simplify the process and ensure you meet all requirements.

3. The Global Talent Independent Program is only for young professionals or recent graduates

The GTI Program is not limited to young professionals or recent graduates. It is designed to attract skilled professionals at various stages of their careers who can contribute significantly to Australia’s economy, innovation, or cultural landscape.

4. The Global Talent Visa requires a job offer or sponsorship from an Australian employer

You do not need a job offer or sponsorship from an Australian employer to apply for the Global Talent Visa, but you do need a suitable nominator with a national reputation in your field who can attest to your achievements and prominence.

In conclusion

The Global Talent Independent Program offers you the chance to live and work in Australia if you have exceptional talents and skills to help the country thrive economically and compete globally.

While application requirements are stringent, Global Talent Visa applicants enjoy several concessions. You don’t have to provide a skills assessment, you don’t have to meet a minimum points threshold, and you can be up to the age of 55. You could even apply if you’re older, provided you can prove an exceptional economic benefit to Australia.

The advantages of the Global Talent Visa don’t end there. You’ll get permanent residence if your visa application is successful! And, as a permanent resident, you can sponsor eligible relatives to join you in Australia, enrol in Medicare, and apply for Australian citizenship.

The first step towards a Global Talent Visa and PR is an eligibility assessment to see if you meet the requirements. It’s a small step but could reap massive rewards. You’ll be on your way to making one of the best countries in the world your home if you qualify for the Global Talent Independent Program!

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Change is coming to Australia’s migration laws

On 27 April 2023, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill announced in a speech to the National Press Club that her department is set on reforming Australia’s migration system.

While most proposed changes are not in motion yet, two changes have been confirmed:

  1. The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) is increasing
  2. All temporary skilled workers will have a pathway to permanent residency by the end of 2023

Let’s look at these in detail.

1. The TSMIT is increasing to AUD70,000

The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will increase from AUD53,900 to AUD70,000 on 1 July 2023:

  • New nominations lodged on or after the 1st of July must meet the new TSMIT of AUD70,000 or the annual market salary, whichever is higher.
  • Applications lodged before 1 July 2023 won’t be affected.

Minister O’Neill said an increase to the TSMIT is necessary to attract the skilled migrants Australia needs to ensure a prosperous and secure future.

She explained that Australia uses an income threshold to ensure temporary workers are skilled.

The problem is that the former Australian government froze the TSMIT at AUD53,900 a decade ago. In 2023, that amount is less than the earnings of 90% of Australia’s full-time workforce.

The result, Minister O’Neill said, is “an immigration system which favoured temporary migration, in increasingly lower paid jobs” and does not deliver the skills Australia needs to tackle urgent national challenges.

2. Expanded pathways to residence

By the end of 2023, the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (Subclass 186) will be amended in the following ways:

  • All Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) holders will be eligible for ENS visas sponsored by their employers
    • Applicants will need to continue to work in the occupation nominated for their TSS visa(s).
  • Sponsored visa holders will be eligible for ENS TRT after two years of sponsorship on a TSS by their employer – the current requirement is three years
    • Applicants will have to meet all other nomination and visa requirements for the TRT stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme visa
  • The limit on Short Term Stream TSS visa applications that can be made onshore has been removed in the interim

These changes have been welcomed, as they will assist both employers and visa applicants.

Let’s look at the proposed changes

Minister O’Neill declared in her address to the National Press Club that Australia’s migrations system is broken.

She said it’s not attracting the skills Australia needs, and it’s ‘a bureaucratic nightmare’, and ‘slow and crazily complex’ with ‘hundreds of visa categories and subcategories’. Minister O’Neill also said the system is unaligned with Australian values.

