Intergate Emigration operates out of South Africa and the United Kingdom. We have a number of licensed immigration agents for both Australia and New Zealand. You enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being helped by qualified and experienced experts.

Can you immigrate to Australia if you are 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 are over 50?”

The good news is that there are visas that allow for people over 50 to immigrate to Australia. The condition, of course, is that you meet all of visa’s requirements you’d like to apply for.

Here we’ll take a look at your Australian visa options if you are older than 50:

  • Business Innovation Stream (Provisional) Visa
  • Business Talent Visa
  • Global Talent Visa
  • Parent Visas

Business Innovation Stream (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188)

The subclass 188 visa is a four-year provisional visa. As a provisional visa it is the first step towards permanent residency. In this case, permanent residency is via 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$1.5 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.

For both the Business Innovation and Investor stream, 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!

Business Talent Visa (subclass 132)

The subclass 132 visa allows you to establish a new business or develop an existing business in Australia. It has two streams:

  1. Significant Business History stream: For high-calibre business owners or part-owners who want to do business in Australia.
  2. Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream: For people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (ACVAL).

You must have state nomination to apply for the subclass 132 visa and you must be 55 years of age or younger. States or territories may waive the age requirement if you can meet certain requirements.

Global Talent Visa

The purpose of the Global Talent Visa is attracting 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-good 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 AUD153,600. 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 must be established if you’re older than 55 years of age.

Parent Visas

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

  • Parent visa (subclass 103): You must apply as a retiree.
  • Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa: You’ll need an approved Parent Sponsor in order to apply.
  • 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.

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

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

If you’re nearing 50 or are older than 50 and would like to know if you qualify for any of the visas above, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can do so via phone on either +27 (0) 11 234 4275 or +27 (0) 21 424 2460 or via email.

The first step is an initial immigration assessment to uncover any immigration options open to you. To book your assessment right away, simply click here and submit your details. One of our consultants will endeavor to contact you within 24 hours to get the ball rolling.

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Australian Immigration News: February 2021

In February, South Australia announced the details of their skilled migration programme and New South Wales added occupations to the subclass 190 visa PR stream. Further to this, the Department of Home Affairs decided to grant the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents visitor visas with longer validity.

The South Australian nomination process commenced on Monday, 8 February

South Australia decided to open their nomination process to only applicants living and working within South Australia. Unfortunately, you can’t apply for nomination at this stage if you live offshore or in another Australian state.

The work experience requirements to apply for nomination is as follows:

  • Subclass 491: You must have worked in South Australia for the six months prior to applying for nomination unless stated otherwise for your occupation.
  • Subclass 190: You must have worked in South Australia for the 12 months prior to applying for nomination unless stated otherwise for your occupation.

You’ll be able to apply for concessions and waivers to these work experience requirements if you live and work in outer regional South Australia. Long-term residents who live and work in South Australia are also eligible for waivers of the skilled work experience requirements.

New South Wales has added occupations to the permanent residency stream of the subclass 190 visa

New South Wales has made it possible for more onshore subclass 190 visa holders to become permanent residents by adding nine occupations to this visa’s skilled occupation list:

  • 233211 – Civil Engineer
  • 233212 – Geotechnical Engineer
  • 233214 – Structural Engineer
  • 233215 – Transport Engineer
  • 233511 – Industrial Engineer
  • 233512 – Mechanical Engineer
  • 233513 – Production or Plant Engineer
  • 312211 – Civil Engineering Draftsperson
  • 312212 – Civil Engineering Technician

To qualify for permanent residence using the subclass 190 visa, you must:

  • Be 45 or younger
  • Obtain a minimum score of 65 points in your SkillSelect Expression of Interest
  • Have an English language test score that proves competent English
  • Hold a valid skills assessment in an occupation that exactly matches an occupation on the New South Wales subclass 190 visa occupation list
  • Live in New South Wales

Unfortunately, New South Wales is not accepting Expressions of Interest at the moment from applicants who live offshore or in another Australian state or territory.

Longer Australian visitor visa validity for the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents

Australia has announced that the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are now eligible for a more generous visitor visa. However, Australia will consider applications on a case-by-case basis.

