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Australia Immigration: Latest Visa Updates & News
Get the latest and most up to date information on Australia immigration by following our news update page regularly. Keeping abreast of the latest developments in Australia immigration will help you prepare better for your move to Australia
Keep Up with the Latest in Australia Immigration
September 29, 2023
FY 23-24 South Australia Skilled Migration Nomination Program Open for al
l. Apply now!
The Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for 2023-2024 is now accepting eligible candidates in South Australia, featuring several updates from the previous fiscal year. South Australia Migration has adopted a Registration of Interest (ROI) system to effectively handle the overwhelming volume of applications, given the limited availability of nominations.
There is a particular focus on prioritizing the retention of international graduates and temporary visa holders who are currently in South Australia. These industries include:
- Trades and Construction
- Defence
- Health
- Education
- Natural and Physical Science
- Welfare Professionals
September 27, 2023
NSW will focus on priority sectors rather than skilled occupation lists from now!
NSW will focus on priority sectors rather than skilled occupation lists. As per the FY 2023-24, NSW will focus on the Target sector groups, which include the following:
- Health
- Education
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture
The Australian government plans to focus on key sectors, and the high-ranking EOIs submitted in non-priority sectors may also be considered based on the workforce demands.
September 20, 2023
Canberra Matrix Invitation Round invites 285 applicants
ACT held the Canberra Matrix Draw and issued 285 invitations on September 15, 2023. The details of the no. of invitations issued to Canberra residents and overseas applicants are given in the below table:
| An Overview of the Canberra Matrix Invitation Rounds in September 2023 | ||||
| Date of invitations issued | Type of applicants | For | No of. Invitations Issued | Matrix scores |
| September 15, 2023 | Canberra residents | ACT 190 Nomination | 55 | 90-100 |
| ACT 491 Nomination | 58 | 65-75 | ||
| Overseas applicants | ACT 190 Nomination | 43 | NA | |
| ACT 491 Nomination | 130 | NA | ||
September 16, 2023
WA State Nominated Migration Program Invitations issued to 487 candidates
|
Intending visa subclass |
General stream | Graduate stream | Graduate stream |
| WASMOL | Higher education | Vocational education and training | |
| Visa subclass 190 | 302 | 150 | 35 |
| Visa subclass 491 | – | – | – |
September 15, 2023
Queenslands FY 2023-24 Program Update
Queensland is accepting applications for its state nomination under the skilled migration program for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year. However, in FY 2023-24, the Department of Home Affairs allocated 1,550 skilled nominations. Invitation rounds will be held in September 2023 and continue every month, with capped invitations to maintain fairness.
September 12, 2023
FY 2023-24 Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program is now open. Apply now!
The 2023-24 program is now accepting applications from individuals residing in Victoria as well as those from abroad. This program offers skilled migrants a path to get a Permanent Residency in Victoria. One must file a Registration of Interest (ROI) to be eligible for a state nomination.
On-shore applicants can apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), and off-shore applicants can apply for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) in FY 2023-24.
September 04, 2023
Australia’s Covid-era visa (Subclass 408 visa) will no longer exist from February 2024
Australia’s Covid-era visa will be stopped from February 2024, the Aussie government announced recently. The Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said, “From February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This will provide certainty to our visa system now that the circumstances that drove the operation of the visa no longer exist.”
August 31, 2023
Australia Immigration Plan Levels FY 2023-24
The 2023-24 Permanent Migration Program has a planning level of 190,000, emphasizing skilled migrants. The Program has an approximately 70:30 split between skilled and family visas.
| Australia Immigration Plan 2023-24 | ||
| Stream | Immigration numbers | Percentage |
| Family stream | 52,500 | 28 |
| Skill stream | 1,37,000 | 72 |
| Total | 1,90,000 | |
*Partner and Child visa categories are demand-driven and not subject to a ceiling.
August 25, 2023
Australian Visas for GPs program will cease on 16 September 2023
The “Visas for GPs” initiative will conclude on 16 September 2023, eliminating the need for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) employers to secure a Health Workforce Certificate (HWC). Starting from 16 September 2023, when employers in Australia intend to nominate IMGs for primary care roles, they will no longer need to include a HWC in their nomination submission.
August 21, 2023
New amendments in immigration by Western Australian – Simplified Pathways for Skilled Migrants
From July 1, 2023, the Western Australian (WA) Government has introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for the WA State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP).
- Implement an invitation ranking system treating both Interstate and Overseas candidates equally.
- Prioritize invitations for candidates with occupations crucial to WA’s industry sectors, according to the WA State nomination invitation ranking system.
- Lessen employment requirements for invitees from WA’s building and construction sector (based on WA State nomination Occupation lists).
- The expected start of invitation rounds for 2023-24 is August 2023.
August 18, 2023
Australia Global Talent Visa assessment fee update
The assessment fee for Australia Global Talent Visa for overseas applicants is $835 (excluding GST) and for Australian applicants it is $918.50 (including GST).
August 17, 2023
Australian visas are now processed within 16-21 days. Apply now for faster visa approvals!
The Australian Department of Home Affairs recently announced that the processes have led to reductions in visa processing times across various categories. The processing time for Australian Student Visas has been reduced to 16 days. The earlier processing time was up to 49 days. Temporary Skilled Shortage 482 visas are now processed in 21 days.
August 01, 2023
List of courses revealed for students to receive extended Australia post-study work rights
There are over 3,000 eligible courses available for International graduates who have enrolled in these courses can get an additional two years added to their Temporary Graduate visa.
July 30, 2023
A new fee of $3,374 for AAT migration review applications will be applicable from July 01, 2023
From 1 July 2023, the application fee for review of a migration decision under Part 5 of the Migration Act 1958 increased to $3,374.
July 26, 2023
Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement
Australia and India have established a significant Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), setting a new precedent for cooperation on migration matters. The MMPA reconfirms the currently available visa options that enable movement and migration between the two nations – covering students, visitors, business individuals, and other professionals – and introduces a fresh mobility pathway. This new route, known as the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), is designed specifically for Indian graduates and early-stage professionals.
July 14, 2023
Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 14 July 2023
ACT Invitation Round held on 14 July 2023 issued 822 invitations.
| Canberra residents | 190 nominations | 491 nominations |
| Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 18 invitations | 6 invitations |
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 8 invitations | 3 invitations |
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 138 invitations | 88 invitations |
| Overseas applicants | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 299 invitations | 262 invitations |
June 23, 2023
Subclass 191 Visa Application fee increase effective from 1st July 2023
Subclass 191 Permanent Residence Regional – if applications for the SC 191 visa can be made by both primary and secondary SC 491 visa holders. The regulations do not stipulate that a primary applicant for a subclass 191 visa must have been either the primary or secondary applicant in the provisional visa application. Therefore, a subclass 491 visa holder can apply for a subclass 191 visa if they meet the relevant requirements, regardless of whether they were granted the subclass 491 visa as the primary or secondary applicant.
| Subclass Visa Type | Applicant | Fee Effective from 1st July 23 | Current visa fee |
| Subclass 189 | Main Applicant | AUD 4640 | AUD 4240 |
| Applicant above 18 yrs | AUD 2320 | AUD 2115 | |
| Applicant below 18 yrs | AUD 1160 | AUD 1060 | |
| Subclass 190 | Main Applicant | AUD 4640 | AUD 4240 |
| Applicant above 18 yrs | AUD 2320 | AUD 2115 | |
| Applicant below 18 yrs | AUD 1160 | AUD 1060 | |
| Subclass 491 | Main Applicant | AUD 4640 | AUD 4240 |
| Applicant above 18 yrs | AUD 2320 | AUD 2115 | |
| Applicant below 18 yrs | AUD 1160 |
AUD 1060 |
June 03, 2023
India and Australia’s New Pact promises new work visas
Last week India and Australia signed a mobility and migration partnership pact. This partnership opens up many opportunities for educational researchers, students, and business people. This new scheme offers Indian graduates who have gained their education from any Australian tertiary institute on a student visa they can easily apply to pursue professional development and work in Australia. They can apply without any visa sponsorship for up to eight years.