To address these problems, Minister O’Neill proposed the following:

  • Prioritising skilled migrants by:
    • Introducing three new pathways for temporary skilled migrants
    • Reforming the points test
    • Adopting a more proactive approach to engage with global talent who can help build Australia’s future
  • Simplifying and streamlining the migration system by:
    • Adopting a data-driven approach to migration to eliminate a lot of the red tape
    • Strongly reducing the number of visa categories
  • Reforming policy settings that drive the exploitation of migrants workers
  • Strengthening the interaction between the international student system and the migration system by:
    • Introducing simpler and faster pathways for international students with the skills Australia needs
    • Tightening the requirements for international students studying in Australia
  • Restoring Australian values in the country’s migration system:
    • Integrity – by ensuring that migration worker exploitation is identified and addressed
    • Fairness – by creating clearer permanent residency pathways for skilled workers and providing clarity for migrants that have less of a prospect of becoming permanent residents
    • Inclusion – by improving and streamlining skills recognition to help more migrants, including secondary applicants, enter the labour market at a level that matches their qualifications

Minister O’Neill added that she is proud of the progress the Department of Home Affairs has already made in reforming the migration system since the Labor Party came into power a year ago.

That progress included dramatically reducing the visa backlog of more than one millions applications, and the recent announcement that New Zealanders living in Australia will have a direct pathway to Australian citizenship from 1 July 2023.

To summarise

The Australian government wants to reform its migration system to ensure a prosperous and secure future for Australia.

The first of the changes is coming into effect on 1 July 2023. On this day, the TSMIT is increasing to AUD70,000. Then, by the end of 2023, all temporary skilled workers will have a pathway to permanent residency.

The remaining proposed changes, as captured in Minister O’Neill’s address, will focus on ensuring that Australia gets the skills it needs while simplifying and streamlining the migration system and putting these three Australian values at its heart – integrity, fairness, and inclusion.

The goal is a system that works in the national interest and that of migrants who can contribute to Australia’s growth.

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Immigration News: April 2023

April was a busy month! ACT Migration released a state nomination update, physiotherapists from South Africa now qualify for an express pathway of their skills assessments, and eligible New Zealanders will have a direct pathway to Australian residency from 1 July.

1. ACT State Nomination Update

On Thursday, 20 April 2023, ACT Migration announced it’s easing nomination requirements for the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491). The announcement also included news of the expansion of the state’s skilled occupation list.

Easing of state nomination requirements:

ACT Migration is making the following nomination requirement changes:

  • Relaxing the employment criteria for Subclass 190 and 491 visas
  • Lowering the English language requirements for Subclass 491 visas
  • For visa applicants from overseas:
    • Easing relationship and spouse/partner employment requirements
    • Awarding more points for relevant overseas work experience
    • Making it easier to claim points for an ACT job offer
    • Making amendments to the renomination policy
  • For visa applicants living in Canberra:
    • Easing the minimum threshold criteria
    • Easing the ‘Length of ACT Residence’ requirements

Expanded skill occupation list:

Due to the continuing skills shortages in the ACT, ACT Migration added 128 occupations to the state’s skill occupation list. These occupations are across several industries ranging from ICT and life sciences to healthcare and trades.

Please see the ACT Government website to see the skill occupation list in its entirety.

2. Physiotherapists from South Africa are now eligible for the FLYR pathway

The Australian Physiotherapists Council has included South Africa in its list of countries that qualify for an express pathway of their skills assessments.

What is the FLYR pathway?

The Australian Physiotherapist Council’s FLYR pathway exists for countries whose physiotherapy education, training, regulation and practice have been assessed to be substantially comparable to Australia.

The advantage for physiotherapists is a streamlined assessment process towards becoming a physiotherapist in Australia. Eligible candidates bypass the Clinical Assessment stage, and the Cultural Safety Training and Written Assessment can be completed without travelling to Australia.

Aside from being from one of the eligible countries, candidates must also:

  • Have completed an entry-level physiotherapy qualification in an approved FLYR country
  • Held registration without restriction with the relevant regulatory body within the past five years
  • Able to practice without any restrictions
  • Have an entry-level qualification that is diploma-level or higher, except for Singapore candidates that must have completed a Bachelor-level degree

3. Direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealanders

On 22 April 2023, Australia announced a new direct pathway to Australian citizenship for eligible New Zealand citizens. The pathway comes into effect on 1 July 2023, and applies to Special Category Visas (Subclass 444) holders who’ve arrived in Australia since 2001.

