Summary:
- The Australian Budget 2023-24 brings significant changes to the country’s migration system to develop a better-targeted, more efficient, and flexible migration system.
- Around 70% of places in the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program will be allocated to skilled migrants, providing long-term fiscal and economic benefits and addressing skill shortages.
- Temporary Graduate visa holders with select degrees will get an extra two years of post-study work rights to improve the pipeline of skilled labor in key sectors.
- Work restrictions will be re-introduced and capped at 48 hours per fortnight for student visa holders from 1 July 2023, except for international students working in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.
- The Government is improving skills recognition by re-scoping two Skills Assessment Pilots to provide onshore migrants with fast-tracked skills assessments, free employability assessments, and access to further training.
- The Government will provide a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens in Australia from 1 July 2023.
- Visa Application Charges (VACs) will increase from 1 July 2023, and VACs for select visitor and temporary visa subclasses, business innovation and investment visas will increase more.
- Settlement services will continue to support refugees and migrants who have been in Australia for longer than 5 years and have unresolved settlement related needs.
- Eligible individuals will be invited to apply for the Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851) for permanent residence, providing access to essential Government entitlements, services, and programs.
- It’s important to seek professional help from migration experts like NB Migration Law to assist with visa applications and legal advice.
The Australian Budget 2023-24 was recently announced, and it brings significant changes to the country’s migration system. The Government aims to develop a better-targeted, more efficient,
and flexible migration system that delivers for Australians and migrants. This article provides an overview of the most important updates and their impact on skilled migrants, international students, and tourists.
Boost to Skilled migration
The Government is boosting skilled migration by allocating around 70% of places in the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program to skilled migrants. This move will bring long-term fiscal and economic benefits and address persistent skill shortages.
Additionally, the Government is providing an extra two years of post-study work rights to Temporary Graduate visa holders with select degrees to improve the pipeline of skilled labor in key sectors. To ensure skilled migration settings are better targeted, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold will increase to $70,000.
Read about the Temporary Skilled Migration threshold here:
New Pathways to Permanent Residence for TSS Visa Holders in Australia (noborders-group.com)
Work restrictions for international students & exemption for international students working in Aged Care
From 1 July 2023, work restrictions will be re-introduced for international students and capped at 48 hours per fortnight. However, the Government will exempt international students working in the aged care sector from the capped fortnightly 40-hour work limit until 31 December 2023.
Our Article will give you an important overview of this important update for International Students.
Improvements in Skills recognition
The Government is also improving skills recognition by re-scoping two Skills Assessment Pilots to provide onshore migrants with fast-tracked skills assessments, free employability assessments, and access to further training to improve their employment prospects. The Mechanism for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications will ensure students from India and Australia have greater certainty that the qualifications they attain will be recognized by both countries.
Immigration Policy update: Pathway to Citizenship for New Zealanders
Another important change includes Immigration Policy for New Zealanders. The Government will provide a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens in Australia from 1 July 2023. This measure is estimated to increase payments for government services and benefits by $1.3 billion over 5 years from 2022-23 and increase receipts by $795.0 million over 5 years from 2022-23.
Check out our Article about Pathway to Citizenship for New Zealanders:
Boost to migrant and refugee settlement services
The Government will provide $9.1 million in 2023-24 to extend existing Youth Transition Support services for 12 months to 30 June 2024 to continue settlement services to young refugees and migrants to improve their employment outcomes. Additionally, the 5-year maximum duration of eligibility for services under the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program, the National Community Hubs Program, and Youth Transition Support services will be removed to ensure continued support for refugees and migrants who have been in Australia for longer than 5 years and have unresolved settlement related needs.
Changes in Visa Application charges
Visa Application Charges (VACs) will increase from 1 July 2023. In addition to regular CPI indexation, VACs will increase by 6 percentage points for visa applications, as well as an additional 15 percentage points for select visitor and temporary visa subclasses (including visitor, working holiday, work and holiday, training, temporary activity, and temporary work short stay specialist)., and an additional 40 percentage points for business innovation and investment visas. The increased revenue generated will fund costs associated with improving visa processing and other Government priorities. This measure is estimated to increase receipts by $665.0 million over the 5 years from 2022-23.
Find out more details about the uplift of Visa Application Charges on page 9 of Budget Measures.
Budget Paper No. 2: Budget Measures
Pathway to Permanent Residency
The Australian Budget 2023-24 provides a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents and who satisfy the tripartite test as set out in Mabo v Queensland [No. 2] (1992) 175 CLR 1, as a result of the High Court’s decision in Love v Commonwealth; Thoms v Commonwealth (2020) 270 CLR 152. Eligible individuals will be invited to apply for the Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851) for permanent residence, providing access to essential Government entitlements, services, and programs.
To find out more details about changes in the Australian migration system check the recently released Budget 2023-2024 from the Australian government.
Budget Paper No. 2: Budget Measures
Budget Measures & Strategy Outlook clink on the link below:
Budget downloads | Budget 2023–24
In summary, the Australian Budget 2023-24 has made significant changes to the country’s migration system, with a focus on boosting skilled migration, improving skills recognition, and providing better settlement services for migrants and refugees.
It’s important for those affected by these changes to seek professional advice to ensure that they are fully informed and prepared for the new system, please contact NB Migration Law today and we will ensure to find a way forward for you.