The new maximum validity periods for multiple entry visitor visas are as follows:

  • Five years for parents outside of Australia and in the Parent visa queue for an AX 103 visa
  • Three years for parents outside of Australia who:
    • Have had a previous Australian visa and complied with the conditions, and have not applied for a Parent visa; or
    • Have not applied for a Parent visa; or
    • Have applied for a Parent visa but are not yet in the Parent visa queue.
  • Eighteen months for parents who:
    • Have not previously travelled to Australia, and have not applied for a Parent visa; or
    • Have applied for a Parent visa but are not yet in the Parent visa queue.

In addition to these requirements, you’ll have to undergo a medical exam, maintain health insurance in Australia, and ensure that you do not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18-month period.

Please note that the longer validity of visitor visas is not available who apply in Australia, and it will be subject to condition 8503, which means that you cannot apply for a new visa while you’re in Australia.

You can contact our team for assistance with your visitor visa. You can reach us on 021 202 8200 or book a free initial assessment to get the process started.

Follow us on social media for more news

To stay in the know about future skilled migrant news, follow Intergate Emigration on Facebook or LinkedIn. We post all immigration and visa news as soon as it happens.

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Global Talent Independent visa – Changes for Bachelor and Masters students

The Department of Home Affairs made a significant change to the Global Talent Independent Visa on 20 January 2021.

Bachelor and Masters students are no longer eligible to receive an Invitation to Apply based solely on their qualifications – they must also meet the high income threshold, which is AUD153,600 at the moment.

What is the Global Talent Independent Visa?

The Global Talent Independent Visa allows highly skilled professionals across 10 target sectors to work and live in Australia permanently. The aim is to attract the brightest and the best global talent to Australia to grow the country’s economy.

What are the requirements to apply for the Global Talent Independent Visa?

To be eligible to apply for this work visa, you must be highly skilled in one of seven sectors. You’ll also have to attract a salary that meets the high income threshold, as mentioned earlier.

The 10 target sectors:

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

The requirements:

You must:

  • Prove that you are internationally recognised with evidence of outstanding achievements, such as senior roles, patents, professional awards and international publications and memberships
  • Still be prominent in your field of expertise
  • Provide evidence that you would be an asset to Australia, in your area of expertise
  • Have no difficulty obtaining employment in Australia or becoming established in your field
  • Have a recognised organization or individual in Australia nominate you as a global talent, which is in the same field as you are

High income threshold:

You must have the ability to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work high income threshold of AUD153,600. This figure is adjusted annually on 1 July.

When assessing this, the Department of Home Affairs will consider:

  • Your current salary through payslips or a contract, or
  • Future jobs offers outlining remuneration, or
  • Recent PhD graduates in the target sectors

Contact us to find out if you’re eligible to apply for a Global Talent Independent Visa

Our team of immigration experts can assess your chances of living and working in Australia on a Global Talent Independent Visa.

The first step is a free initial assessment to see if you meet the basic requirements to immigrate to Australia. You can book yours online using this link.

If the signs are positive, you’ll get to go ahead with a comprehensive assessment that you complete with one of our licensed advisors.

You’ll also discover any other visas that you’re eligible to apply for, so booking your free initial assessment is a win-win situation!

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General Skilled Migration news: January 2021

Australia has started with skilled migration invitations and nominations for the 2020-21 migration programme.

You may be aware that there are far less spots available for the 189, 190 and 491 visas in this programme year. This fact is going to make for an interesting – and perhaps frustrating – year for skilled migrant applicants.

You can find the latest skilled migration news below. We’ll continue to monitor all state and territories and we’ll update this article as developments happen.

1. Quarterly invitation rounds for the remainder of the 2020-21 programme year

The Department of Home Affairs will run quarterly invitation rounds for the remainder of the 2020-21 programme year. The next invitation round is happening this month, January 2021.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Australian government is closely monitoring migration and visa settings to ensure that they are consistent with public health measures, are flexible and do not displace job opportunities for Australians. As such, invitations are targeted.

The visas affected by this measure are the Skilled Independent (subclasses 189) visa and the family-sponsored stream of the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa.

2. The ACT critical skills list was updated on 11 January 2021

The Australian Capital Territory reviewed and updated their critical skills list earlier this month. You can find the updated list on the ACT Government website.

