The Australian government will be introducing changes this coming 1st of March 2018. Their objective in doing so is to better align the permanent visa & temporary visa programs, with changes to the eligibility requirements of selected permanent skilled visas effective March 2018.

The changes to be applied to the permanent skilled visa programs are as follows:

• The nominated occupation for Direct Entry Stream for both the Employer-Nominated Scheme (ENS) and Regional-Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) must be included in the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Additional occupations will also be made available through the RSMS in support of regional employers
• Employers are required to pay the Australian Market Salary rate and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold
• The eligibility period for transitioning into permanent residency will increase from 2 years to 3 years
• Applicants must have at least three years of work experience relevant to the nominated occupation
• Applicants must be under the age of 45 at the time of application
• Employer sponsors for ENS or RSMS visa will be required to pay a contribution to the Skilling Australian Funds. Amount payable is as follows:
  • $3000 for small businesses (companies with less than $10 million annual turnover)
  • $5000 for other businesses

Existing provisions under the Temporary Residence Transition scheme (TRT) are available to those who were granted or who applied for a subclass 457 visa on or before the 18th of April 2017. The said provisions are as follows:

• There will be no changes in the occupation requirements as long as the applicant continues to work for the same employer with the same occupation nominated under their 457 visa
• The age requirement will remain at under 50 years of age
• The work experience requirement will remain at 2 years
• The eligibility period requirement to transition into permanent residency will remain at 2 years

If you require professional assistance with your Skilled Visa case, please email us at [email protected].
If you have an urgent case matter which requires immediate assistance, please call us on 1300 61 99 77 (or +61 7 3181 5588).

*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for general information only. Always seek professional legal advice in regards to your situation as every situation is different. Immigration legislation changes regularly and thus always, get up-to-date advice on your situation. Lodging a visa application is a judicial process and is based on the quality of legal advice and legal representation you receive. It is illegal for any Migration Agent or Lawyer to guarantee 100% of a positive result as it is a judicial process.