Australia Migration Strategy Key Changes in 2024
Australia announced substantial changes as part of its Migration strategy on 11th Dec 2023. The changes are made with an objective to make the migration work for the nation and bring better pathways in place for eligible people to get their permanent residences and reduce the temporary migrants.
The key changes have been introduced particularly concerning international students and skilled workers. Key modifications include stricter visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers, with an emphasis on higher English proficiency test scores and heightened scrutiny during visa extensions. These changes signify a departure from previous practices, indicating a concerted effort by the Australian government to thoroughly explore its migration landscape.
Changes in the Employer sponsored Migration
Australia’s current Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa system, commonky known as Employer sponsored or 482 visa , comprises three distinct streams catering to short-term, medium-term, and labor agreement scenarios. Recognizing the need for a more targeted and adaptive approach, the government has introduced the innovative Skills in Demand visa. This dynamic visa structure is poised to replace the outdated TSS visa, promising greater mobility and clearer pathways to permanent residency.
The cornerstone of this transformative journey is the Skills in Demand visa, a 4-year visa set to revolutionize the temporary skilled worker landscape. Crafted to supersede the cumbersome single-employer-sponsored TSS visa, this innovative visa promises increased mobility and transparent pathways to permanent residency. The government envisions a more streamlined application process, significantly reducing barriers to job switching, and eliminating the need for upfront employer fees.
At the heart of the Skills in Demand visa lies a commitment to fortify worker protections and mobility. An essential feature is the introduction of trailing employer fees, a departure from the current upfront payment model. This strategic change aims to make hiring new migrants less burdensome for employers, fostering greater flexibility in the labor market. Additionally, visa holders will benefit from an extended 180-day period to secure new employment following termination.
Specialist Skills Pathway: Fuelling Innovation and Job Creation
Within the framework of the Skills in Demand visa, the government is introducing the Specialist Skills Pathway, recognizing the pivotal role of highly skilled migrants in enhancing national productivity. This pathway targets occupations earning at least $135,000, excluding trades workers and laborers. It promises a streamlined approach to recruiting top talent in critical areas such as engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, solidifying Australia’s position at the forefront of innovation.
Core Skills Pathway: Meeting the Pulsating Workforce Needs
As the second stream under the Skills in Demand visa, the Core Skills Pathway meticulously addresses occupations identified by Jobs and Skills Australia as facing shortages. Unlike the Specialist Skills Pathway, it encompasses a broader range of occupations, including trades workers, machinery operators, and drivers. The revamped Core Skills Occupation List will guide the selection process, emphasizing the indispensability of these skills in sustaining Australia’s way of life.
Essential Skills Pathway for Lower Paid Workers
Acknowledging the burgeoning labor needs in lower-paying sectors, the government is exploring the development of an Essential Skills Pathway. This regulated pathway, currently under evaluation, aims to address shortages in essential sectors, particularly within the care and support economy. Drawing insights from the successful Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements, the government aspires to establish an effective and protective system for lower-paid workers with essential skills.
Changes in the Points test
The current points test has faced criticism for being too complicated and not attracting migrants who can contribute to Australia’s long-term success. One big problem is that the current system doesn’t consider the balance between age and skills, which are crucial for a migrant’s success. Also, including factors like regional study or community language skills hasn’t proven helpful in predicting success in the job market. This shows the need for a simpler and more effective points test. Govt is working on defining a better point based system which will recognise the real skilled individuals which are required by Australian businesses.
Fixing Imbalances and Ethical Concerns:
The review found that the current system might discourage temporary skilled migrants from choosing independent, points-tested migration paths. This could push them into employer-nominated pathways, creating an unfair power balance. Fixing these issues is a key part of the government’s renewed focus on permanent migration.
Proposed Reforms in the points test
The government is taking a proactive approach to reform the points test. The aim is to make it simpler and fairer, considering factors like work experience, age, and skill levels. They want to make sure the new system encourages skilled migrants to contribute significantly to Australia’s long-term prosperity.
To guide these changes, the government has asked the Australian National University to research what factors lead to success in Australia. This research points out that education, English skills, occupation, and age are crucial. It highlights the need to reward skill levels over persistence and create a fair system that aligns with Australia’s economic goals.
The government understands that some factors are more critical for predicting migrant success in the short term than the long term. The goal is to find a balance that rewards skills and efficiency, ensuring a fair system that supports Australia’s economic aims.
Changes in the Student Visa
As Australia charts a course to strengthen the integrity and reputation of its international education sector, changes in the student visa program emerge as key components of this initiative. The focus on English language proficiency, the Genuine Student test, increased scrutiny for high-risk providers, bolstering the student visa integrity unit, and fortifying education provider requirements collectively aim to create an environment that fosters genuine educational experiences while mitigating the risk of misuse of student visas. These changes are pivotal in ensuring the long-term prosperity of Australia’s international education sector and maintaining its position as a preferred destination for global learners.
English Language Requirements:
One of the significant changes proposed in the new Australia Migration Strategy is about the English language proficiency requirements for student visa applicants. Recognizing the pivotal role of language skills in academic success and subsequent positive labor market outcomes, the government is set to raise the bar for linguistic abilities. Specifically, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores required for a Temporary Graduate visa will increase from 6.0 to 6.5, and for a Student visa, the required score will increase from IELTS 5.5 to 6.0. Moreover, the government will implement nuanced changes for students undertaking English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and university foundation or pathway programs.
Genuine Student Test:
To further ensure the authenticity of international students, a new Genuine Student test will be introduced. This test seeks to incentivize applications from genuine students while discouraging those whose primary intention is to work rather than study. The Genuine Student test replaces the existing Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement and emphasizes that the majority of international students in Australia are expected to return to their home countries upon completing their studies. This new test will provide a clearer framework for assessing the intentions and motivations of applicants.