May 23, 2023
Australia issued invitations during 2022-23 program year
| Visa subclass | Number |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | 7353 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored | 74 |
May 23, 2023
Australia announced expanded Pathways to PR for Subclass TSS Visa Holders
Australian government increased Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to $70,000. This is applicable from 1st July 2023. Temporary Residents Transition pathway of subclass 186 visa will be open to all TSS visa holders till end of 2023.
May 17, 2023
Australian to scrap Covid visa. What do Indian temporary workers and students need to do?
The Australian Government to scarp Covid work visa. Indian students and temporary workers with COVID visas in Australia can stay till December 31, 2023. International students working in the aged care sector will be exempted from this cap until December 31, 2023.
May 16, 2023
Australia invited 400,000+ overseas immigrants till date in FY 2022-23
Australia’s net overseas immigration level crossed 400,000, which is more than double compared to the immigration plan for FY 2022-23. The country might invite more candidates as it has 800,000 job vacancies.
May 04, 2023
Australia announced ‘Direct citizenship pathway for New Zealanders from 1 July 2023’
From 1 July 2023, New Zealanders living in Australia for four years are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship directly. They no longer need to apply for an Australia PR visa to get citizenship.
May 02, 2023
Changes in Australia’s Immigration Policy: New Visas and Regulations for 2023-24
Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has released the long-awaited review in its immigration policies. Many changes will be taking place like increasing of the salary threshold for immigrants, all the skilled temporary workers will get to apply for Australia PR, introduction of immediate graduate visa for international students, etc.
May 04, 2023
Australia announced ‘Direct citizenship pathway for New Zealanders from 1 July 2023’
From 1 July 2023, New Zealanders living in Australia for four years are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship directly. They no longer need to apply for an Australia PR visa to get citizenship.
May 02, 2023
Changes in Australia’s Immigration Policy: New Visas and Regulations for 2023-24
Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has released the long-awaited review in its immigration policies. Many changes will be taking place like increasing of the salary threshold for immigrants, all the skilled temporary workers will get to apply for Australia PR, introduction of immediate graduate visa for international students, etc.
April 1, 2023
1,800 Indian chefs and yoga instructors to receive 4-year visas under the Australia-India treaty
India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) took effect on March 30. Under this agreement, 1,800 Indian chefs and yoga instructors will be allowed to live, work and stay in Australia for up to 4 years. It is expected to magnify India-Australia bilateral trade from $31 billion to over $45-50 billion in 5 years.
March 08, 2023
‘Indian Degrees will be recognized in Australia,’ Anthony Albanese
The Australian prime minister announced a scholarship for Indians to study in Australia after the “Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism” program was finalized between India & Australia. The commercial opportunities offered by Australian education give Indians a more convenient and innovative education system for Indian students. The Deakin University of Australia plans to set up a foreign branch in the GIFT city of Gujarat, India.
March 07, 2023 New GSM Skills Assessment policy accepts 60-day invitation period. Apply now!
Australia has announced new policies for candidates in the skilled migration category. The government of Australia has announced changes in the immigration policies for candidates in the Skilled Migration category. As per the update, the candidates will be eligible to apply for visas through the category of General Skilled Migration if they have a skill assessment report of their nominated occupation. They are required to apply under 60 days of being issued the invitation to apply for the visa.
March 06, 2023
New Zealand launches ‘Recovery Visa’, eased policies for overseas professionals
Recovery Visa has been introduced by the New Zealand government to accelerate the entry of overseas specialists who can help to recover the country from the current weather-related disasters. A Recovery Visa is a New Zealander visa to enable skilled workers to enter the country immediately and support the on-going tragedy in different ways like, direct recovery support, risk assessment, emergency response, infrastructure and housing stabilization and repair, and clean-up.
March 03, 2023
Australia and India signed a framework for easy immigration paths for professionals & students. Apply now!
India and Australia signed an agreement to recognize the qualifications to ease mobility for international professionals and students. India and Australia signed an agreement at the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit held on March 21, 2022. The agreement is a comprehensive mechanism for the reciprocal recognition of qualifications. It will help streamline the mobility of professionals and students in India and Australia.
February 22, 2023
Canberra Matrix draw issued 919 invitations on February 22, 2023
Australia held its 3rd Canberra Matrix and issued 919 invitations. The draw was held on February 22, 2023, and candidates were invited to apply for ACT Nominations. The invitations were issued to Overseas applicants and Canberra residents under Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas. The details can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 24 | 75 |
| 491 nominations | 1 | 70 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 7 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 1 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 322 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 156 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 13 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 395 | NA |
February 24, 2023
International grads can now work in Australia for 4 years with the extended Post Study Work Permit Australia will introduce cap on working hours for international students from July 1, 2023. The working hours for students will increase for 40 hours to 48 hours per fortnight. This cap will help the students to support themselves financially by more earnings. Work restrictions on student visas were removed in January 2022 so that students can work for 40 hours each fortnight. This cap will come to an end on June 30 and new cap will come into effect from July 1, 2023. The post study work rights will be extended by two years on their Temporary Graduate Visa. Extensions for other degrees can be found in the table below:
| Degree | Extension in post degree work rights |
| Bachelor | 2 to 4 |
| Masters | 3 to 5 |
| Doctoral | 4 to 6 |
January 23, 2023
Second Australia Canberra Draw in 2023, invited 632 candidates Australia held its second Canberra Matrix draw in 2023, in which 632 candidates were invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut off score for this draw was between 65 and 75. Candidates can later apply for Australia PR after residing for some years in the country. The invitations were issued to Canberra residents and Overseas Applicants through the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas. The details of the draw can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 9 | 75 |
| 491 nominations | 3 | 65 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 200 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 99 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 17 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 303 | NA |
The total number of invitations issued to Canberra residents and overseas applicants can be found in the table below:
| Immigrants | Number of invitations |
| Canberra Residents | 312 |
| Overseas Applicants | 320 |
The number of invitations issued under the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas can be found in the table below:
| Visa | Number of invitations |
| Subclass 190 | 227 |
| Subclass 491 | 405 |
January 13, 2023
Australia Canberra Matrix draw issued 734 invitations for ACT Nomination A recent Canberra Matrix draw held by Australia on January 13, 2022, invited 734 candidates to submit applications for ACT nomination. Canberra Residents and Overseas Applicants received the invitations. The cut-off score for this draw was between 70 and 85. The table below reveals the details of the total number of Canberra Residents and Overseas Applicants invited in this draw:
| Immigrants | Number of invitations |
| Canberra Residents | 290 |
| Overseas Applicants | 444 |
The total number of invitations for subclass 190 and subclass 491 can be found in the table below:
| Visa | Number of invitations |
| Subclass 190 | 262 |
| Subclass 491 | 472 |
The full details of the draw can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 11 | 85 |
| 491 nominations | 3 | 70 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 2 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 162 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 112 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 87 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 357 | NA |
December 23, 2022
Australia is in dire need of Teachers and Nurses. Granting Visas within few days! Apply now! Australia will not use PMSOL to rank the skilled visas. PMSOL has a wide range of occupations, and the step to remove the list will help in inviting more immigrants to meet the challenge of skill shortage in Australia. According to the Department of Home Affairs, the skilled visas for Teachers and Nurses will be issued within 3 days. The highly prioritized occupations are listed below:
- School teachers
- Child care workers and child care center managers
- Aged and disabled carers
- Counselors and psychologists
- Medical scientists
- Medical technicians
- Nursing support workers
- Social workers
The skilled visas for which candidates can apply are listed in the table below:
| Subclass | Visa |
| Subclass 482 | Temporary Skill Shortage visa |
| Subclass 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa |
| Subclass 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme visa |
| Subclass 189 | Skilled – Independent Points-tested stream visa |
| Subclass 190 | Skilled – Nominated visa |
| Subclass 491 | Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa |
| Subclass 191 | Permanent Residence Skilled Regional visa |
| Subclass 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa |
| Subclass 124 | Distinguished Talent visa |
| Subclass 858 | Global Talent visa |
| Subclass 887 | Skilled — Regional visa |
| Subclass 188 | Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa |
| Subclass 888 | Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa |
December 22, 2022
Australia Canberra draw invited 563 candidates to apply for ACT nomination Australia Canberra Matrix draw invited 563 candidates to apply for ACT nomination. The cut-off score for this draw was 85. The invited candidates can later apply for an Australia PR visa. The table below reveals the details of the draw:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 7 | 85 |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 8 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 1 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 171 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 64 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 81 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 231 | NA |
The invitations were issued to the following
- Canberra residents
- Overseas applicants
The details of invitations can be found in the table below:
| Immigrants | Number of invitations |
| Canberra Residents | 251 |
| Overseas Applicants | 312 |
December 19, 2022
Australia’s visa tribunal will be abolished in 2023 The government of Australia has planned to abolish the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in 2023. A new body will be created in its place and 75 more people will be added. The responsibility of AAT was to make decisions related to the refugee and migrant visas. Mark Dreyfus said that the appointments of the candidates will be made on the basis of merit. Members of AAT have to reapply after the creation of the new body at the end of 2023.
