Latest Australian Visa News

Invitation Rounds:

• September 2024: 7,973 applicants invited for the 189 visa.

• November 2024: 15,000 applicants invited.

• With only 16,900 spots remaining for this financial year, further invitations may be unlikely until the next financial year.

State Nominations:

• All states issue monthly invitations, except QLD and NSW.

• VIC Highlights:

  • Frequent invitations and a larger quota compared to other states.

  • No residence duration requirement—candidates can submit a VIC ROI (Registration of Interest) immediately after relocating.

  • Introduction of the VIC graduate pathway for the 491 visa:

    • Allows graduates to submit a VIC ROI without residing or working in regional VIC.

  • Priority for early childhood teachers and construction trades in state nominations.

• WA Challenges:

  • Reduced interest due to slow nomination processing times.

By the end of 2024, Australia is set to introduce two innovative visas: the Skills in Demand Visa and the National Innovation Visa. These will replace the existing Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (subclass 482) and the Global Talent Visa (subclass 858), respectively.

Skills in Demand Visa (Employer-Sponsored) – Launching 7 December 2024

This visa features three pathways tailored to different skill and salary levels:

• Specialist Skills Pathway For foreign professionals earning over AUD 135,000, excluding trades workers, machinery operators, and labourers.

• Core Skills Pathway Designed for most foreign workers earning between AUD 73,150 and AUD 135,000.

• Essential Skills Pathway For workers in critical industries earning under AUD 73,150, with enhanced regulation and compliance to prevent exploitation.

National Innovation Visa – Launch Date to Be Announced

A permanent visa with an Expression of Interest (EOI) process, aimed at fostering innovation by targeting:

• Global Researchers and Thought Leaders: Individuals recognized for their significant contributions through publications or prestigious awards.

• Entrepreneurs: Visionary investors driving impactful opportunities and globally recognized athletes and creatives representing Australia on the world stage.

The Government has updated the student visa requirements: the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) is now the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. This change applies to student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. Here's a quick breakdown:

• GS Format: Switches from a statement to Q&A style.

• Questions: Cover current situation, course choice, and study history (if in Australia).

• Word Limit: Stick to 150 words per question.

• Use bulleted points where possible.

• Financial Disclosure: Under GS, applicants must declare financial status or families.

• Residency Plan: Applicants can also note intent to settle in Australia post-study.

The Australian government has announced the final state and territory nomination allocations for the 2024–25 Migration Program. Source: The Department of Home Affairs. Are you an international student that is looking to get Australian immigration advice & news from some of Australia's best immigration consultants? Take a look at our Migration Services.

Fee increase for international students as of 1 July 2024

As of 1 July 2024, the fee for international student visas will increase from $710 to $1,600. This change reflects the growing value of education in Australia and the Albanese Government’s commitment to restoring integrity in the international education sector.

• The existing settings for regional and remote Australia will be maintained, and eligible applicants in these areas may be eligible for an additional two years on their visa.

• For the first 485 Visa application made on or after July 1st, 2023, an extra two years will automatically be added to the standard visa duration without requiring a separate application.

• Applicants who apply for a 485 Visa in the Replacement stream or the PSW stream, based on study and residence in regional Australia from July 1st, 2023, will also be granted an additional two years if they haven't already received it on a previous 485 Visa. Again, no separate application is needed for this extension.

In cases where eligible 485 visa holders have not previously received the extended visa duration on a previous 485 PSW, they may apply for an additional 485 PSW visa at no cost. However, a separate application will be required.

Furthermore, in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now possible for individuals to hold up to three consecutive PSW visas. This means that a person can have the First PSW visa, followed by the PSW Regional visa, and then the Replacement visa, or the First PSW visa, followed by the Replacement visa, and then the PSW Regional visa. You can also check out more benefits of studying in regional Australia here.

Let's take a look at a few examples to illustrate how these changes can benefit different individuals:

• A person with a bachelor's degree applying for the first PSW visa on or after July 1st, 2023, will now be granted a four-year visa without the need for a separate application.

• A person with a PhD who holds the first PSW visa on July 1st, 2023, and applies for a Replacement visa on or after the same date will be granted a six-year visa.

• A person with either the First PSW visa or a Replacement visa who applies on or after July 1st, 2023, for a PSW Regional visa based on residence in a regional centre or other regional area will now be granted a four-year visa without requiring a separate application.

• If a person is not eligible for the regional or replacement stream, they will need to apply for the 485 Visa subsequent to receive an additional two years.

• It's important to note that individuals can only receive the additional two years once, either on their First PSW visa, a standalone application, or when applying for a subsequent PSW Regional or Replacement visa.

If you are looking for state specific updates for the skilled occupation list in Australia, then we have pulled together the latest 2024-2025 occupation list updates here.