This immigration policy change will make it much easier for New Zealanders to obtain Australian citizenship:

  • It won’t be necessary for eligible New Zealanders to become permanent residents before applying for citizenship. Instead, all that’s required is four years of having lived in Australia and being able to meet the standard citizenship criteria.
  • Eligible New Zealanders also won’t have to meet minimum income requirements or health criteria.
  • New Zealand children born in Australia will become citizens at birth instead of only getting citizenship at 10 years old.

The policy change also brings the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia more in line with those of Australians living in New Zealand. New Zealanders will have access to services and benefits associated with citizenship, such as student loans and unemployment benefits.

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Australian work visa options for people over 45

australian work visa options for people over 45

australian work visa options for people over 45

Skilled migration to Australia has a strict age requirement. You must be under the age of 45 to apply for a visa. However – there are Australian work visa options for people over 45! You could:

  • apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482), or
  • explore age exemptions options under the Designated Area Migration Agreements.

Let’s look at each option in detail:

1. Applying for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) allows employers to sponsor overseas workers to live and work in Australia on a temporary basis. It allows visa holders to stay in Australia for up to two or four years, depending on the nature of the skilled position.

The TSS Visa has three streams:

Depending on your eligibility, you could apply for a TSS Visa under one of three streams:

  1. Short-term stream: This stream enables employers to hire skilled workers from overseas for roles where they can’t find suitably skilled Australians to fill positions.
  2. Medium-term stream: Like the short-term stream, the medium-term stream allows employers to hire skilled workers from overseas for roles where they can’t find suitably skilled Australians to fill positions.
  3. Labour agreement stream: This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers with a Labour Agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian government and employers.

Requirements:

  • Short-term stream: You must be nominated to work in an occupation on the list of eligible short-term skilled occupations.
  • Medium-term stream: You must be nominated to work in an occupation on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
  • Labour agreement stream: You must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement.

You must also:

  • Have at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field
  • Have a relevant skills assessment if it’s required for your occupation
  • Work only for your sponsor or associated entity unless you are exempt under the Short-Term or Medium-Term Stream
  • Meet minimum standards of English language proficiency unless you are exempt.

How long you can stay:

  • Short-term stream: You can work in Australia for up to two years, or for up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
  • Medium-term stream: You can work in Australia for up to four years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
  • Labour agreement stream: You can work in Australia for up to a maximum of four years, depending on the terms of the labour agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.

Taking your family with you:

You can include family members in your TSS visa application. The family members you can add will depend on whether you currently hold a TSS visa or Subclass 457 visa.

If you’ve never held a TSS visa or a Subclass 457 visa, you can include the members of your family unit, which are:

  • Your spouse or de facto partner
  • Your child, or your partner’s child, who is not engaged, married or in a de facto relationship and is:
    • Under the age of 18 or
    • Between the ages of 18 and 23 and dependent on you or your partner
    • 23 years old or older and dependent on you or your partner due to a partial or total physical or mental disability
  • The dependent child of the child above

Extending your stay:

To extend your stay in Australia after the expiry date of your visa to continue working for your existing employer, your employer must submit a new nomination, and you must apply for a new visa.

Applying for permanent residence:

  • Short-term stream: Your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187).
  • Medium-term stream: Your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187).
  • Labour agreement stream: Your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

The application process:

The application process for the TSS visa generally has four steps:

  1. Before you apply: Ensure you have or will get nomination from your prospective employer, and arrange elements of the visa application such as a skills assessment and an English language test.
  2. Gathering your documents: Documents you may have to provide could include documents for your identity, character, skills, work experience, health and English language skills.
  3. Applying for your visa: You submit your visa application.
  4. Getting the visa outcome: You get the outcome of your visa application.

2. Explore age exemptions options under the Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

Australia has several Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) in place.

These agreements are a type of Labour Agreement negotiated between the Department of Home Affairs and employers or industrial associations instead. Their purpose is to enable employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they’re unable to fill with local workers and in response to identified market shortages.