December 17, 2022
Australia welcomed 171,000 immigrants in FY 2021-2022 Australia issued 171,000 invitations in FY 2022-2023. Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that there was a rise in national migrants arrivals by 171 percent. An increase in the number of immigrants can be found in different provinces and the details can be found in the table below:
| State | Number of immigrants |
| NSW | 62,210 |
| Vic. | 55,630 |
| Qld | 23,430 |
| SA | 12,080 |
| WA | 9,500 |
| ACT | 3,120.00 |
| Tas. | 2,740 |
| NT | 2,130.00 |
In comparison to FY 2020-2021, the number of immigrants also increased in FY 2021-2022 and the details can be found in the table below:
| Visas | FY 2020-2021 | FY 2021-2022 |
| Temporary | 29,600 | 2,39,000 |
| Permanent | 37,000 | 67,900 |
December 16, 2022
Western Australia Invitation Round: 5,006 candidates were invited Western Australia issued 5,006 invitations on December 16, 2022. The invitations were issued for the following visas:
- Subclass 190
- Subclass 491
The number of invitations for Subclass 190 visa was 2,365 and for Subclass 490, it was 2,641. The draw was held under the State Nominated Migration Program. The table below reveals the details of the draw:
| Intending visa subclass | SNMP General stream –WASMOL schedule 1 | SNMP General stream –WASMOL schedule 2 | SNMP Graduate stream – higher education graduates | SNMP Graduate stream – vocational education and training graduates |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 194 | 1053 | 814 | 304 |
| Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | 194 | 1915 | 269 | 263 |
Western Australia started inviting candidates and since August 2022 till now, 16,085 invitations were issued. Invitations issued in each class, stream, and month can be found in the table below:
| Stream | Visa Subclass | August | September | October | November | December |
| SNMP General stream – WASMOL schedule 1 | 190 | 159 | 373 | 531 | 510 | 194 |
| 491 | 41 | 127 | 822 | 458 | 194 | |
| SNMP General stream – WASMOL schedule 2 | 190 | 83 | 195 | 563 | 463 | 1053 |
| 491 | 117 | 263 | 938 | 1037 | 1915 | |
| SNMP Graduate Stream – higher education graduates | 190 | 97 | 241 | 959 | 1069 | 814 |
| 491 | 53 | 129 | 313 | 327 | 269 | |
| SNMP Graduate stream – vocational education and training graduates | 190 | 12 | 63 | 241 | 376 | 304 |
| 491 | 38 | 62 | 159 | 260 | 263 | |
| Total | 600 | 1453 | 4526 | 4500 | 5006 | |
December 15, 2022
NSW says, ‘No points and work experience required for subclass 190 visa.’ Apply now! New South Wales received 12,000 migration slots in 2022-2023. It also announced minimum points scores and work experience for the visas:
- Subclass 190
- Subclass 491
According to an update released by NSW, no score and work experience will be required for Subclass 190. The requirements have been removed as there was an increase in the availability of the Subclass 189 visa also known as the Skilled Independent visa. Selection-based invitation process will be used to align NSW nominees with the skills shortage of the state’s economy. The minimum points score and work experience requirement will still be used for Subclass 491. Migration experts welcomed the decision of removal of points and work experience requirements from Subclass 190 visa. The requirements have been removed after a large number of applicants were invited through Subclass 189.
December 08, 2022
No PMSOL. Highest priority to Healthcare and teaching occupations, applying outside Australia Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) has been removed for certain types of skilled visas in Australia. The Minister of Immigration introduced Ministerial Direction 100 which is a replacement for PMSOL. The new rule will be implemented immediately and priority will be given to the candidates applying from outside Australia for healthcare and teaching occupations. Here is the list of skilled visas for which PMSOL has been removed:
| Subclass | Visa |
| Subclass 482 | Temporary Skill Shortage visa |
| Subclass 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa |
| Subclass 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme visa |
| Subclass 189 | Skilled – Independent Points-tested stream visa |
| Subclass 190 | Skilled – Nominated visa |
| Subclass 491 | Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa |
| Subclass 191 | Permanent Residence Skilled Regional visa |
| Subclass 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa |
| Subclass 124 | Distinguished Talent visa |
| Subclass 858 | Global Talent visa |
| Subclass 887 | Skilled — Regional visa |
| Subclass 188 | Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa |
| Subclass 888 | Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa |
The Department of Immigration is compiling all the priorities in one direction in order to speed up the application processing time. Streamlining health requirements is also a part of the amendments. Employers need to note that due to the implementation of these changes, application processing may be affected.
November 25, 2022
Western Australia Invitation Round: 4,500 candidates were invited Western Australia issued invitations to 4,500 candidates under the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP). These invitations are issued for candidates under Subclass 190 & Subclass 491. The streams that were targeted were under SNMP General Stream and SNMP Graduate stream.