The list will undergo a review and updated every four months. This strategy is to ensure that the ACT Migration Programme adapts to the evolving critical skills needs of the ACT economy.

There is a cap on occupations

ACT has said that they may place a monthly cap on the number of nominations for each occupation on the critical skills list. This means that ACT will stop issuing invitation once a cap is reached.

No nominations for overseas applicants for the 491 and 190 visas

Unfortunately, ACT is only nominating Canberra residents who meet all the eligibility requirements for the 491 and 190 visas in the 2020-21 migration year.

3. The Tasmania Nominated Skilled Migration Program will reopen on 29 January

Good news if you want to live in Tasmania – this island state’s migration programme reopens on 29 January 2021 at 1pm (AEDT). The programme will have updated criteria and compulsory documents.

The number of allocated visas for the subclass 491 and 190 visas are as follows:

  • Subclass 491: 1,400 places
  • Subclass 190: 1,000 places

Tasmania has also received 45 places for business migration.

It is still unclear whether Tasmania is going to make nominations available for occupations that are not critical for Australia’s COVID-19 recovery. It is also unclear if Tasmania will reopen to applications from offshore.

4. The Queensland skilled program re-opens to onshore applicants on 1 February

Queensland has announced that it’s re-opening its skilled program to onshore applicants on 1 February 2021.

Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ), the state nominating body for Queensland, is asking that applicants do not submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) until 1 February, as it will not be picked up until this date.

It is unknown at this stage which occupations BMSQ will be seeking. It also unknown when Queensland will start nominating offshore skilled migrants.

5. New South Wales is opening its skilled program early February

Regional Development Australia (RDA) offices will begin assisting NSW Treasury manage the subclass 491 visa in early February.

Each RDA office will accept and assess applications, and determine eligible occupations for their respective regions. The nomination criteria, however, is consistent across all regions.

RDA offices will focus on nominating applicants who are undertaking skilled work in critical sectors to support Australia’s economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

At least one RDA has so far made their requirements for the 491 regional NWS nominations public and they are excluding offshore applicants from it as borders are closed.

Stay up to date with developments by following us on social media

With less visa spots allocated for this migration year, it’s vital to stay up to date if you’re hoping to immigrate to Australia this year.

You can this easily by following us on Facebook or LinkedIn where we post news as it happens. If you’re not much of a social media user, sign up for our monthly newsletter. It contains all the news you need to know plus tips for your immigration.

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COVID-19: Updates from Acting Minister of Home Affairs

On Friday, 6 November, Acting Minister of Home Affairs Alan Tudge held a press conference to discuss various immigration and COVID-19 matters that are in the news.

Below is a summary of what was said, starting with border restrictions.

Domestic and international border restrictions

Australia’s internal border closures are slowly easing. Western Australia opened its borders to travellers on the 14th of November. The borders will stay open provided Western Australia maintain its low COVID-19 rate. Further to this, New South Wales is opening to Victoria on the 23rd of November.

With these borders opening, Australia will be close to having completely open borders again by the end of November. Queensland is the last significant state that hasn’t made any decision yet with regards to borders closures.

When it comes to international borders, the Government is continuing with efforts to open borders slowly and safely. It has done the following so far:

  • Allowing temporary skilled migrants into the country on a priority listing
  • There is a travel bubble arrangement with New Zealand. The Government is also in talks with some of the Pacific nations, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to create similar travel bubbles.

Getting all Australians home for Christmas

Minister Tudge confirmed that it is the Government’s intention to get more than 20,000 Australians still stuck outside of the country home for Christmas. Their plan is to prioritise those Australians and to have flights available for Australian who want to return home.

This is a mammoth effort that’ll require the Government to coordinate flights, coordinate quarantine systems, working with the airlines, and working with states and territories to coordinate the return of citizens.

Letting skilled migrants into the country

As already mentioned, Australia is allowing skilled migrants into the country on a priority skills list. This list includes 17 occupations mainly in the health and mining sectors. The Department of Home Affairs has already said that it will continue to review the occupations on the list.

The Government has also published their migration numbers for the 2020-21 migration year in the Federal Budget that was delivered in October. There were significant changes especially in the skilled migrant category.