The advantage of DAMAs is that these agreements have lower entry requirements than standard migration programmes, including concessions to age criteria.

The age limit for visa and PR applicants is raised from 45 to 55 for occupations with Skill Level 1 to 4, and up to 50 years old for Skill Level 5 occupations.

12 Existing DAMAs:

There are 12 DAMAs in place at the moment in Australia:

  1. Orana, New South Wales
  2. Goulburn Valley, Victoria
  3. Great South Coast, Victoria
  4. Pilbara, Western Australia
  5. South West, Western Australia
  6. The Goldfields, Western Australia
  7. East Kimberley, Western Australia
  8. Far North Queensland, Queensland
  9. Townsville, Queensland
  10. The Northern Territory DAMA, Northern Territory
  11. Adelaide, South Australia
  12. South Australia Regional, South Australia

Your visa options:

Under DAMA, you have one of two Australian work visa options:

Requirements:

Your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian government in effect. The basic requirements for each visa are as follows:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage Visa:
    • You’re nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor.
    • You have the right skills to do the job.
    • You meet the relevant English language requirements.
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491):
    • You’re nominated in an occupation that’s on the relevant DAMA skilled occupation list.
    • You have a formal offer of employment from your employer, and your salary meets the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) unless there is a concession in place.
    • You have the qualifications and experience necessary to work in your nominated occupation.
    • You meet the English language requirements unless there is a concession in place.

How long you can stay:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: You can live and work in Australia for up to four years when applying under the labour agreement stream.
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): You can live and work in Australia for up to five years.

Taking your family with you:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: You can include family members in your visa application. The family members you can add will depend on whether you currently hold a TSS visa or subclass 457 visa. If you’ve never held a TSS visa or a Subclass 457 visa, you can include the members of your family unit.
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): You can include members of your family unit in your application.

Extending your stay:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: Your employer must submit a new nomination, and you must apply for a new visa to extend your stay in Australia.
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): You cannot extend your Subclass 491 Visa.

Applying for permanent residence:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: Your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): You have a pathway to permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Work Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)

How to apply:

The application processes for the TSS Visa and the Subclass 491 Visa generally have four steps:

  1. Before you apply: Ensure you have or will get nomination from your prospective employer, and arrange elements of the visa application such as a skills assessment if you’re applying for a Subclass 482 Visa OR submit your Expression of Interest if you’re applying for a Subclass 491 Visa.
  2. Gathering your documents: Documents you may have to provide could include documents for your identity, character, skills, work experience, health and English language skills.
  3. Applying for your visa: You submit your visa application.
  4. Getting the visa outcome: You get the outcome of your visa application.

Summarising your Australian work visa options when you’re over 45

Too old for skilled migration? There are Australian work visa options for people over 45 that enable you to live and work Down Under.

You could apply for a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) or explore age exemptions under a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).

Under the TSS Visa, there are three visa streams, and under one of Australia’s 12 DAMAs, you can apply for either a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491).
Depending on your visa, you could live and work in Australia for up to two, four or five years.

Your stay doesn’t have to be temporary. The Subclass 491 Visa offers a pathway to permanent residence, and your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence when you hold a TSS Visa.

Book your consultation call today to see if you qualify for any of these work visas.

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Moving to Australia: 9 Tips for setting yourself up for success

moving to australia

 

moving to australiaAre you considering moving to Australia for a better life? Do you want to do everything possible to realise this dream?

Then the nine tips we have for you today are just what you need. You’ll discover how to set your immigration up for success from the get-go.

Let’s get straight to it…

1. Start early

Moving to another country is one long list of to-dos! You have to apply for a visa, book movers, pack up your belongings, book flights, find a new home, etc., etc.

The key to managing it all without going crazy is starting early – long before you intend to say your goodbyes. The earlier you start, the easier it’ll be to deal with issues or surprises that may arise.

Our advice? Give yourself at least six months to a year if you can. Draw up a list of priorities and then get stuck in.

2. Explore your visa options

Your first priority must be exploring your visa options. The last thing you want to do is spend money on an application for a visa you don’t qualify for!

