Authorities working for the Australian Immigration Department have been quite keen to keep the local and general public informed about prospective changes to be expected with respect to rules, regulations, and guidelines associated with immigration to the country, owing to the start of 2021.

Programs for Immigration

The annual quota for applying for a Migration Visa shall face absolutely no changes, consistently maintaining its round figure of 160,000 for the year 2020-2021. Changes, however, are bound to occur with regards to how this data is distributed. A striking rise in family stream applications will be seen, from 47K to almost 77K.

The preliminary reason for the government to raise this bar is for the improvement of the debilitating economy owing to the pandemic. This is why the aforementioned applicants are seeking a higher priority on the list towards migration into regional areas:

• Partners (targeted towards regional areas)
• Global Talents
• Employer-Sponsored individuals (inclusive of concessions)
• Temporary Graduates
• Business Innovation or Investment

Partner Pathway:

The Partner visa now has the compulsory requirement of English language proficiency added to its program eligibility criteria. A minimum requirement of clearing the functional English assessment is key for both, the applicant in question and also the PR sponsor. The assessment’s primary goal is the unique promotion of economic participation and social collaboration. Subclasses 300, 820, and 309 are exempt from this criterion.

Another method of verification is the effort put into attending a comprehensive package of 500 hours of learning English via classes hosted as a part of the Adult Migration English Program (AMEP). These changes are forecasted to be implemented from the 1st of July, 2021.

Global Talent Independent Pathway:

The Government wishes to speed track its goal of alluring exceptionally skilled and talented individuals along with international businesses into the country by way of installing the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce in an effort to improvise the post-COVID economic recession.

The already prevailing programs, namely, the Business Innovation and Investment Program and the Global Talent Initiative Program will be undergoing some improvisations. The overall quota for applicants is also bound to rise from 5,000 to a whopping 15,000.

Employer-Sponsored Visa Concession Pathway:

The legal eligibility criteria for a subclass 186-TRT Visa is the requirement of a subclass 482 or 457 in possession, along with valid and relevant full-time work experience under the mentorship of a suitable employer for a minimum duration of 3 years.

The reason for the introduction of laws pertaining to subclasses 457 and 482 is the reduction in working hours or indefinite leave period given to employees owing to the negative impact of the pandemic on the workforce. This way, even those presenting without full-time work during this period of concession are permitted to apply through this program, as the starting date is taken to be the 1st of February, 2020.

Temporary Graduate Pathway:

There has been an announcement with regards to the establishment of a second Temporary Graduate Visa accommodating an added one/two years of post-study completion working rights, especially for international students who meet the following criteria:

• currently residing within a regional area of the country while in possession of their very first visa type (Subclass 485)

• hold a higher educational or post-graduation qualification from a registered and verified Institution or University consisting of a regional campus

The applicant must be constantly residing within the said regional area during the application process of this visa type. To meet the eligibility requirements of seeking an extension of this visa type, interested students need to have valid working as well as studying experience in a registered University/Institution for a minimum of two years within that regional area, just before their application for the second visa type (Subclass 485).

This scheme is also liable to those currently holding a 485 visa application status and thoroughly satisfy the aforementioned criteria.

Business Innovation or Investment Pathway:

With the sole goal of improvising the economic recession situation prevalent in the country at the moment, the application quota for this program has subsequently risen to about 13,000. The 1st of July 2021 shall mark as a crucial streamlining and overall improvement process with respect to the strategic operations associated with this program type.

Two critical modifications were made in order to better lure suitable applicants presenting with notable business skills:

• An annual turnover necessity of approximately $750K (rising upwards from $500K) will be the mandatory figure for interested applicants within a minimum of 2 years out of the previous 4 fiscal years

• A total of $1250K (rising upwards from $800K) is the minimum requirement for valuation of interested candidates’ personal and business assets, at the final date of the previous 2 financial years and even during the duration of invitation.