November 14, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw issued 441 invitations to apply for ACT nominations Australia invited 441 candidates through the Canberra Matrix draw to send applications for ACT nomination. The draw held on November 14, 2022 invited 194 Canberra residents and 247 Overseas Applicants. The score ranged between 65 and 85. The details of the draw can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 10 | 85 |
| 491 nominations | 0 | 65 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | NA | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 79 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 105 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 18 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 229 | NA |
October 31, 2022
ACT issued 425 invitations through Australia Canberra Matrix Draw on October 31, 2022 On October 31, 2022, a new draw has been held by Australia for ACT nomination. The invitations were issued to 425 candidates under the Canberra Matrix draw. The invitations issued to Overseas Applicants and Canberra Residents can be found in the table below:
| Immigrants | Number of invitations |
| Canberra Residents | 204 |
| Overseas Applicants | 221 |
Here are the details of the draw in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 15 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 2 | 70 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 70 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 116 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 7 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 214 | NA |
October 28, 2022
Australia to issue more parent and skilled visas with increased budgets The Australian government has plans to increase the number of parent visas which can be almost double the current number. The number of skilled visas will also be increased. DHA will receive $576 over the four years for the processing of visas, maintenance of the offshore processing center, and supporting refugees. The immigration cap has been raised from 160,000 to 195,000 to invite more immigrants. Skilled visa numbers will be increased from 79,600 to 142,400 while parent visas will increase from 4,500 to 8,500. The humanitarian visa program will get 13,750 places and 16,500 places will be available for Afghan refugees over four years. Around 500 places will; be given for the other family visas and 100 special eligibility visas will also be available.
October 22, 2022
Western Australia Invitation Round: 4526 candidates were invited Western Australia invited 4,526 candidates under different streams. The invitations were issued under Visa Subclass 190 and 491. Under Visa subclass 491, invitations were issued to 2,294 candidates while 2,232 candidates were invited under Visa Subclass 491. The score range for this draw is between 65 and 85. Here is the table to show the details of the draw:
| Intending visa subclass | SNMP General stream –WASMOL schedule 1 | EOI Points | SNMP General stream –WASMOL schedule 2 | EOI Points | SNMP Graduate stream – higher education graduates | EOI Points | SNMP Graduate stream – vocational education and training graduates | EOI Points |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 531 | 65 | 563 | 85 | 959 | 70 | 241 | 70 |
| Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | 822 | 938 | 313 | 159 | ||||
| Total candidates invited | 4526 | |||||||
October 17, 2022
Australia Canberra Matrix Draw issued 467 invitations Australia held a Canberra Matrix draw on October 17, 2022, in which 467 candidates were invited to submit applications for ACT nominations. Invitations were issued to
- Canberra Residents: 193
- Overseas Applicants: 274
These candidates can, later on, apply for Australia PR. The draw details are available in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 15 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 2 | 70 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 74 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 101 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 20 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 254 | NA |
October 13, 2022
Victoria Immigration Program update – 2249 ROIs Selected Victoria selected 2249 ROIs, details for the year 2022-23 as follows:
| Types of visas | Places allotted to VIC | ROIs received | ROIs Selected | Application Submitted for Nomination |
| Subclass-190 | 9000 | 18,265 | 1,820 | 1,173 |
| Subclass-491 | 2400 | 6,059 | 459 | 112 |
Subclass 190 – Total 1,820
- Onshore applicants – 1,115
- Offshore applicants – 705
Subclass 491 – Total 459
- Onshore applicants – 403
- Offshore applicants – 56
October 12, 2022
Australia to cap work hours for international students from June 2023 Australia is planning to restrict the working hours for international students. The unrestricted work rights for students in Australia will come to an end on June 30, 2022. The working hours will be revised so that the right balance between work and study can be set. The Australian government has relaxed the working hours for students for a temporary period from January 2022. Step has been taken to tackle the challenge of the shortage of workers. Prior to the relaxation, the working hours for students were 40 hours a fortnight. The changes in rules will also allow the students to stay more time in Australia. The table below provides the full detail:
| Degree | Time |
| Bachelor’s | 4 years |
| Master’s | 5 years |
| PhD | 6 years |
October 06, 2022
DHA Round of invitations – 12532 candidates were invited Individuals who received the highest points have been invited to submit applications for relevant visas. If scores of some candidates are identical, invitations will be decided on the basis of the dates at which their points score have reached. The number of candidates invited along with the score can be found in the table below:
| Visa subclass | Number | Cut-off score |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | 11,714 | 65 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored | 818 | 65 |
October 01, 2022
Biggest DHA Invitation Round – 12,666 candidates were invited It was announced that during the 2022-23 program year Invitation rounds for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) and Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), which are Family-Sponsored visas, will be held regularly. The number of Invitations in each round will differ based on the number of applications that the Department processes. Nominations of state or territory governments for skilled visas will not get affected by the invitation rounds of the departments. The current round of invitations issued a total of 12,666 invitations under Subclass 189 and 491:
| Category | Invitations | Minimum points |
| Subclass 189 | 12200 Invitations | 65 |
| Subclass 491 | 466 Invitations (Family Sponsored) | 65 |
State and Territory nominations 2022-23 program year
| Visa subclass | ACT | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas. | Vic. | WA |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 124 | 30 | 21 | 43 | 62 | 219 | 379 | 0 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated | 228 | <20 | 37 | 32 | 95 | 245 | <20 | <20 |
| Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188) | <20 | <20 | 0 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 21 |
September 26, 2022
ACT issued 354 invitations in the latest Canberra Matrix draw Australia held its third Canberra Matrix draw and the invited candidates can apply for ACT Nominations. Invitations have been issued to the following
- Canberra residents who applied from inside Australia received 159 invitations
- Overseas Applicants who applied from outside Australia received 195 invitations
The details of the draw can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 0 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 3 | 70 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 2 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 71 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 83 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 20 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 175 | NA |
September 19, 2022
Australia welcomed more than 2.60 lakh students till July 2022 More than 2.60 lakhs students arrived in Australia after the restrictions of the pandemic lifted up. Australia has also started a new program for Indian students. The aim of this program is to boost the skill related to employment. A roadshow has been conducted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in which information related to study in Australia was provided. The roadshow was also held for providing information regarding scholarships and visas.
September 19, 2022
Highlights of the New Australia Immigration Level Plan 2022-2023
- Australia will increase the immigration cap from 160,000 to 195,000 in the current fiscal year.
- Neil, the Home Affairs Minister, made the announcement at the two-day summit.
- The summit was attended by 140 representatives of governments, businesses, trade unions, and industries.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at the summit that 180,000 free places will be left for vocational education schools.
- The permanent resident target in Australia increased from 160,000 to 195,000
- The Australian states have decided to open the skill migration program for the FY 2022-23 for onshore and offshore applications.
- Foreign nationals are advised to complete their skill assessment and obtain the required English proficiency scores to get eligible for sponsorship.
An announcement has been made by the Australian government on Friday that the permanent immigration has been increased by 35,000. The immigration target has increased from 160,000 to 195,000 in the current fiscal year. The following table depicts the allocation for each state for the FY 2022-23:
| State | Skilled Nomination (Subclass 190) Visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa |
| ACT | 2,025 | 2,025 |
| NSW | 9,108 | 6,168 |
| NT | 600 | 1400 |
| QLD | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| SA | 2,700 | 5,300 |
| TAS | 2,000 | 2,250 |
| VIC | 11,500 | 3,400 |
| WA | 5,350 | 2,790 |
| Total | 36,238 | 25,333 |
September 13, 2022
Australia’s Canberra Matrix draw issued 208 invitations Australia issued 208 invitations to apply for ACT nominations. The invitations were issued under Canberra Matrix draw for overseas applicants and Canberra residents. The invitations issued to Canberra residents were 80 while overseas applicants received 128 invitations. The table below reveals the details of the draw:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 3 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 5 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 23 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 49 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 11 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 117 | NA |
September 13, 2022
What is Australia’s ‘golden ticket’ visa and why is it in news? Australia Significant Investor visa is also termed a golden ticket visa and subclass 188. Candidates having this visa have to make an investment in the approved funds. Successful candidates can live in Australia for five years. This visa will also provide a pathway to apply for Australia PR. The visa was introduced by the Gillard government in 2012 and many changes have been made to it.