Accepting international students

Australia values international students and their contribution to the country and as such the Government want to continue accepting international students. It has to be done carefully and steadily though considering the pandemic. In a normal year, Australia welcomes around 185,000 international students but this is impossible at the moment due to limited quarantine facilities being available.

Travelling to Australia in 2021 and after

The Australian Government hopes to have a digital visa system in place by the middle of next year. This development will include an update to the incoming passenger card system. At the moment, this is a physical copy but the Government wants to create a digital passenger card.

Going digital means a more efficient travel experience but also ensure more integrity. A digital system will also enable travellers to digitally staple their vaccination certificate to their passenger card.

The ultimate goal is to enable travel and immigration to Australia to return to normal levels.

Rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine

Minister Tudge said during the press conference that he’s optimistic that vaccines that work will be available next year. He continued to say that it’s likely that health workers and the elderly will be prioritized when it comes to the distribution of the vaccines.

AUD10,million towards a COVID mental health campaign

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many people facing mental health issues and needing support. The Government has already allocated additional funds to fighting mental health issues and has also increased the number of Medicare counselling sessions that a person can get from 10 to 20.

In the first week of October, the Government announced that its allocating a further AUD10,000 to a COVID mental health campaign called How’s Your Head Today? The aim of the campaign is to ask people how they’re doing, reduce any stigma about seeking mental health support, and encouraging people to reach out and get help.

Stay up to date with future news

If you want to be the first to know about Australia’s border and COVID-19 news, give us a follow on Facebook or LinkedIn. You can also join our monthly newsletter. It’s free and hits your inbox once a month.

To read the full transcript of press conference held by Minister Tudge, click here.

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Don’t hold off on your emigration due to COVID-19!

Our social media team did a poll on Facebook last week to ask our followers if they’re putting their emigration on hold due to COVID-19. Every single person who responded said that they have pressed paused until further notice.

Can you blame them?

Australia and New Zealand’s borders are still closed to most people from overseas and no-one can say when this will change.

With that being said, we don’t agree that putting your emigration on hold is the best decision.

Here’s why we say this:

1) Australia’s borders ARE open to critical workers

Australia has opened its borders to critical workers who find themselves on the new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) and to individuals in critical sectors or with critical skills:

Priority Migration Skilled Occupations List

Australia has developed a new priority skills list with 17 occupations called the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). The purpose of the list is to allow small numbers of sponsored skilled workers into Australia to fill urgent skills needs in critical sectors.

The PMSOL includes occupations in the healthcare, construction and IT sectors and applies to subclass 482, 494, 186 and 187 visas:

  • Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111)
  • Construction Project Manager (133111)
  • Mechanical Engineer (233512)
  • General Practitioner (253111)
  • Resident Medical Officer (253112)
  • Psychiatrist (253411)
  • Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
  • Midwife (254111)
  • Registered Nurses:
    • Aged Care (254412)
    • Critical Care and Emergency (254415)
    • Medical (254418)
    • Mental Health (254422)
    • Perioperative (254423)
  • Registered Nurses nec (254499)
  • Developer Programmer (261312)
  • Software Engineer (261313)
  • Maintenance Planner (312911)

Travel exemption for individuals in critical sectors or with critical skills

Australia is extending travel exemptions to eligible in critical sectors or with critical skills such as:

  • Travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority to assist in the COVID-19 response
  • Providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
  • With critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services such as in:
    • Medical technology
    • Critical infrastructure
    • Telecommunications
    • Engineering and mining
    • Supply chain logistics
    • Aged care
    • Agriculture
    • Primary industry
    • Food production
    • Maritime industry
  • Delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery where there are no Australian workers available. Examples of such sectors are:
    • Financial technology
    • Large scale manufacturing
    • Film, media and television production
    • Emerging technology
  • Providing critical skills in religious or theology fields
  • Individuals whose entry would otherwise be in Australia’s national interested, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority

2) You can complete critical parts of your skilled migrant visa application despite the border closures

Let’s first explain why you’d want to do that. It’s simple. If you complete the critical parts now, you’ll be ready to submit your visa application as soon as the restrictions are lifted. You’ll be streets ahead of migrants who chose to wait and see what happens first.

Our advisors always tell our clients that their focus should be on the long term not the short term!