Increased Scrutiny for High-Risk Providers:
Recognizing the crucial role of education providers in the international student recruitment process, the government is poised to apply greater and more targeted scrutiny to student visa applications from high-risk providers. This initiative of the new Australia Migration Strategy aims to enhance the vetting process for providers to ensure they maintain high standards, thereby safeguarding the integrity of Australia’s international education sector. The new measures will involve assessing the circumstances of the applicant, including their academic or career progression and the usefulness of the intended study to their future prospects.
Bolstering Student Visa Integrity Unit:
In a bid to fortify the student visa integrity unit within the Department of Home Affairs, the government is investing $19 million. This financial injection will enable the unit to conduct more rigorous scrutiny at the application stage, identifying non-genuine students and enhancing analytical capabilities to pinpoint potential misuse of student visas post-arrival. The strengthened unit will work in tandem with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), which has received additional funding to proactively identify and respond to integrity risks in the international Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
Strengthened Education Provider Requirements:
Australia’s commitment to ensuring the highest quality education involves pursuing measures to further strengthen integrity, quality, entry requirements, and student support across the international education sector. This effort builds upon the government’s response to the Nixon Review and considers recommendations made by various inquiries into the sector. The government is committed to making education providers more accountable for their agents by increasing reporting requirements and considering the prohibition of agent commissions for onshore transfers between providers.
Restricting Onshore Visa Hopping:
Acknowledging the trend of some international students using the student visa program to extend their stay in Australia without a clear path to permanent residency, the government is considering changes to restrict onshore visa hopping. The introduction of a new Genuine Student test will require eligible students applying inside Australia to provide evidence that any subsequent course is aligned with their career or academic aspirations. The government aims to ensure that the extension of a student visa is contingent upon sensible course progression that contributes to the student’s educational and career goals.
Changes in the Temporary Graduate Visas
Australia’s temporary graduate visa program is undergoing significant transformation to better align with the needs of the nation’s workforce and economy. The emphasis on reducing the length of stay, preventing transitions to student visas, limiting stay for graduates without in-demand skills, reducing age eligibility, and increasing English language requirements collectively reflects a commitment to quality, skill development, and responsiveness to economic demands. These changes mark a crucial step in ensuring that the temporary graduate visa program remains a valuable pathway for international graduates seeking to contribute their skills to Australia’s dynamic and diverse workforce.
| Aspect | Current Approach | Proposed Government Approach |
Post-Study Work Rights | Lengthy (up to 8 years), potential ‘permanently temporary’ status | Shorter duration for initial TGV; No extension except for regional study |
TGV Length (Initial) | 2 years for Bachelor Degree; 3 years for Masters by coursework; 3 years for Masters by research; 4 years for PhD | 2 years for Bachelor Degree; 2 years for Masters by coursework; 3 years for Masters by research; 3 years for PhD |
Eligible Age for TGV | Maximum age 50, conflicting with PR cutoff (45) | Maximum age reduced to 35, targeting early career professionals |
Eligibility for Second TGV | Additional 1–2 years for regional study | Continuation of additional 1–2 years for regional study |
Extension of Post-Study Work Rights | Additional 2 years for eligible courses in skills need | Removed |
TGV Streams Naming | Confusing names and eligibility criteria | Renaming as ‘Post-higher Education Work’ and ‘Post-Vocational Education Work’ streams; Abolition of ‘Replacement Stream’ and subclass 476 visa |
Visa Processing Times | Unclear and slow processing, leading to delays and shifts to Bridging visas | Clearer processing times with a 21-day service standard for the ‘Post-Higher Education Work Stream’ |
Pathways to Permanent Residency | Lack of clarity, causing uncertainty for employers | Clearer pathways with changes to the work experience requirement and reforms to the points test for faster permanent residency |
Reduced Length of Stay:
One significant change to temporary graduate visas is a shorter permitted stay for international graduates. This adjustment aims to ensure graduates spend an optimal time gaining valuable work experience in Australia’s job market without staying in a temporary status for too long. The move emphasizes the government’s focus on creating pathways leading to skilled employment.
Preventing Transition to Student Visas:
A notable change in the temporary graduate visa landscape is preventing visa holders from switching back to student visas. This alteration aims to streamline the transition from student to graduate visas, discouraging the practice of extending stay through successive student visas. By limiting this transition, the government aims to maintain focus on skill development and employment within the temporary graduate visa framework.
Limiting Stay for Graduates Without In-Demand Skills:
To further align temporary graduate visas with Australia’s economic needs, steps are taken to prevent international graduates without skills in demand from staying in the country. This targeted approach ensures the visa program addresses specific skill shortages and supports industries seeking specialized expertise.
Reduced Age Eligibility:
As part of these changes, the age eligibility for temporary graduate visas will decrease from 50 to 35 years. This adjustment reflects a strategic vision for the visa program, positioning it as a platform for early-career professionals who can contribute meaningfully to the Australian economy over an extended period.
Increased English Language Requirements:
Recognizing the importance of language proficiency in securing quality employment, temporary graduate visas will now have heightened English language requirements. This change acknowledges the role of effective communication skills in improving graduates’ employability and successful integration into Australia’s workforce.
The details shared above were accurate as of 17th December 2023, but it’s important to note that things may change over time.. This information is meant for general understanding and should not be taken as legal advice. Keep in mind that information can change, so reach out to us for the latest guidance tailored to your situation. We look forward to assisting you!
If you’re seeking help from a MARA-registered agent in Australia, contact us at KnN. Our experienced team is knowledgeable about Australian immigration and education processes, ensuring you receive reliable guidance. As policies evolve, we stay updated to provide you with the most current information.