Read more…
September 06, 2022
Australia allows international students to work 2 additional years Australia allows students to stay for two more years after their graduation to work in the country. This rule will help in attracting more students to study in Australia. Students with Bachelor’s degrees will be allowed to work for four years. Previously, the staying period was only two years. Students with a Master’s degree can stay up to five years. Previously, the staying period was three years. Ph.D. students can stay up to six years while previously they could stay only for four years. The table below will reveal the data regarding stays for different degree holders.
| Degree holders | Number of years of stay | Number of years of stay previously |
| Bachelor’s | 4 | 2 |
| Master’s | 5 | 3 |
| PhD | 6 | 4 |
Read more…
September 05, 2022
Australia plans to increase the pay of temporary skilled migrants in 2022 Australia has made a plan to increase the income threshold for temporary migrants. The government has announced that it is going to raise the income threshold from AUD 53,900 to AUD 65,000. The government has also announced at the summit that the cap of permanent migrants will be raised by 35,000. It will go up to 195,000 from the current cap of 160,000. The government has raised the cap to meet the challenges of skills shortage in Australia.
Read more…
September 02, 2022
Australia increases permanent immigration target from 160,000 to 195,000 for 2022-23 Australia held a summit in which O’Neil the Home Affairs Minister announced the increase of the permanent immigration target. The target has been increased from 160,000 to 195,000. The summit was held for two days and 140 representatives participated in it. The announcement for the increase has been made for the current fiscal year which will end on June 30, 2022. Australia has increased the target as the country is facing challenges to fulfill the job market demands. Nurses are doing double or triple shifts while flights are being canceled because of the shortage of staff.
Read more…
August 30, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 256 Candidates to apply for ACT nominations Australia held the fourth Canberra Matrix draw and invites 256 candidates to apply for ACT nominations. Canberra residents received 12 invitations while Overseas Applicants received 144 invitations. The draw was held on August 30, 2022. The details of the draw can be found in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 1 | 95 |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 5 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | NA | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 33 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 73 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 12 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 132 | NA |
Read more…
August 27, 2022
Increase migration cap in Australia to manage manpower shortages – The Business Council A new summit is to be held in the first week of September. The summit will be organized for two days in which challenges related to toe immigration will be discussed. The business council has planned to increase the cap up to 220,000 but later it recommended the cap up to 190,000. Jennifer Westacott said about the necessity of boosting up of permanent migration program. The program should be enhanced up to at least two-thirds of the skilled workers.
August 25, 2022
Australia jobs and skill summit to make immigration easier The unemployment rate in Australia went to a low level and there is a need for overseas skilled workers to meet the challenge of skill shortage. Australia jobs and skills summit is to be held in September in which various challenges related to the immigration will be discussed. Many agendas have to be discussed and they are listed below:
- Australia Immigration Program
- Growing wages
- Australia bargaining system
The summit will be held for two days so all the challenges cannot be discussed. The main agenda to be discussed is raising the cap for skilled immigrants and processing of the visa application backlog.
August 24, 2022
Australia needs more workers for these jobs and the answer is relaxed immigration policies Australia is facing the problem of shortage of skilled workers for a long time. Federal government has announced that there is a demand for construction managers, chefs, and nurses, among the ten jobs. Some of the jobs in Australia in the future are listed below:
- Construction managers
- Civil engineering professionals
- Early childhood teachers
- Registered nurses
- ICT
- Software and applications programmers
- Electricians
- Chefs
- Child carers
- Aged and disability carers
August 23, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw was held on August 23, 2022. In this draw, the number of candidates invited is 250. These candidates can apply for ACT nomination. The invitations have been issued to Canberra residents and overseas applicants. Canberra residents received 101 invitations while overseas applicants received 149 invitations/. The table below will show display the details of the draw:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | NA | NA |
| 491 nominations | 1 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 16 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 26 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 58 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 10 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 139 | NA |
August 17, 2022
Australia Skilled Migration Program FY 2022-23, is open for offshore applicants Australia has opened its borders 2.5 years ago after the pandemic. Few states started sponsoring applicants but with some conditions. Now Australia is opening interim allocation for FY 2022-2023 for onshore and offshore applicants. There are a few states that have to update the criteria and applications. These are some of the updates which can motivate the clients to go for English proficiency test and skill assessment. Candidates have to become eligible before the closure of the quota
August 16, 2022
Australia is planning to increase the immigration cap to invite skilled workers Australia is facing the challenge of skills shortage and it has planned to increase the immigration cap which is currently 160,000. The new cap will be announced in the government’s jobs and skills summit and will be shared among trade unions and employers. The number of job vacancies available in Australia is 480,100 in May 2022. The main sectors which are facing shortages include:
- Healthcare
- IT industry
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Tourism
- Tech Industry
- Healthcare
August 15, 2022
Australia Canberra Matrix draw issued 265 invitations to apply for ACT Nominations Australia issued invitations to 265 candidates so that they can apply for ACT nomination. The draw was held on August 15, 2022 and Canberra and overseas residents were invited in this draw. The number of Canberra residents invited is 99 and the number of overseas residents is 166. The table below provides the details of the draw:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 2 | 95 |
| 491 nominations | 2 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 0 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 24 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 71 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 17 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 149 | NA |
August 10, 2022
Australia Canberra Matrix draw issued 338 invitations for ACT Nomination On August 10, 2022, a new Canberra Matrix draw has been held in which invitations have been issued to 338 candidates. The candidates have been invited to apply for ACT nominations. There are different factors on which the cut-off score depends and they include time of matrix submission, occupation cap and demand, and remaining monthly allocation. The table below will reveal the details of the draw:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 4 | 95 |
| 491 nominations | 1 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 3 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 29 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 61 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 40 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 199 | NA |
July 22, 2022
Australia immigration program levels 2022-23 A new migration program for 2022-2023 has been designed to boost the economic recovery of Australia. The plan includes invitations to 160,000 candidates. The invitations will be sent under two categories which include:
- Skill
For the skill stream, 109,000 places have been decided. The stream has been introduced for the improvement of the productive capacity of the economy. This will help in the filling of job vacancies under skill shortages.
- Family
This stream has been designed for Partner visas. This will help in reuniting the families and the applicants will also get a chance to apply for Australian citizenship.
- In the duration of 2022-2023, partner visas will be given preference to reunite the families. This will reduce the processing time for the partner visas.
- For planning purposes in 2022-2023, there is an estimation of 40,500 partner visas. It should be noted that the number will not reach the ceiling
- Another visa for planning purposes in 2022-2023 is a Child visa whose number is 3,000. This category will also not reach the ceiling.