Let’s now look at those critical parts that you can tick off your to-do list. It is specifically the skills assessment, English test and Expression of Interest as it applies to subclass 189, 190 and 491 skilled migrant applications.

The skills assessment is valid for between two to three years and the English test is valid for 3 years. Expressions of Interests, which you submit if you score enough points, is valid for two years from the date of submission.

While there is still so much uncertainty all around the world, we are sure to have more certainty over the 12 to 18 months and things should return to something that closely resembles our ‘old normal’. This includes visa applications for Australia.

3) Australia might change its immigration regulations and you might end up being unable to apply for a visa

We don’t say this to scare you. We have seen this happen all too often in the past.

Take for example the increase in work experience requirements for employer sponsored work visas from two to three years. Let’s also not forget the increase in required points from 60 to at least 65 for the skilled migrant category.

Looking into the future, there are the reduced allocated visa numbers for the skilled migrant category for the 2020-21 migration year.

The skilled independent visa, for instance, had 16,652 allocated spots in the 2019-20 year. For the 2020-21 year, there are only 6,500 spots available. The skilled nomination visa and the skilled work regional visa saw similar large decreases for the new migration year.

Further to this, Australia is looking to implement mandatory English tests for the partners of Australians who are applying for permanent residency. If it’s passed in parliament, this legislation change will come into effect mid next year.

The requirement will also apply to the Australian partner if the partner is a permanent resident. Citizens would not have to complete an English test.

Ready to get going with your visa application?

If you read all of that and you agree with us that continuing with your visa application is the best idea, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team.

Our advisors can assess your eligibility and work out a personalized immigration plan. Our administrative team then helps you get your visa application ready for submission.

The best way to start is with initial immigration assessment. This assessment is free and you can book yours online. You are also welcome to email us at info@intergate-emigration.com or to call us on +27 (0) 21 202 8200.

We want to see you realise your dream of living in Australia as much as you do, so we’re looking forward to walking this road with you!

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Partners of Australians might have to do an English test from 2021

It was announced in the 2020-2021 Federal Budget that partner visa applicants will have to pass an English test before gaining permanent residency.

This requirement has not been welcomed by all in the immigration industry but it will apply from mid-2021 if it’s approved by parliament.

Applicants will require a ‘functional level of English’

Partner visa applications happens in two stages, namely a temporary residence application and a permanent residency application. The permanent residency application usually follows after having lived in Australia for at least two years.

The new English language requirement proposed in the Federal Budget won’t apply to temporary residency applications; it will only apply to permanent residency applications.

It has also been stipulated that the Australian sponsor must pass to English too if he or she is a permanent resident instead of a citizen.

What this means is that the applicant and the sponsor must meet a functional level of English or at least have made reasonable efforts to learn English.

‘Reasonable efforts to learn English’ constitutes an applicant taking about 500 hours of English classes which would be available under a free government programme, as explained by Immigration Minster Alan Tudge.

Why do the Australian government want to introduce this requirement?

During a press conference on 7 October, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the rationale behind the English language requirements is promote social and economic inclusion and to protect migrants from domestic abuse and work exploitation.

“I am aware that a lack of English language skills particularly amongst partners has put many of those partners at risk in Australia, at risk of domestic violence, at risk of being abused in their workplace and having their rights overtaken,” said the prime minister.

He added, “The English language is absolutely critical to help people when they come to Australia to take the greatest opportunity of what life in Australia can mean.”

When asked about the test itself, PM Morrison said that “It’s much more basic level of English competency and we think this is important to enable people to engage to access government services, for example, to engage with those who are seeking to assist to access and get the best possible medical treatment to understand what teachers are saying at school at parent-teacher conferences, to understand their rights.”

Want to stay up to date with developments?

Our team communicates immigration changes on Facebook and LinkedIn, so follow us on either social media platform if you’d like to know if and when the English language requirement gets passed.

If you’re not much of a social media person, you can join our newsletter instead. This goes out once a month to all our subscribers.

Seeking advice instead?

