Migration Program 2025: What’s New?

November 4, 2024

Migration Program 2025: What’s New?

The Australian Government announced its 2024-25 Permanent Migration Program on 14th May 2024, setting 1,85,000 available places. The program is effective in responding to skills shortages within sectors, also upholding the contributions that migrants make to Australian society while supporting regional areas.

Overview of the Migration Program 2025

The Permanent Migration Program shall help fill diverse skill gaps in the workforce and reinforce family relationships. This is a highly skilled migration program because it is intended to boost the numbers of working-age people, thus expanding the economy. The proposed composition for 2024-25:  

• Skill Stream: 1,32,200 places (around 71% of the program)  

• Family Stream: 52,500 places (around 28% of the program)  

• Special Eligibility Stream: 300 places  

Skill Stream  

The Skill Stream is intended to enhance Australia’s productive capacity and tackle labor shortages, especially in regional areas. Here are the significant classifications within the Skill Stream for 2024-25:  

• Employer Sponsored: Increased from 36,825 to 44,000 places. This is to help temporary workers transition to permanent residency.  

• Skilled-Independent: Decreased from 30,375 to 16,900 places. Although lower than last year, this is still higher than during the COVID-19. 

• State/Territory Nominated: Risen to 33,000 places. This allows states & territories to attract skilled migrants to address local economic needs.  

• Regional: Also raised to 33,000 places. This aligns with efforts to boost regional Australia’s economy.  

• Business Innovation & Investment Program (BIIP): Cut to 1,000 places as the govt is now reconsidering this category. 

• Global Talent: This has decreased only marginally to 4,000 places as it transitions to a new National Innovation visa.

Family-Stream 

The Family Stream remains vital for social cohesion. It allows Australian nationals and PR residents to reunite with family members from abroad. The Family Stream maintains a planning level of 52,500 places, which includes: 

• Partner Visas: 40,500 places, which are demand-oriented. 

• Child Visas: 3,000 places, also demand-driven. 

• Parent & Other Family Visas: 8,500 & 500 places, respectively. 

This structure sustains the government’s commitment to family reunification and acknowledges the social contributions of migrant families. 

Special Eligibility Stream 

The Special Eligibility Stream comprises 300 places for individuals in special circumstances, such as returning permanent residents. 

Consultation Process in Migration Program

The planning levels for the Migration Program are set annually alongside the Federal Budget. The government consults state and territory governments, industry groups, and community organizations in the determination of levels for 2024-25. This input assists in shaping the program toward meeting Australia’s economic and demographic needs. 

Impact on Net Overseas Migration

It is important to note that the Permanent Migration Program is just one part of net overseas migration (NOM). NOM also includes temporary migrants like international students and Working Holiday Makers. Approx. sixty percent of visas in the Permanent Migration Program are granted to individuals already living in Australia. This helps minimize immediate impacts on housing and services. 

Future of the Migration Program 

The government’s future plan will be to transition into a multi-year model starting 2025-26. The planning horizon will thus be extended to four years, which might help the long-term needs of infrastructure and services become better aligned. This new multi-year approach will be opened for public consultation later in the year.

The 2024-25 Permanent Migration Program is an important economic and social enabler in Australia. Skilled and family streams help bring about a stronger workforce and better social cohesion. As time goes by, with a shift toward multi-year planning for Australia, the government will continue to consult with the sectors to ensure that its migration policy aligns with the long-term outcomes. Whether you are contemplating a migration to Australia or just want to know about how these things work, an understanding of the changes is necessary.