- Special Eligibility
This is a stream for the visas that cover special circumstances. This can include permanent residents who are returning to Australia after a long period. The number of these visas is 100. Migration program planning levels for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 The table below reveals the planning levels:
| Visa Stream | Visa Category | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
| Skill | Employer Sponsored | 22,000 | 30,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 6,500 | 16,652 | |
| Regional | 11,200 | 25,000 | |
| State/Territory Nominated | 11,200 | 20,000 | |
| Business Innovation & Investment | 13,500 | 9,500 | |
| Global Talent (Independent) | 15,000 | 8,448 | |
| Distinguished Talent | 200 | 300 | |
| Skill Total | 79,600 | 1,09,900 | |
| Family | Partner* | 72,300 | 40,500 |
| (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to a ceiling) | |||
| Parent | 4,500 | 6,000 | |
| Child* | 3,000 | 3,000 | |
| (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to a ceiling) | |||
| Other Family | 500 | 500 | |
| Family Total | 77,300** | 50,000 | |
| Special Eligibility | 100 | 100 | |
| Total Migration Program | 160,000 | 1,60,000 |
State and territory nominated visa allocations The table below will reveal the allocations for state and territory nominated visa
| State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa | Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) |
| ACT | 600 | 1,400 | 30 |
| NSW | 4,000 | 3,640 | 2,200 |
| VIC | 3,500 | 750 | 1,750 |
| QLD | 1,180 | 950 | 1,400 |
| NT | 500 | 700 | 75 |
| WA | 2,100 | 1,090 | 360 |
| SA | 2,600 | 3,330 | 1,000 |
| TAS | 1,100 | 2,200 | 45 |
| Total | 15,580 | 14,060 | 6,860 |
July 13, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 231 candidates to apply for ACT nominations Australia Canberra Matrix draw has invited 231 candidates to apply for ACT nominations. The invitations were sent to Overseas applicants and Canberra residents. The candidates who got a high matrix score received the invitations. The data in the table below will reveal the details of the draw:
|
Type of residents |
Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited |
Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 4 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 3 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 46 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 65 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 6 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 106 | NA |
July 08, 2022
Australia visa changes for 2022-23, opening up new opportunities for overseas immigrants Australian government announced the changes in visa rules on July 1, 2022. These changes will open new ways to permanent residency in Australia. Major changes can be observed in Temporary skill shortage visas, Temporary graduate visas, and Working holiday maker visas. The temporary graduate visa holders will be able to apply for a replacement visa for one year and later can convert it to Australian PR.
June 24, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 159 individuals Invitations were issued to 159 candidates in the recent Canberra Matrix draw. The candidates who are invited can apply for ACT nominations. The invitations have been issued to the candidates under Critical Skill Occupations and Small Business Owners. The information about this draw is available in the following table:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 5 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 3 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 2 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 51 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 39 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 7 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 52 | NA |
June 16, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 44 candidates On June 16, 2022, Canberra Matrix draw invited 44 candidates to apply for ACT nomination. These candidates include both Overseas applicants and Canberra residents. Canberra residents have received 29 invitations while overseas applicants have received 15 invitations.
June 16, 2022
Australia Fair Work Commission announces the highest rise in the minimum wage since 2006 The Fair Work Commission in Australia has announced an increase in minimum wage up to 5.2 percent. This will increase the wage up2 $812.60 per week. The increase in salary will come into effect from July 1. The government has raised the wages up to 5.1 percent. The award minimum wages will be increased by 4.6 percent and the increase will be $40 per week.
June 10, 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 33 candidates Canberra Matrix draw has invited 33 candidates for ACT nomination. The candidates whose Matrix score is the highest get the invitation. The invitations are not sent to those candidates whose application is already active or who have already received the ACT nomination. The invitations have been sent under different categories.
June 9, 2022
Public sector staff pay rise in NSW, Australia The state government of New South Wales, Australia has announced that it will raise the wages of the workers by 3 percent. The workers will start their increased pay from July 1. The wages have been increased due to the pressure from the unions. They made the pressure to keep up the wages with the inflation. The unions are not happy with the increase as they told that the increase will be much below the inflation ad it will not provide any benefit to the workers. The government has also announced the recruitment of 10,150 staff in the coming four years.
June 1, 2022
Invitations sent to 86 candidates through Canberra Matrix draw Australia Canberra Matrix draw has invited 86 candidates under different categories. There is a cut-off score that depends on different factors. There is no guarantee that candidates will receive the invitation if they have achieved the minimum score.
27th May 2022
Western Australia opens permanent residency doors for skilled workers in over 330 occupations Western Australia has announced that invitations will be sent to the overseas skilled workers to apply for the jobs available in the Graduate stream. The candidates living in Western Australia will be given preference. After that, preference will be given to people residing in Australia and overseas. Some of the jobs for which candidates can apply are:
- Accountant (General)
- Acupuncturist
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Anaesthetist
- Barrister
- Biochemist
- Cafe or Restaurant Manager
25th May 2022
Canberra Matrix draw invites 78 candidates
Canberra matrix draw has invited 78 candidates. For Matrix nominating Small Business Owners 3 candidates have been invited. For 190 nominations, 1 invitation is sent and the minimum score should be 100. For 491 nominations, 2 invitations have been sent and the minimum score is 85.
For Matrix nominating 457/482 visa holders, 1 invitation has been sent for 491 nomination.
For Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations, 47 invitations have been sent. For 190 nominations, 15 invitations have been sent and the minimum score is 85. For 491 nomination, 32 invitations has been sent.
For Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations, 27 invitations have been sent for 491 nomination.
Details of the draw
The details of the draw will be shown in the table below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 1 | 100 |
| 491 nominations | 2 | 85 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 0 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 1 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 15 | 85 | |
| 491 nominations | 32 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 0 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 27 |
NA |
11th May 2022:
Australia Canberra draw invited 187 candidates Australia Canberra draw has invited 187 candidates under different streams. The candidates who have got the highest score have received the invitation. The invitations have been sent under the following categories as given in the table:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Points |
| Canberra Residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 1 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 61 | NA | |
| NA | ||||
| 491 nominations | 48 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 4 | 90 |
| 491 nominations | 72 | NA |
28th March 2022:
Australia Canberra draw invited 169 candidates to apply for ACT nomination
Australia has invited 169 candidates through Canberra matrix. These nominations are fixed in number and are sent by ACT. The candidates who achieve the highest matrix are invited to migrate to Australia.
17th March 2022:
Australia’s Canberra Matrix Invitation Round invited 129 candidates Candidates were invited to apply for the nomination in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). On March 17, 2022, the nominations were announced. The nominations are open to both immigrants and citizens, according to the ACT. The cut-off scores change depending on the occupation cap and demand. It invited applicants from a variety of occupations. The highest-ranking candidates are invited. Details of the draw The details of the draw are below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited |
| Canberra residents | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 3 |
| 491 nominations | 44 | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 5 |
| 491 nominations | 77 |
8th March 2022:
Australia Canberra draw invites 79 candidates to apply for ACT nomination A Canberra Matrix draw was held on March 8, 2022, where 79 immigration candidates were invited. Here are more details of the draw: Canberra residents Matrix nominations for Small Business Owners
- 491 nominations: 1 invitation (70 points)
- 190 nominations: 1 invitation (100 points)
Matrix nominations for Critical Skill Occupations
- 491 nominations: 26 invitations
- 190 nominations: 11 invitations
Matrix nominations for Subclass 457 / Subclass 482 visa holders
- 491 nominations: 0 invitation
- 190 nominations: 1 invitation
3rd March 2022:
South Australia invites offshore applicants from over 250 occupations for migration The South Australian state government announced on March 3, 2022 that 259 new vocations would be added to the list of occupations. Immigrant workers in the required occupational list are entitled to apply for a ROI, or Registration of Interest, in order to be considered for a state nomination. Foreign nationals who are eligible for the ROI program can apply for temporary and permanent residency in Australia. The spokesman notes that, while it is available to companies throughout South Australia, it is only available to sites with specific postcodes. The DAMA in Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement lists 60 vocations available in metropolitan Adelaide. Employers in South Australia will be able to use the DAMA to fund skilled foreign workers in occupations where they are unable to hire Australian workers. The qualifications for state nomination will differ depending on the occupation. The occupation’s subclasses would follow the exact conditions.