You have two options for finding out your visa options:

You’ll incur costs when going the second route but won’t regret the investment. A reputable licensed advisor will assess you against Australia’s immigration requirements to determine your best
visa options.

3. Get the right advice

Should you choose to trust your immigration to an advisor, you must make sure you’re speaking to a professional you can trust.

Check for a license from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, as that’s a stamp of approval from Australian authorities.

OMARA licensed advisors are authorised to give immigration advice and are held accountable for the advice they give.

4. Check your passport

You must have a valid passport to apply for a visa, so ensure your passport is still valid. The same goes for every family member involved in the migration application.

Ideally, your passports should be valid for at least another four years. Renewing your passport is advisable if the remaining validity period is three years or less.

Remember to also apply for passports for children who may still need to get passports.

5. Get your documents in order

Ensure that you have important documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, on hand. Many people underestimate how long it can take to get such documents from the relevant authorities.

Want to apply for a work visa? Then you must also have your CV and qualifications in order.

When you work with a licensed advisory, they’ll tell you precisely what documents you need and whether they should be original, colour copies, or certified.

6. Find a job

You won’t necessarily need a job to apply for a work visa, but lining up a job before you immigrate would make life much easier.

You can find suitable jobs by:

  • Standing out from the crowd with an Australian-friendly CV and a cover letter which mentions that you qualify to immigrate to Australia
  • Contacting recruiters in Australia for assistance with your job search
  • Networking with connections in your industry
  • Signing up for job alerts on career websites
  • Identifying companies you’d like to work for and applying for available positions

7. Improve your English

Australia expects immigrants to speak a reasonable level of English. You might have to complete an English test to prove your abilities before moving to Australia. If English is not your first language, work with a tutor or an English Language teacher to improve.

8. Do plenty of research

It’s common knowledge that Australia is a beautiful and vibrant country, but you’ll have to know more as someone who wants to move there.

Here’s what you’ll have to research:

  • The cost of living: You’ll have to be able to provide for your family on the salary you’ll earn. Everyday costs include groceries, clothing, transport, rent or bond repayments, utilities, schooling, and childcare. You can use our blog to start your research, but also consider joining Facebook groups for advice or reading blogs by expats.
  • Cities, towns, and neighbourhoods: Read up on Australia’s cities and towns, and decide which areas suit your lifestyle best. While doing this, remember that some work visas only allow you to stay in designed regional areas. Once you have a list of suitable cities or towns, you can investigate specific neighbourhoods where you’d like to settle.
  • Banking: You want to be able to set up a bank account shortly after arriving in Australia or even before you go. Find out how to do this as soon as possible to access funds when setting up debit orders or applying for credit.
  • Healthcare: Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, guarantees Australians can access a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost. You may want to consider private health insurance if you wear glasses, contact lenses or hearing devices because Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of these. Medicare also doesn’t cover dental services, ambulance services, elective and cosmetic surgery, services not on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), and services provided through the public health system.
  • Schools and universities: It’s safe to assume that if you’re a tertiary student or parent, a big reason for your move is securing a good education for yourself or your children. Australia has world-class schools and universities across the country, but it’ll still be worthwhile to find a good fit for yourself or your children if you’re a parent.
  • Importing your belongings and pets: Australia has strict import requirements, making it important to know what you can take and can’t. Import requirements also apply to pets. For example, some cat and dog breeds are not allowed in Australia.

9. Save for your move

Immigrating is expensive! It’s not only visa costs. You also must budget for expenses such as flights, insurance, international movers, a deposit on a new home, and buying furniture.

Setting aside money to cover these costs and any unforeseen expenses is essential. A good rule of thumb is three to six months of savings. Your research and personal circumstances will guide you on exactly how much you’ll need.

Here’s a tip – whatever the final number, add 10% to 20% on top of that as an emergency buffer.

