Key Changes to Australia Migration: What You Need to Know from 1st July 2023
- Increased Income Threshold for Skilled Migration The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has been raised to $70,000. This change ensures that skilled migrant workers have sufficient means to support themselves in Australia and aligns with the government’s policy objective. The TSMIT remained unchanged at $53,900 since 2013.
- Work & Holiday Makers Papua New Guinea (PNG) has joined the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program, allowing up to 100 PNG citizens to apply for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa. Additionally, the age limit for the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa for UK citizens has been extended from 30 to 35 years old. Condition 8547 has also been reintroduced for WHM participants, limiting their employment with a single employer to six months.
- Increase in Visa Fees Visa application charges (VACs) have been adjusted with a 6% increase above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for most visa categories. However, certain visa subclasses may have exceptions. The revised fees vary across popular visa subclasses, such as partner visas, skilled visas, graduate visas, student visas, visitor visas, working holiday visas, and more.
Visa Type Subclass Before From 1st July 2023 Partner visa (Onshore / Offshore) 820/801 & 309/100 $8,085 $8,850 Skilled visas 189 / 190 / 491 $4,240 $4,640 Graduate 485 $1,730 $1,895 Student 500 $650 $710 Visitor (Onshore) 600 $380 $475 Visitor (Offshore) 600 $150 $190 Working Holiday Maker 417 / 462 $510 $635 Temporary Skill Shortage (Short Term) 482 $1,330 $1,455 Temporary Skill Shortage (Long Term) 482 $2,770 $3,035 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) 186 $4,240 $4,640 Significant Investor stream 188 $9,195 $13,860 Significant Entrepreneur stream 188 $4,240 $6,395 All other applicants 188 $6,270 $9,450 - Direct Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa and meeting certain residency criteria can now apply for Australian citizenship directly, without needing to obtain a permanent visa. The New Zealand Stream of the Subclass 189 visa will no longer accept new primary applications.
- Work Restrictions for Student Visa Holders Student visa holders now face work restrictions, allowing them to work up to 48 hours per fortnight, enabling a balance between studies and work. However, student visa holders employed in the aged care sector as of 9 May 2023 can work without restrictions until 31 December 2023.
- Extended Stay for Subclass 485 Visa Holders International students completing eligible qualifications in fields like science, medicine, healthcare, engineering, and technology will have their post-study stay extended. The duration of stay will increase for Bachelor degrees (2 to 4 years), Masters degrees (3 to 5 years), and Doctoral degrees (4 to 6 years). Additional years may be granted for eligible applicants who studied and resided in regional Australia.
- Occupation & Skills Assessment – Graduate Work Stream Applicants for the Graduate Work stream visa, starting from 1st July 2023, must hold a qualification relevant to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and undergo a skills assessment in the nominated occupation. This requirement, temporarily removed between 1st July 2022 and 30th June 2023, is now reinstated.