Intro
The Australian visa landscape is constantly changing, and it can be difficult for international students or migrants to keep up with the latest news and requirements. That's why IDP Education Australia has created this comprehensive guide to the latest Australia visa news to help you through the process.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the latest visa changes, requirements, and deadlines. We'll also provide you with tips on how to improve your chances of success when applying for an Australian visa.
If you have any questions or wish to apply for an Australian visa and need assistance, contact us now for free visa advice, or book a free appointment with our education counsellors.
Important Update for South Australia Nomination Program:
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.
Updated: 26 August 2023
The Albanese Government has 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.
2023–24 state and territory nomination allocations
Nomination allocations are the number of new primary applicants each state or territory can nominate in a program year. New applications are added to the existing on-hand caseload in these visa categories. 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.
State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa |
ACT | 600 | 600 |
NSW | 2,650 | 1,500 |
NT | 250 | 400 |
QLD | 900 | 650 |
SA | 1,100 | 1,200 |
TAS | 600 | 600 |
VIC | 2,700 | 600 |
WA | 1,500 | 850 |
Total | 10,300 | 6,400 |
* No new allocations have been given for the BIIP. The Department has enough applications on-hand to meet the 2023–24 planning level for the BIIP.
The state and territory response to the nomination allocations:
State | State nomination program invitations |
ACT | Applicants can submit their Matrix. The Matrix invitation round is planned for 29 September. |
NSW | Plans to invite candidates in September. There might be changes to the occupation list. Focus on priority areas including health, education, and infrastructure. |
NT | Awaiting new policy, not yet open for applications. |
QLD | Awaiting new policy, not yet open for applications. |
SA | Awaiting new policy, not yet open for applications. Will focus on SA priority industries such as Health and Defence. |
TAS | Open for ROI (Register of Interest) applications. There might be changes to the invitation requirements. |
VIC | No update available, ROI is not open for application yet. |
WA | No further updates available at this time. Reduced employment requirement for building and construction industry sector occupation. |
Changes to Student Visa Work Hours
If you're planning to pursue your studies in Australia after July 1st, 2023, there are a few adjustments to keep in mind regarding your work hours.
New students who commence their course after this date will not be allowed to work until their course has officially begun. This restriction also applies to the spouse of the student who holds the same student visa.
During school sessions, students will be limited to working a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight. It's important to note that this restriction does not apply to research students or those on break.
Continuing students who are already employed in the aged care sector as of May 9th, 2023, can continue to work without any restrictions in this sector until December 31st, 2023.
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.
Length of stay increased for certain degrees
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.
Benefit of studying in regional Australia
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.
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 center 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.
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.
Whether you're planning to pursue your studies or kick-start your career in Australia, these modifications bring exciting prospects. Stay up to date with the latest requirements and make the most of the evolving immigration landscape. Have any queries? Book a free appointment with our education counsellors.
Did you know all international students are entitled to a free 15-minute consultation with our migration agents? For detailed information and pricing, get in touch and one of our agents will contact you to assist.
Please visit Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) for more information on support for international students.
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.
If you are ready to talk to our agents about how these changes could impact you, talk to us today:
Australian Skilled Migration - Skilled Occupation Lists (SOL)
If you are looking for state specific updates for the skilled occupation list in Australia, then we have pulled together the latest 2022-2023 occupation list updates here.
New Regional Visas
Two new visas have been introduced with a pathway to apply for
permanent residency. Discover more.