18th February 2022:
Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 18 February 2022 The Canberra Matrix held draw on February 18, 2022, and invited 116 candidates to apply for ACT nomination in each occupation group. Details of the draw are given below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Minimum score |
| Canberra residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 2 | 85 |
| 491 nominations | 1 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 3 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 4 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 48 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 5 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 53 | NA |
10th February 2022:
Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 10 February 2022 The Canberra Matrix held draw on February 10, 2022, and invited candidates to apply for ACT nomination in each occupation group. The cut-off score is based on the occupation cap and demand. It invited both the Canberra residents and overseas applicants under different occupation groups. Details of the draw are given below:
| Type of residents | Occupation group | Under nomination | Number of candidates invited | Minimum score |
| Canberra residents | Matrix nominating Small Business Owners | 190 nominations | 2 | 85 |
| 491 nominations | 1 | 75 | ||
| Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders | 190 nominations | 1 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 0 | NA | ||
| Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 42 | NA | |
| 491 nominations | 58 | NA | ||
| Overseas applicants | Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations | 190 nominations | 4 | NA |
| 491 nominations | 52 | NA |
8th February 2022:
Australia has expedited the processing of pending visa applications The processing of pending visa applications has commenced in Australia. Visas for persons with an urgent need to travel, non-citizens with compelling and compassionate circumstances, and those with crucial talents required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services are currently given priority. Australia’s immigration minister Alex Hawke said, “We are building back healthy pipelines of working holiday makers, and we are processing these visas very quickly.” Many applications are currently being reviewed by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), which has cautioned that processing times may lengthen further. The DHA is now prioritizing travelers who are not subject to any travel restrictions.
8th February 2022:
Australia issues 400 invitations in latest immigration draw Australia has decided to reopen its international borders to fully vaccinated travelers from February 21. This will include visitors and tourists. The country has already eased its restrictions for skilled migrants, international students and those coming on a working holiday visa from December 2021. International travelers must have proof of their two vaccine doses or have a valid medical reason for not getting vaccinated. Meanwhile the DHA held a third invitation round on January 21, 2022 where it invited candidates under Subclass 189 and Subclass 491 visa. Here are the details:
| Visa Subclass | No. of invitations |
| Subclass 189 | 200 |
| Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored) | 200 |
18th December 2021:
Australia allows international students and skilled workers to re-enter Australia with re-opening of borders International students and skilled professionals have just been allowed to re-enter Australia. However, the demand for workers to fill employment in Australia is at an all-time high! Despite firms giving wage raises never seen before, there is a tremendous demand for competent workers that can only be met through migration. It’s heartening to note that Australia’s jobless rate has dropped to 4.6 percent in November 2021, according to official figures. This came after lockdowns in Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory were lifted. The easing of lockdowns and the gradual relaxation of restrictions at Australia’s international borders can be credited with any improvement in the country’s economic and employment situation.
10th December 2021:
Australia to reopen its borders from December 15, 2021 On December 15, 2021, Australia will open its international borders to skilled migrants, international students, and other visa holders who meet the requirements. The plan to reopen the Australian border to migrants is proceeding according to schedule. Borders are reopened after consultation with Australia’s Prime Minister and the National Cabinet. The Chief Medical Officer’s advice is also taken into account. The decision to reopen borders was made in the wake of the current COVID-19 Omicron variant fear. The reopening was originally scheduled for September 29, 2021, but was pushed back to December 15 due to the Omicron issue. Those who have been locked out of Australia for nearly two years owing to preventive restrictions against the COVID-19 will be entitled to re-enter as a result of this ruling. From December 15, 2021, migrants on humanitarian grounds, provincial family visa holders, and working holiday visa holders will be eligible to re-enter Australia. Fully vaccinated visa holders will not need to get an exemption to travel to Australia now that the gates are open. From December 15, 2021, visitors from South Korea and Japan will be able to enter Australia. The current decision builds on the November decision to reopen Australian borders to fully vaccinated residents, Australia PR visa holders, and their families without the need to enter quarantine.
30th November 2021:
Temporary graduate visa holders can now apply for replacement visas Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who have been unable to come to Australia owing to COVID-19 international border limitations will be allowed to apply for a replacement visa, according to the Australian government. Replacement visas will be charged, according to the Department of Home Affairs, and applicants will be eligible to apply beginning July 1, 2022. Current and previous temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who have visas that expire on or after February 1, 2020 will be able to apply for a new replacement visa under the new regulations. The 485 visas are available to international students who have just graduated and wish to continue working in Australia. The government has also enhanced the length of stay on 485 visas for Masters graduates from two to three years. Mr Tudge, the minister of education pointed out that the extension of three years would attract many to come to Australia for study purposes. “The new changes will make sure that no one was disadvantaged by not coming to Australia.” he said. He further highlighted Australia’s eagerness for the return of international students.
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July 23rd, 2021:
South Australia opens its Skilled Migration program for both onshore and offshore applicants South Australia has announced that skilled migrants who are currently living in the region and meet state and federal requirements, can apply for a state nomination. Occupations such as physiotherapist, audiologist, occupational therapist and speech pathologist were opened by the state in its 2020-21 migration program. From July 20, offshore applicants can submit their Registration of Interest (RoI) for state nominations for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491, and onshore applicants can apply for the visa Subclass 491 and the Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass190. Skilled migrants who are currently living in South Australia (including long term residents), and those who meet the eligibility conditions decided by the state government and the Department of Home Affairs, can apply for state nominations under three categories: International Graduate of South Australia Talent and Innovators Program Currently working in South Australia (including long-term residents in SA) The government offers exemptions Exemptions offered to applicants living and working in outer and regional South Australia. Once the applicants receive a state nomination, they can apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491 (five-year visa) and the Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 (permanent visa). However, offshore applicants will have to submit an ROI which demonstrates their skills in specific trades and health-related occupations and their proficiency in English language. An RoI is required for onshore applicants who wish to apply under the Talent and Innovators program.
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July 20th, 2021:
South Australia relaxes two requirements for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa South Australia has announced the opening up of its nominations for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa or BIIP Subclass 188 from 20 July for the current program year. South Australia is allowed to nominate 1000 places under this visa category. A new development in the announcement has been the removal of two eligibility requirements which were essential earlier. The first eligibility requirement to be removed is the necessity for applicants to submit their ‘Intent to apply’ (ITA) form. Under the current program year-2021-22, applicants are not required to submit their ITA form. The second eligibility requirement is the necessity to make an exploratory visit to the region by the applicants. This requirement has also been dropped due to the current COVID-19 situation. The relaxation of these requirements is a bid to attract more investors according to immigration experts.
June 22nd, 2021: Australia announces migration program for 2021-22 Australia announced its migration targets for the next financial year. The Migration Program announced the overall planning level of 160,000 places of which 79,600 places were given for the Skill stream while 77,300 places were given to the family stream.13,500 places are reserved for the Business Innovation and Investment Program while 15,000 places are reserved for the Global Talent Visa Program while it is 22,000 for the Employer Sponsored visa program. The government wants to focus on visa programs which will help the economy to recover after the Covid-19 crisis.