Latest student visa arrangements

Our expert migration agents have summarised a recently released Advancing Productivity report released by the government that is relevant for international students looking to study in Australia. It makes several recommendations that could affect you, including changes to migration policy, prioritising skilled migration, and encouraging regional migration. The report also talks to the importance of English language proficiency and highlights labour shortages in teaching and health. IDP Education can help international students navigate these changes and find a course of study that aligns with their interests and career goals, increasing their chances of being granted a visa and achieving their study abroad goals. Get the full article here.

South Australia has made significant changes to its nomination occupation list, following a similar approach to Victoria. The high-performance SA graduate stream and regional workstream have been removed. Instead, candidates will be selected through the ROI (Registration of Interest) process, reflecting the evolving needs of South Australia's labour market.

New Eligibility Criteria for South Australian Graduates:

• Must be currently employed full-time for the last 6 months (at least 30 hours per week)

• Job must align with your nominated occupation

It's crucial to understand that meeting these eligibility criteria does not guarantee an invitation to apply for nomination. South Australia operates with a limited allocation of nomination spots each year, and several factors will be taken into account when determining who will receive invitations.

Factors Considered for Receiving an Invitation Include:

• Holding a temporary visa that expires before 31 August 2024.

• Age: Applicants who will reach the age of 45 before 31 August 2024.

• Gained skilled work experience within South Australia.

• The nature of skilled employment in South Australia, with a particular emphasis on priority sectors like Health and Medical Sciences, Trades and Construction, Early Childhood and Teaching, Digital Technology, Food and Agribusiness, Creative Industries, Tourism, and Hospitality.

If you currently possess a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), you might be eligible to extend your visa through various available pathways under this category. It's advisable to explore the possibility of extending your Temporary Graduate visa before initiating a Registration of Interest (ROI) application.

Changes to 485 Visa Eligibility for Graduate Diplomas and Certificates

In December 2024, updates have been made to the eligibility criteria for the 485 visa concerning graduate diplomas and graduate certificates:

• Graduate Certificate: No longer recognised as a qualifying degree for the 485 visa.

  • Relevance: Must be directly related to the qualification it complements.

    • In the same academic year as the completion of the relevant degree, OR

    • In the academic year immediately after completing the relevant degree.

  • Timely Start: Must begin either:

• Graduate Diploma: Eligible only if it meets the following conditions:

For example, students pursuing the Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education must have completed a relevant bachelor’s degree in Australia with no significant gap between the two qualifications. Otherwise, they will need to either:

• Study the graduate diploma while on a 485 visa, OR

• Package the graduate diploma into a master’s degree relevant to early childhood teaching.

Enhancements to the 485 Visa - Post Study Work Stream

The 485 Visa, specifically the Post Study Work (PSW) stream, is undergoing significant improvements, opening up new opportunities for eligible graduates.

Changes to the 485 Visa - Graduate Work Stream

For those applying for the 485 Visa under the Graduate Work stream, there are some adjustments that revert to the pre-COVID settings. To be eligible, the course or courses studied in Australia must be closely related to an occupation on the medium- and long-term list.

Additionally, applicants must be able to apply for the skills assessment, and all courses studied to meet the two-year Australian study requirement must be closely related.

One notable change is that the TRA Trade occupations provisional skills assessment no longer requires 360 hours of payslips. This means it is easier for trade students to apply for the provisional skills assessment with TRA which can be used to apply for the 485 Visa under the Graduate Work stream. Please visit Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) for more information on support for international students.

Effective July 1st, 2023, the length of stay for eligible bachelor's degrees will be extended to four years, while eligible master's degrees will allow for a five-year stay. PhD graduates will enjoy an extended stay of six years under the 485 PSW category.

In August 2023, the Albanese Government introduced measures to uphold integrity in international education and to support authentic international students:

1. Elimination of Concurrent COE: Educational institutions will no longer be permitted to generate concurrent Confirmation of Enrollments (CoE), which were originally intended for students to enroll in supplementary courses alongside their primary study program. See more details here.

2. Heightened Financial Requirements: Students must now demonstrate their financial capacity by providing evidence of $24,505 in savings, marking a 17 percent increase from current levels.

3. Strengthened Scrutiny for High-Risk Student Groups: High-risk student categories will undergo more rigorous examination, necessitating additional documentation to deter fraudulent applications.

4. Issuance of Suspension Certificates for High-Risk Providers: Under the ESOS Act, the government may issue suspension certificates to education providers deemed high-risk due to elevated visa refusal rates, prohibiting them from enrolling international students.

5. Ongoing Commitment to Enhancing Integrity: The government is actively exploring supplementary measures to fortify the integrity of international education, which will be part of the forthcoming Migration Strategy.

These measures are designed to ensure the quality and reputation of the international education system while safeguarding the interests of legitimate international students.