To recap

To set yourself up for success when moving to Australia, you must ensure that you:

  • Start early – The earlier, the better!
  • Explore your visa options – You can’t immigrate without qualifying for a visa
  • Get the right advice – from a licensed immigration advisor
  • Check your passport’s validity – Renew it if it expires within the next three years
  • Get your documents in order – such as birth and marriage certificates and your CV
  • Find a job – It’s not necessarily needed, but it will make your life easier
  • Improve your English – Australia has strict language requirements
  • Do plenty of research – Understand the cost of living, decide where you’ll stay, read up on healthcare,
    and know how to open a bank account and what you can take with you
  • Save for your move – Three to six months of savings, plus up to 20% as an emergency buffer

You’ll significantly minimise the chances of your immigration failing if you follow these tips!

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Immigration News: October 2022

In October, the Australian Government published a Ministerial Direction for prioritising skilled visa applications. The government also announced streamlined requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia.

1. Skilled visa processing priorities

A new Ministerial Direction for prioritising skilled visa applications came into effect on 28 October 2022.

In line with the Direction, the Australian Government will prioritise skilled visa applications for the health and education sectors and offshore permanent and provisional applications. It’ll apply to all skilled visa nominations and applications yet to be decided and new applications lodged.

The aim is to improve skilled visa processing times and clear visa backlogs. Shorter processing times will benefit visa applicants and assist small businesses with critical labour shortages it has to fill quickly.

The Direction also restores priority to Accredited Sponsors and signals the end of the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) and critical sectors.

“The PMSOL was outdated and no longer reflected the critical workforce shortages seen across Australia,” said the Australian Government in a statement. “Applications with occupations that were on the PMSOL or in critical sectors will continue to be processed efficiently given the improvements in visa processing since the Government committed additional funding and staff to reduce processing times,” the government added.

2. Streamlined requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia

​The Australian Government announced that it is streamlining requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia.

Going forward, only some eligible visa applicants must undertake relevant medical examinations and/or chest x-rays.

That will include visa applicants that:

  • have applied for a medical treatment, temporary protection or a provisional visa,
  • expect to incur medical costs or require medical treatment,
  • intend to work as (or study to be) a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic,
  • will enter a hospital, aged or disability care facility (if there is a higher tuberculosis risk),
  • are pregnant and intending to have the baby in Australia,
  • will work or train at an Australian childcare centre,
  • are aged over 75 years (if applying for a visitor visa),
  • have had previous household contact with tuberculosis, or
  • are requested to do so by the Department of Home Affairs

Other temporary visa applicants in Australia are not required to undertake medical examinations and chest x-rays to meet the health requirement.

These arrangements apply to the following visas:

  • 401 Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity)
  • 403 Temporary Work (International Relations)
  • 405 Investor Retirement
  • 407 Training
  • 408 Temporary Activity
  • 410 Retirement
  • 417 and 462 Working Holiday
  • 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)
  • 476 Skilled – Recognised Graduate
  • 482 Temporary Skill Shortage
  • 485 Temporary Graduate
  • 500 Students
  • 590 Student Guardian
  • 600 Visitor
  • 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
  • 995 Diplomatic (Temporary)

Want to stay up to date with immigration news out of Australia? Sign up for our newsletter!

Join our monthly newsletter if you want to stay up to date on Australia’s immigration changes. It’s as simple as clicking here and submitting your email address. We don’t share your details and you can unsubscribe at any stage (but we don’t think you will).

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9 of Australia’s top recruitment agencies

Eager to live and work in Australia but overwhelmed by the prospect of having to find a job? No idea where to start or who to contact?

Then we might have what you’re looking for – a list of Australian recruitment agencies.

You’ll find some of Australia’s top recruiters on this list. Their areas of expertise range from IT and mental health to construction and mining.

