| Permanent Migration Program |
- 185,000 permanent migration spots allocated, with 70% to the Skill stream.
- Skilled Independent visa places reduced from 30,375 to 16,900.
- Employer Sponsored visa places increased from 36,825 to 44,000.
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- Employer sponsored skilled foreign nationals benefit from the high allocation of permanent migration slots to the Skill stream, opening more opportunities to reside and work in Australia permanently.
- Fewer invitations will be issued by the Department of Home Affairs, leading to higher competition among applicants due to the significant reduction of places under the Skilled Independent visa program.
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| New Immigration Programs: |
- National Innovation Visa: Replaces the Global Talent Visa and Business Innovation and Investment (BIIP) programs, requiring a minimum investment of $7 million. Launching in late 2024.
- Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early professionals Scheme (MATES): For Indian nationals, starting November 1, 2024.
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- The National Innovation Visa provides exceptionally talented individuals an opportunity to live and work in Australia without requiring employer or family member sponsorship and opens a path for foreign investors to invest in Australia.
- The MATES program offers Indian university graduates and early career professionals a chance to live and work in Australia for up to two years, gaining valuable work experience.
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| Relaxation of Existing Policies |
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa: Work experience requirement reduced from two years to one year starting November 23, 2024.
- Business Visitor Visas for Indian nationals: Validity extended from three years to up to five years.
- Modernized Skills Assessment: Trades Recognition Australia to provide quicker and more efficient assessments.
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- Reducing the work experience requirement for the TSS visa makes it easier for graduates and early career professionals to meet eligibility criteria and obtain a work visa in Australia.
- Extending the Business Visitor visa validity gives Indian nationals more flexibility in traveling and conducting business in Australia.
- A modernized skills assessment process benefits skilled foreign nationals and employers by being quicker and more efficient.
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| Changes for Holiday and Student Visas |
- New ballot process for Work and Holiday visas for nationals of Mainland China, India, and Vietnam.
- Capped student visa slots for all educational providers, with additional slots requiring new purpose-built student accommodation.
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- The new ballot process and caps on student visas will make it more challenging for applicants from Mainland China, India, and Vietnam to obtain these visas.
- Indian nationals will benefit from being included in the Work and Holiday visa program for the first time.
- Education providers seeking to offer additional slots above the imposed cap must demonstrate a new supply of purpose-built student accommodation, benefiting both international and domestic students and alleviating pressure on the rental market.
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| Budget Allocations for Immigration Related Programs |
- AUD 100 million to the Department of Home Affairs.
- AUD 1 billion over five years for the new Administrative Review Tribunal.
- AUD 115.6 million to address court backlogs.
- AUD 15 million towards workplace safeguards and migration law compliance education.
- AUD 1.9 million for a data matching pilot with the Australian Taxation Office.
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- Government investment in immigration related programs ensures a transparent and efficient immigration system.
- Foreign workers benefit from new policies that impose strict compliance responsibilities on employers, protecting against workplace exploitation.
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