Immigration changes always create uncertainty and confusion! If you’d like to speak to someone about how the English language requirement could affect your application, please contact us. You can do so online or by emailing us at info@intergate-emigration.com

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Australian government announces visa changes for 2020-21 migration year

Migrants and immigration advisors have anxiously awaited the details of Australia’s 2020-21 migration progammes. Now the wait is over. The Australian government announced the updates in the Federal budget that was delivered on Thursday, 6 October.

While the total number of available visas stay the same at 160,000 spots, there are plenty of changes in the skilled work category and the family category. These and all other changes are valid from June 2020 to July 2021.

Skilled work visa changes

It’s good news for Employer Sponsored, Global Talent and Business Innovation and Investment Program applicants. Australia has said that the Department of Home Affairs will prioritise these visas within the Skilled Stream. This is to aid Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery and to boost local jobs.

The Department of Home Affairs has already put into effect a new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List with 17 critical occupations on it. This list is specifically for employer sponsored visas.

In turn, the Global Talent visa and the Business Innovation and Investment Program will create jobs and bring money into the country.

The number of allocated spots

There are slightly less Employer Sponsored visas available in the 2020-2021 migration year. Spots for Provisional Business Innovation and Investment visas and the Global Talent Independent visas, on the other hand, have doubled and tripled respectively!

  • Employer Sponsored visa: 22,000 visas (30,000 in the 2019-2020 year)
  • Provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa: 13,500 (6,862 in the 2019-2020 year)
  • Global Talent Independent Program: 15,000 (5,000 in the 2019-2020 year)

When it comes to the three most popular skilled work visas, the available spots have decreased significantly:

Family stream visas

Australia has allocated an enormous 77,300 spots to the family stream in the 2020-21 migration year. Of those, 72,300 spots have been allocated to partner visa applications.

This change was most likely made to clear up some of the partner visa backlog that sat at nearly 100,000 visas in September.

Partner visa changes

The most talked-about change to partner visas is the requirement that partners of Australians must pass an English language test before gaining permanent residency. The Australian partner must also meet this requirement if he or she is a permanent resident and not a citizen.

If approved in parliament, this change will come into effect mid-2021.

Furthermore:

  • Mandatory family sponsorship provision for partner visas will be implemented, requiring character checks and sharing of personal information with the applicant, and enforceable sponsorships obligations
  • Partner visa applicants where the sponsor resides in a designated regional area will enjoy prioritisation in the 2020-2021 migration year.

Visa refunds and waivers

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, many visa holders have been unable to enter Australia. Some of these visa holders will now be able to get Visa Application Charge (VAC) refunds or qualify for visa waivers:

Visitors

Visitor visa holders who are overseas and whose visas have expired or will expire between March 2020 and December 2021 will be eligible for a waiver when they apply for a new visa.

Working holiday makers

Backpackers on Working Holiday Maker visas who have been unable to come to Australia or who have had to leave Australia early due to COVID-19 will also be eligible for a waiver, when they decide to return to Australia.

Those who are unable to return because they have passed the age limit for a Working Holiday Maker visa will be able to claim a refund.

Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme workers

Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme visa holders whose visas were granted before 20 March 2020 and have been unable to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 will also be eligible for a refund of the VAC.

Temporary skilled workers

Temporary Skills Shortage and Temporary Work (Skilled) Work visa holders will qualify for a refund for subsequent applications if they:

  • have not made their initial entry to Australia due to travel restrictions, or
  • have returned home due to COVID and who’d like to apply for a visa again.

Prospective Marriage visa holders

Prospective Marriage visa holders who have been unable to enter Australia before their visas expired due to COVID-19 travel restrictions will also qualify for VAC refunds.

Refunds will ensure that these visa holders are able to apply for another visa to travel to Australia and marry their Australian partners once travel restrictions have been lifted. The Department of Home Affairs will prioritise applications from visa holders whose visas have expired.

Prospective Marriage visa holders whose visas are still valid will qualify for visa extensions.

In summary…

There were 160,000 visa spots available in 2020 and this remains unchanged in 2021. There are, however, less spots available in the skilled work category, which is one of the most popular visa categories.

It’s not all bad news though. The allocated spots for the Provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa and Global Talent Programme have increased by 6,638 and 10,000 respectively.

Australia has also kept space for more than 72,000 partner visas. Furthermore, the government is Visa Application Charge refunds and visa waivers to visa holders in five categories.