1. Randstad

Founded in the Netherlands in 1960, Randstad was established in Australia in 2009. Randstad has several offices across Australia and specialises in several key industries, including education, engineering, health and social care, IT, and trades and labour.

www.randstad.com.au

2. JPS Medical Recruitment

JPS Medical Recruitment specialises in the recruitment of healthcare and medical professionals. Their areas of expertise are aged care, allied health, general practice, hospital doctors, medical imaging, and senior appointments.

www.jpsmedical.com.au

3. Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment

Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment offers specialist engineering, technical and manufacturing recruitment services. The company has offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and its recruitment consultants are engineers themselves, which means they know the engineering industry inside out.

www.australiawide.com.au

4. Clicks IT Recruitment

Clicks IT Recruitment is one of Australia’s top five IT recruitment agencies. Clicks recruit across all IT sectors, including development, cyber security, and business information, and have vacancies across Australia.

https://clicks.com.au

5. Stellar Recruitment

Stellar Recruitment has been providing recruitment solutions and advice since 2006. The company has won numerous awards, including Outstanding Large Agency of the Year and individual team members being named Recruitment Leader of the Year. Stellar Recruitment’s areas of expertise range from mining and energy to agriculture and logistics.

www.stellarrecruitment.com

6. Aptus Personnel

Aptus Personnel is a team of specialist consultants in the built environment space. The recruiters connect job seekers with opportunities in Buildings, Land and Infrastructure, Construction, and Architecture, Planning and Design. You’ll find their office in Melbourne.

https://aptuspersonnel.com.au

7. Brightside Recruitment

Brightside Recruitment provides recruitment, consultancy, and support to organisations and individuals within the welfare, NPO and charity sectors. The company services specific sectors, including psychology, allied health, mental health, aged and disability, and child, youth and family.

http://brightsiderecruitment.com.au

8. Building Partners Recruitment

Building Partners Recruitment offers recruitment services to skilled people in architecture, engineering, construction, and trades. The company has worked alongside top industry brands such as A.G.Coombs, AE Smith and the ARA Group.

www.buildingpartnersrecruitment.com

9. Hays

Hays offers recruitment services in a wide range of industries. These industries include education, energy, manufacturing and operations, oil and gas, sustainability, and technology. You’ll find vacancies in 41 Australian cities and towns listed on their website, a salary guide and a section with career advice.

www.hays.com.au

How can a recruiter help you?

Using a recruiter is free, so there’s no reason not to work with one when you’re job hunting in Australia.

Here’s how it’ll benefit your job search:

  • Recruiters are experts in their fields who can give you industry information and tips to help you succeed in your job search
  • Recruiters often know about jobs not being advertised on job boards or social media
  • Specialist agencies in your industry have connections in the companies you should approach
  • Recruiters can help you with your CV and advise you on your career path.
  • When you apply for a job, the recruiter follows up on your application, so you don’t have to
  • Using a recruiter is free!

Our advice?

Seriously consider working with a recruitment agency!

Many Australian employers use recruiters to screen candidates, especially for specialist and high-level jobs. Also, with a recruiter by your side, especially when you’re job hunting before you immigrate, you have a much bigger chance of finding the perfect job.

Please note: Intergate Emigration is not affiliated or associated with any of the above recruiters.

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Can you immigrate to Australia if you’re over 50?

can you immigrate to Australia if you are over 50

can you immigrate to Australia if you are over 50

With strict age restrictions in place for most work visas, one might wonder, “Can you immigrate to Australia if you’re over 50?”

The good news is that there are visas that allow people over 50 to immigrate to Australia, which falls into these four categories:

  • Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)
  • Global Talent Visa
  • Parent Visas
  • Business Innovation and Investment Visa

Let’s take a closer look at each visa.

1. Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)

The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers for positions there aren’t suitable Australians to fill available roles.

As suggested by its name, the Subclass 482 is a temporary visa. However, you could extend your stay after the expiry date of your visa or apply for a permanent residence if you’re eligible to do so.

Three visa streams

The Subclass 482 Visa has three streams through which skilled workers can apply for their visa:

  • Short-term stream:
    • You must be nominated to work in an occupation on the list of eligible short-term skilled occupations.
    • You can work in Australia for up to two years, or for up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
  • Medium-term stream:
    • You must be nominated to work in an occupation on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
    • You can work in Australia for up to four years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.
  • Labour agreement stream:
    • You must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement.
    • You can work in Australia for up to a maximum of four years, depending on the terms of the labour agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years.

