Future changes to skilled visas in Australia

November 18, 2024

Future changes to skilled visas in Australia

Some of the new changes from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia, will be introduced in their skilled migration program. These include a new category of visa changes made to those already available visa streams and at the level of specific update announcements. Therefore, in updating applicants and their respective employers, critical updates consist of changes to the SID and NIV visas and critical state updates.

1. Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482)

This is actually the biggest change because a new visa called Skills in Demand would replace the current Temporary Skills Shortage visa. In effect, such a visa will grant a selected number of highly skilled workers the chance to temporarily live & work in Australia with a very clear pathway toward permanent residency.

Key features of the SID visa include:  

Validity: The SID visa will be valid for up to four years, with the possibility of transitioning to permanent residency. 

• 3 Streams:   

1. Specialist Skills Stream: This will cater to highly-skilled workers earning at least $1,35,000 annually in any occupation except trades, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers. 
2. Core-Skills Stream: This will cover skilled employees, and there will be a new Core Skills Occupation List along with an income threshold. 
3. Labour Agreement Stream: The existing TSS Labour Agreement stream will now be renamed the Skills in Demand Labour Agreement stream.

• Work Experience: The work experience requirement will be reduced to just one year.  

• Closure of TSS Visa Streams: As the SID visa takes effect, the existing short-term and medium-term streams of the TSS visa will be closed to new applications.

This change is expected to come into effect before the end of 2024.

2. National Innovation Visa (NIV)- (Sc 858)

Other vital improvements are the formation of the National Innovation Visa that shall take the place of the current Global Talent visa, though it remains to be classified under subclass 858. It covers talented skilled workers engaged in research, enterprise, and investment; athletics, arts, or more, so any of the others listed above.  

Key features of the NIV include:  

• Applicant Profile: The NIV will cater to internationally recognized leaders and experts in their fields. This includes global researchers, top entrepreneurs, innovative investors, and athletes or creatives who have a strong representation of Australia internationally.  

• Visa Pathway: It moves directly to the pathway to permanent residency with NIV, not by first requiring a temporary visa. 

• It is an invitation-only; all the applicants will be invited for it, and the processing of EOI will not be out of line for other invitation-only visas. 

• There would be no occupational restrictions on that, as opposed to SID, where certain professions would be barred. In such regards, the NIV visa will prove to be versatile for any kind of talent.

3. Comparison: SID Visa (Specialist Skills Stream) vs. NIV (National Innovation Visa)  

A quick comparison of the SID Visa (Specialist Skills Stream) and the NIV highlights their key differences:

4. State-Specific Updates  

Several states have also made important announcements regarding their skilled migration programs.   

New South Wales (NSW)  

NSW has introduced new pathways for the Skilled Work (Regional) Visa (Subclass 491). These include:  

• Pathway 1: Work in regional NSW: Candidates must be working in their nominated occupation in a regional area of NSW for at least six months in a single job with that employer. Note: The requirement to live in NSW has been removed from this pathway. Border town residents can apply.  

• Pathway 3: Regional NSW Graduate: This stream is available to applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regional NSW institution in the last two years. The applicant’s study must be related to their nominated occupation and must enable them to claim points for ‘Study in Regional Australia’.  

With limited slots available, the NSW Government is accepting applications for nominations for these two pathways.

ACT (Australian Capital Territory)

ACT recently has also invited candidates for the skilled migration category to register a nomination on 24 October 2024; they provided 95 nominations in Subclass 190 and 132 of subclass 491. The breakdown shows that most invitations were extended to those nominating critical skill occupations, both from Canberra residents and overseas applicants. The next invitation round will be held before 6 December 2024.

NSW Enrolment Policy for Dependents of Temporary Visa Holders   

From 1 January 2025, students on temporary resident visas (including TSS visa holders) will be able to enrol in local schools based on their residential address. For families residing outside of Greater Sydney and Wollongong, enrolment fees will be waived. 

5. IELTS Results Service for Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) 

It is also possible to lodge the client’s IELTS scores through RMAs only on a secure online results service. This makes it possible for registered migration agents to verify the test results of clients before lodging their application for a visa through the Department of Home Affairs. This service helps ensure the integrity of visa applications.  

The Department of Home Affairs’ updates reflect a shift towards attracting highly skilled and innovative talent to Australia. Whether it is the new SID visa offering a pathway for high earners or the National Innovation Visa catering to exceptional international talent, these changes will open new doors for skilled workers and entrepreneurs. However, there are regional pathways, and more recent invitation rounds by the ACT, which bring greater flexibility to skilled migrants. Indeed, all these changes will take place before the end of 2024. It is an important update for both employers and those with a future visa application in mind. 

For more detailed information on specific visa pathways, applicants are encouraged to visit the Department of Home Affairs or relevant state government websites.