These last two announcements are welcome reprieves in what has been a strange and unusual year!

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10 Tips to help you ace your Australian job interview

australian job interview

australian job interviewGot an Australian job interview? You’ll be forgiven for being nervous! Interviewing internationally and online is…different.

The truth is that virtual interviews don’t differ from in-person interviews too much. It’s just the medium that’s different – computer screen instead of face-to-face.

Want to know how to interview well in this format? Here are eight great tips we found on Forbes Magazine:

1. Position yourself properly

Don’t sit too far away from the camera. This makes you appear smaller, which can send a subconscious message that you’re ‘less powerful, nervous, or otherwise disengaged’.

2. Look level

As during in-person interviews, strong eye contact is key. If you set up your camera at eye level, you’ll easily achieve it. Don’t position your camera too high or too low. Instead, use a desktop stand for your laptop or prop your webcam on a stack of books.

3. Light it up

The interviewer wants to see you clearly. The worst thing you can do is sit with your back to a window or with a light behind you. Either of these will creates shadows and obscure your face. The best strategy is sitting facing a window with the curtains drawn open to let in natural light.

4. Smile at the camera

We tend to look at the people on our screens when meeting virtually because that’s what we do in person.

However, this is not the best strategy for virtual meetings.

Instead, look straight into the camera to connect with the rest of the people in the interview. It sounds silly but if you do this, you’re actually looking directly at the other attendees.

5. Don’t use virtual backgrounds

Zoom offers the option of using a virtual background, but you shouldn’t use it. The virtual backgrounds often glitch or pixelate. The interviewer might also regard your background as unprofessional! Rather stick to a neutral background.

6. Use a strong voice

When you’re interviewing online, you want to speak up and speak clearly to ensure that everyone heard and understood you correctly. Keep in mind that many of the non-verbal cues we rely on when speaking in person is not obvious or visible online.

7. Stay stable

Posture is everything! Don’t slouch or hunch over and don’t sway in your chair or fidget when you’re nervous. A bouncing chair is only going to serve as a distraction and that’s not something you want in an interview.

Instead, sit up straight, relax your shoulders and look straight into the camera. And smile!

8. Mute notifications

Deactivate all your desktop notifications before you start the interview. The ping of an incoming notification is going to be disrespectful to the interview and it’s going to distract you. You can catch up on conversations after the interview.

We’d like to add these two tips to Forbes’s list:

9. Test your equipment before the interview

Even if you’ve had your laptop, earphones and webcam for ages, test all the equipment you’ll use prior to the interview. Ensure that you can hear and be heard properly. If technical glitches still crop up during the interview, remain calm and friendly while you troubleshoot.

10. Dress the part

Don’t slack when it comes to choosing an outfit simply because this is a virtual interview. You still want to wear a crisp and ironed shirt; you still want to look your best. Dressing the part means you show that you’re serious about the job.

You get invited to an in-person interview…

You might get the job based purely on your performance during the virtual interview, but you might also get asked to do an in-person interview. Travelling to Australia for an interview is going to be expensive but if you really want to live and work in Australia, you’re might not have a choice.

Here are practical tips for this sort of interview:

  • Make lists. It’s the best way to ensure that all the essentials are packed. Passports, interview outfits, and documents – it all goes on the list!
  • Arrive at least two days before your interview. That way you’ll ensure that you’re not dealing with interview nerves and jet lag too. You can also use the extra day for last-minute prepping.
  • Pack more than one interview outfit. More pieces give you more choice on the day. Plus, should the unthinkable happen – toothpaste on a cuff or a missing button you didn’t notice back home – you still have something to wear.
  • Take documents in double. Print your CV but also have a backup on a memory stick. If you have a portfolio and you’re taking the hard copy, also have it online or on your laptop. This way, you’ll always have something to show should prints get lost or damaged during your travels.

Here’s another good idea –schedule a couple of interviews while you’re in Australia, so that you don’t have to travel again.

What if the interviewer first wants to speak to you over the phone?

This might happen with or without warning! Either way, keep in mind that the person speaking to you cannot see your face. It’s all in your voice, so speak confidently and clearly.

It’s also important to stay in the moment. Don’t get distracted and don’t let your mind wander. Really listen to what the person on the other side of the line has to say.