Further to being able to meet the requirements above, you must have at least two years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field. You must also have a relevant skills assessment if it’s required for your occupation.

2. Global Talent Visa (subclass 858)

The purpose of the Global Talent Visa is to attract the world’s best and brightest talent to grow Australia’s economy. You’ll be eligible to apply if you are highly skilled in one of these 10 target sectors:

  • Resources
  • Agri-food and AgTech
  • Energy
  • Health Industries
  • Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
  • Circular Economy
  • DigiTech
  • Infrastructure and Tourism
  • Financial Services and FinTech
  • Education

You must also be able to attract a salary that meets the high-income threshold of AUD162,000. This figure is adjusted annually on 1 July.

While there is no age restriction on the Global Talent Visa, the Department of Home Affairs requires that an exceptional benefit to the Australian community be established if you’re older than 55 years of age.

3. Parent Visas

There are several parent visas available to the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents and Eligible New Zealand (ENZ) citizens:

  • Aged Parent visa (subclass 804): You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
  • Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884): You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
  • Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173): You must apply as a retiree.
  • Parent visa (subclass 103): You must apply as a retiree.
  • Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa: You’ll need an approved Parent Sponsor to apply.

The other requirements for these visas range from meeting the balance-of-family test to meeting health and character requirements. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss the requirements in detail.

4. Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188)

The subclass 188 visa is a four-year provisional visa. It is the first step towards permanent residency. You’ll apply for permanent residency through the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 888).

The requirements to meet under the subclass 188 visa will depend on the stream under which you apply:

  1. Business Innovation stream: You want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
  2. Investor stream: You want to make a designated investment of at least AU$2.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
  3. Significant Investor stream: You are willing to invest at least AU$5 million into complying investments in Australia and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
  4. Entrepreneur stream: For startup and early stage entrepreneurs who have been endorsed to develop their concepts and been nominated by a State or Territory government agency.

For the Business Innovation, Investor and Entrepreneur streams, you must be under the age of 55. That’s not much older than 50, so don’t take too long to apply if you’re already 50.

Want to know if you’re eligible for immigration to Australia?

If you’re almost 50 or older than 50 and would like to know if you qualify to immigrate to Australia, please do not hesitate to book a consultation call with our licensed advisor.

You’ll not only discover your visa options, but also find out how the immigration process works, and learn what costs are involved.

Our team looks forward to hearing from you. Let’s get to you to Australia as soon as possible!

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Immigration News: September 2022

In September, South Australia opened its Business Migration program, and Migration Tasmania opened the next interim stage of its Skilled Migration State Nomination Program.

Continue reading for the details.

South Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program is open

South Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is open for the 2022-23 program year.

The Business Migration program is designed to attract high-quality business owners, investors and entrepreneurs who can create genuine and sustainable economic opportunities in South Australia that’ll benefit the state’s economy, local businesses and workforce.

Four visa streams under the Subclass 188 visa

The Business Migration program has four visa streams available for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment visa (Subclass 188):

  • Business Innovation Stream (188A)
  • Investor Stream (188B)
  • Significant Investor Stream (188C)
  • Entrepreneur Stream (188E)

South Australia has received an interim allocation of only 70 nomination places, so competition is stiff.

It is no surprise that applicants for the Business Innovation Stream (188A) must submit an Intention to Apply (ITA) for consideration.

Interim opening for the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program to Gold and Green pass candidates

The 2022-23 Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program is opening in stages.

In this stage, candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa and have at least one gold or green priority attribute can register their interest in nomination by Migration Tasmania.

Eligible candidates must receive an invitation from Migration Tasmania before applying for nomination, and candidates who are nominated will be able to apply for a work visa.

Migration Tasmania has said it’ll release information about the next interim stage soon.

Want to stay up to date with immigration news out of Australia? Sign up for our newsletter!

Join our monthly newsletter if you want to stay up to date on Australia’s immigration changes. It’s as simple as clicking here and submitting your email address. We don’t share your details and you can unsubscribe at any stage (but we don’t think you will).

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