June 12th, 2021:
Australia records the highest number of bridging visa holders The Australian government while releasing data on bridging visa holders revealed that the number of bridging visa holder in March 2020 was 256,529. However, this year the number has risen to 359,981 which is the highest for Australia so far. Bridging visas are temporary visas provided to migrants when their current visa expires while they await the outcome of their substantive applications. These visas allow a migrant to remain legally in Australia while his or her immigration status is settled. The sort of bridging visa granted is determined by the circumstances of the applicant. According to data from the Department of Home Affairs, 7,315 former Bridging Visa B (BVB) holders (whose visas expired between 1 Feb 2020 and 30 April 2021) are currently staying offshore. Many of these visa holders are anxious to return back to Australia.They are worried because these visas cannot be renewed or extended when they are staying offshore. Travel restrictions are preventing them to return to Australia.
May 7th, 2021:
Australia wants to repatriate its citizens stranded in India at the earliest according to immigration minister Alex Hawke The immigration minister of Australia, Alex Hawke, said that his government intends to bring back more than 8,000 Australians stranded in coronavirus-ravaged India in a phased manner, despite Australia’s decision to penalize those returning from India. The minister indicated that the Australian government could resume flights to India from May 15 to repatriate the Australian citizens stranded in Australia. He said that the government is working on the logistics to bring back its citizens. The Australian government had announced a temporary flight ban on April 27 amidst the rising Coronavirus cases in India. Making the announcement Mr. Hawke said, “We want to make sure we can safely repatriate them here as soon as we possibly can. Everybody here is working on that. We want people to stay safe and listen to the government’s advice.”
Mar 27th, 2021:
Australia planning to reopen its international borders to welcome temporary visa holders: Immigration Minister Alex Hawke Australia which had imposed border restrictions for almost the whole of last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic is now ready to welcome temporary migrants such as international students and visitors according to the newly appointed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. In a recent interview to SBS Australia, he said that the government is ready to open its international borders According to Hawke, ‘’… the government is rolling out our vaccination program and preparing for the opening of our international borders, so we can have those important visits from tourists that spend so much money in our country – but also the international student sector, one of our largest export sectors, they value-add so inherently to the Australian economy – we want to get them back.” This announcement comes in the wake of the latest data from the Department of Home Affairs which revealed that the offshore international student visa applications have gone down registering a decline by 65% in the second half of 2020 when compared to 2019. According to the minister, migration will play a key role in the economic recovery of Australia from the pandemic. He said, “I’m convinced that the migration program will be a huge part of how we recover from COVID and whether we will be as successful as we can be on that journey.” Australia is looking at its migration program to play a key role in the country’s economic recovery post the pandemic.
Mar 4th, 2021:
Australia makes changes to Subclass 485 visa to favor international students Australia has introduced changes in the Subclass 485 visa by introducing changes in the application requirements and visa criteria for international students. After these changes international students on a Temporary Graduate visa, will have the opportunity to stay longer in Australiain order to gain valuable work experience and look for a pathway to permanent residency. After their studies, they can stay on and work in regional Australia. Students belonging to the Post-Study Work stream can apply for their second 485 visa in the same stream provided they have lived in regional Australia for at least two years prior to making their second visa application. The government has made relaxations in the application and grant criteria for international students who cannot travel to Australia due to travel restrictions. These students can now apply for their485 visa, from offshore regardless of the stream they belong to.
Feb 18th, 2021:
600,000 temporary visa holders have left Australia In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic nearly 600,000 temporary visa holders left Australia last year. These included tourists, holidaymakers, international students, and work visa holders. Out of the 600,000 temporary visa holders, 41,000 were from India. The main category of people who left Australia were visitors and working holidaymakers, and bridging visa holders. According to figures, the highest number of exits were in the three months after the pandemic started in March 2020. The exit will have an impact on the economy because not many temporary visa holders are returning back to Australia because of the travel ban under which only citizens and permanent residents can come back to the country. The mass exit is expected to have an impact on the tourism and education industries in Australia.
Jan 29th, 2021:
Tasmania announced it’s skilled occupation list for the program year 2020-21 for subclass 190 and 491.
For subclass 190, applicants must have been working in Tasmania for 6 months immediately prior to the application for state nomination.
Overseas applicants are eligible for subclass 491 under a category 3A.
The applicant has to file an EOI first and upon invitation to apply for the nomination the applicant must meet the additional English language, experience, and employability requirement specified for the occupation.
We have occupations of Vetassess, TRA, ANMAC, Engineers Australia, and others in the TSOL list.
Jan 28th, 2021:
Vetassess has updated that the pricing/fee for the skill assessment services will increase from 1st Feb 2021.
Below are the details of the fee applicable from 1st Feb.
| Professional Occupation Skills Assessment Pricing Table | ||
| Service | Price from 1st February 2021 | Current Price |
| Full Skills Assessment | $927 | $880 |
| Points Test Advice | ||
| Points Test Advice (returning applicants) | $400 | $380 |
| Points Test Advice (non-VETASSESS) – PhD | $378 | $359 |
| Points Test Advice (non-VETASSESS) – other overseas qualifcations | $263 | $250 |
| Points Test Advice (non-VETASSESS) – Australian qualifcation | $150 | $142 |
| 485 Graduate Visa Qualifications only assessment | $378 | $359 |
| Post-485 assessment | $721 | $684 |
| Reassessment | ||
| Reassessment (review) – qualifications | $287 | $272 |
| Reassessment (review) – employment | $515 | $489 |
| Reassessment (change of occupation) – 485 visa | $344 | $326 |
| Reassessment (change of occupation) – full skills | $630 | $598 |
| Appeal | $779 | $739 |
| Renewal of skills assessment | $400 | $380 |
Dec 18th, 2020:
Australia announces changes to business visa program The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) provides three visas and nine visa categories for applicants with an established track record of innovation, investment and business success or talent. The business visa streams have now been reduced to four categories. The changes will come into effect from 1 July 2021 Changes to visa eligibility requirements: Holders of Business Innovation visas will now be expected to maintain $1.25 million in business assets, up from $800,000 and need to have an annual turnover of $750,000 from $500,000. At the same time, certain visas would have lower requirements, such as the $200,000 funding requirement currently needed for applicants for entrepreneurial visas will be scrapped from July next year. From July 2021, the Premium Investor, Significant Company History and Venture Capital Entrepreneur visas will be closed for new applications. The already lodged applications for these visas will continue to be processed. Under the current scheme, the bulk of BIIP migrants reach Australia on a provisional visa for a period of four years After this time, if they fulfil the stipulated visa requirements, they can apply for a permanent visa. After the changes provisional visas will be valid for five years. The changes will now allow provisional visas to be valid for five years giving applicants extra time to meet the residency requirements.
Dec 15th, 2020:
NSW updates occupation list for Subclass 190 and 491
New South Wales region of Australia or NSW has updated its occupation list for Subclass 190 and 491. For the Subclass 190 visa, the region is requesting immigrants with an EOI to apply for a nomination only form people currently residing in the region. As for Subclass 491, the number of regions has gone up from 8 to 13 which improves the chances of applicants to get a visa.
For Subclass 491 visa applicants have a choice to apply under three streams to become eligible for nomination from this region.
1.Living and working in regional NSW
2.Recently completed studies in regional NSW
3.Living and working outside of regional NSW
Most overseas applicants will be eligible under the 3rd category and should have at least five years of skilled employment experience in order to apply.
For further details, Talk to Y-Axis Consultants or you can e-mail us on info@y-axis.co.uk. One of our representatives will get back to you at the earliest.
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*Under Job Search Service, we offer Resume Writing, LinkedIn Optimization and Resume Marketing. We do not advertise jobs on behalf of overseas employers or represent any overseas employer. This service is not a placement/recruitment service and does not guarantee jobs. #Our Registration number is B-0553/AP/300/5/8968/2013 and Placement services are provided at our Registered Center only. |
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