Final tips for your Australian job interview

Due to time differences, your interview might be scheduled before or after your normal working day. Don’t let this hinder you from getting the job; be flexible with your time.

Finally, get yourself and your equipment ready at least 15 minutes before your interview is due to start. It doesn’t matter that this is a virtual interview – being late is never an option!

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FAQs: Employer sponsored visas for Australia

employer sponsored visas for australia

employer sponsored visas for australiaEmployer sponsored visas for Australia enable Australian employers to address labour shortages by sponsoring skilled workers.

In other words, extending job offers to and employing suitable workers for positions where there is a shortage of talent in Australia.

However, as one would expect, there are requirements to meet to be eligible to do this. In some cases the requirements are solely for the visa applicant. There are also visas with requirements for both the applicant and the employer.

Before we get to that, let’s look at how employer sponsored visas differ from general skilled migration visas.

What is the difference between employers sponsored visas and general skilled migration visas?

The difference between these visa categories lies mainly in how your eligibility is determined. When it comes to general skilled migration visas, you usually have to take a points test and score above a certain threshold to be eligible to apply for a work visa.

There is no points test for employer sponsored visas. Instead, you have to be nominated by an Australian employer to work in your occupation. Some sponsored visas also require that this occupation is on a skilled occupation list.

There is a similarity between these visa categories too – you must have the skills and experience necessary to perform the tasks of your occupation.

Now let’s move on to the visas that fall under the employer sponsored category.

What are the available employer sponsored visas?

Australia has three employer sponsored visas:

  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
  • The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186)
  • The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (subclass 187)

Who can apply for the subclass 494 visa?

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa has two streams under which you can apply for a visa:

  • Employer Sponsored stream
  • Labour Agreement stream

To apply for a subclass 494 visa under the Employer Sponsored stream you must:

  • Be under the age of 45, unless you’re exempt
  • Be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
  • Have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation
  • Have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies
  • Work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless you’re exempt
  • Meet the English language, health and character requirements

To apply under the Labour Agreement stream your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian government and you must:

  • Be under the age of 45, unless the labour agreement states otherwise
  • Be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement
  • Have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation
  • Have a relevant skills assessment, if this is specified in the labour agreement
  • Work only for your sponsor
  • Meet the English language, health and character requirements

The requirements for both visa streams also state that you have to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. Regional Australia is all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Who can apply for the subclass 186 visa?

The Employer Nomination Scheme has three streams:

  • Direct Entry Stream
  • Labour Agreement stream
  • Temporary Residence Transition stream

To apply for a subclass 186 visa under the Direct Entry stream you must:

To apply under the Labour Agreement stream you must:

To apply under the Temporary Residence Transition stream you must already work in Australia and:

  • Hold a subclass 457, Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa or related Bridging visa A, B or C
  • Usually, have worked for your employer for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa
  • Have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months before you apply
  • Be under the age of 45, unless you’re exempt
  • Meet the English language, health and character requirements

Who can apply for the subclass 187 visa?

To apply for a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa, you must:

  • Be under the age of 45
  • Hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C
  • Usually, have worked for your employer in regional Australia for at least 3 years full time while holding a subclass 457 or Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
  • Have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months prior to you applying
  • Have the required skills and qualifications needed to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation
  • Meet the English language, health and character requirements

Up to November 2019, the subclass 187 visa also had a Direct Entry stream, but this stream was replaced by the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494).

Can I bring my family?

Yes, your family is allowed to join you on all the visas discussed above. Any family members who do want to join you, must meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

How long does it take to get my visa?

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs judge each visa application it receives on a case-by-case basis, which means processing times vary based on individual circumstances.

For instance, whether you’ve lodged a complete application with all the necessary documents or how long it takes to get additional information such as health checks from external agencies.

Can I also apply for permanent residency?

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa are permanent residence visas. In other words, if you’re granted either of these visas, you have permanent resident status.

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, on the other hand, is a temporary visa but you’ll be eligible to apply for permanent residence after 3 years if you meet the requirements.

Want to find out if you could apply for one of the employer sponsored visas for Australia?

Take the first step today by booking your free initial assessment online. Our consultants will explain how the emigration process works and discuss the best way forward with you.

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