Australia is now inviting fully vaccinated immigrants and travellers from all parts of the world under various visa categories, i.e. Skilled visa, study visa, family sponsored visa, Visitor visa, etc. If you are applying for Australian visa this year, you must know the process requirements and rule changes applicable. Australia has the quite straightforward point-based system of immigration to allocate permanent residency to the skilled and talented people from overseas.
In last few months, the Australian government has employed few vital changes in the visa rules and process requirements, which will crucial for the individuals applying for visa in Australia this year.
Find below the key Australia immigration rule changes applicable in 2024. To read the key visa rule changes in detail, visit and explore the Immigration News page on Visas Avenue website.
Australia to Invite 185,000 Candidates for Permanent Migration in 2024-25
On May 14, 2024, the Australian Government announced the planning levels for the 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program, setting a cap of 185,000 places. Skill Stream to get 132,200 places, nearly 71% of the program), while the Family Stream will get 52,500 places, nearly 28% of the program.
Increase in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) to $73,150
From 1 July 2024, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will increase from $70,000 to $73,150. New nomination applications from this date will need to meet the new TSMIT of $73,150 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
Increase to the Financial Capacity Requirement for Student and Student Guardian visas
From 10 May 2024, Australia has increased the amount of money that Student and Student Guardian visa applicants need to have to be eligible for the visa. The financial capacity requirement has been updated to align with a proportion (75 per cent) of the national minimum wage.
New English Language Requirements
The Australian Government has made key amendments to English Language Requirements for Student and Temporary Graduate visas. This change was introduced as part of the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023 and applies to all Student and Temporary Graduate visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
Australia Student Visa- Higher scores in English proficiency tests
To obtain the Australia Student Visa, the Aussie government has employed new guidelines, mandating that international students attain elevated scores in English proficiency exams. Greater scrutiny will be applied to subsequent visa applications seeking extensions. This applies specifically to the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
The Aussie government has unveiled plans to implement a new visa, known as the Skills in Demand Visa, with the intention of replacing the current Temporary Skill Shortage Visa. This new visa aims to provide workers with increased flexibility in transitioning between employers and establish transparent pathways to permanent residency for those who aspire to pursue such opportunities, as per the assessment.
This 4-year visa will feature 3 distinct pathways, each delineated by skill level.
The temporary COVID-19 concession period, initiated in early 2020 amid global travel restrictions and economic challenges, is scheduled to conclude on November 25, 2023. Impacted visa categories will be:
The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is seeking public input for the planning of the 2024–25 Migration Program. The program aims to achieve a balance between economic, social, and demographic goals, prioritizing the nation's long-term interests. In the current 2023–2024 program, Australia has set a target of 190,000 permanent residents, maintaining the traditional 70/30 split between the Skill and Family streams, except for the pandemic-affected years 2020–21 and 2021–22. Share your thoughts to contribute to Australia's future migration planning.
New and Improved Nomination pathways of NSW Regional Migration
Enhanced Nomination Paths for NSW Regional Migration Announced New South Wales (NSW) introduces upgraded pathways for skilled migrants seeking nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491. This nomination enables skilled individuals to reside, work, and study in designated regional areas specified by NSW for a five-year period.
Australia Expands PR Opportunities for Temporary Skilled Sponsored Workers
Australia is broadening pathways to Permanent Residency for Sponsored Skilled Temporary Workers. Effective November 25, 2023 (pending regulatory approval), the Australian Government is set to implement changes to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa subclass 482 and the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa subclass 186.
NSW Shifts Focus to Priority Sectors Over Skilled Occupation Lists
To address evolving skill shortages in the Australian state of New South Wales more effectively, the NSW migration approach is transitioning from the previous practice of releasing a list of eligible ANZSCO unit groups. Instead, a new strategy is being adopted, concentrating on specific sectors that closely align with skills shortages in NSW. These sectors identified by NSW migration include the following:
Australia updated Financial Capacity Requirements for Student Visas.
Starting from October 1, 2023, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Australia has raised the financial capacity prerequisites for international students applying for student visas. Applicants will now need to show a minimum savings balance of AU$24,505 to ensure they can cover their annual living expenses.
Opening of South Australia and New South Wales Migration Programs The prominent Australian states, namely South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW), have started accepting new knapplications for their Skilled Migration Nomination programs for the 2023-2024 program year.
Commencement of Queensland's State Nomination Skilled Migration Program for 2023-24. Migration Queensland formally announced the start of its state nomination skilled migration program for the 2023-24 period on September 5, 2023. This year, Queensland has received a relatively modest allocation of 1,550 skilled nominations, and with the absence of a Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) allocation from the Department of Home Affairs in Australia, competition for Queensland's state-nominated program is anticipated to be intense.
The key changes includes the following:
New Australia Immigration Rule changes applicable from 1 July 2023
The SA has removed two key steps from the application process, used in the former 2020-21 program year. The new changes comprise the following:
The Business & Investment Program 2021-22… Read more
Changes to Victoria 2021-22 Skilled Migration program
Victoria, Australia has made some key changes inits Skilled Migration Program 2021-22. The changes includes, elimination of the minimum experience and hours worked requirement, rise in the number of targeted sectors, etc. ……Read more
The Australian government has revised the Australian Citizenship Application fee with effect from July 1, 2021. The fee is being revised to more accurately reflect the cost of application processing. However, there are no changes to fee exemptions…. Read more
Australia has revised the visa fee for all its visa categories with effect from July 1, 2021. Among other visas, the Department of Home Affairs, Australia has slightly increased the visa fee for all popular skilled visa categories, i.e.
The government revises the visa fee every year on…. Read more
Australia has updated the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List
The Department of Home Affairs, Australia has updated the PMSOL (Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List) on June 22, 2021.This time around, the DHA has included 22 new occupations to the list. It is now the list of 41 occupations, prepared to meet the critical skills shortage in Australia to support economic recovery in view of the Global Pandemic…. Read more
Changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)
Australia is making key changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) of Australia. The government will simplify it from nine to four key streams, and there will be changes to eligibility requirements as well. These changes will take effect from July 1, 2021….. Read more
Annual Nomination Quota allocated to states/territories
The Australian government has allocated a full annual nomination quota to states/territories of Australia. Most of them shall start accepting application for 2020-21 from January 2021 onwards.
English language requirement for the partner visa applicants
Alan Tudge- the acting Immigration Minister of Australia, has announced that Australia to introduce the English language requirement for the partner visa applicants from the closing months of 2021….. Read more
Australian Citizenship Test updated.
Australia has updated the Citizenship Test from November 15, 2020. The new changes in the test will focus on Australian values. Alan Tudge- the acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, has confirmed the same…… Read more
Fee waiver on the lodgement of new international student visa
The DHA, Australia has confirmed that it has applied for the fee waiver on the lodgement of new international student visa applications from 5 August 2020 (midnight-AEST). The government has announced to waive the student visa fee of those students who held a student visa on or after 1st February 2020. Hence, could not complete their course of study within their original visa validity because of the global pandemic…. Read more
Key Changes applicable to Australia’s immigration point system
With effect from November 16, 2019, Australia has implemented the following changes in Australia’s Immigration point Calculator 2021:
Other Important Australia Immigration Rule Changes applicable in 2022
Schedule 1 Changes: A news killed work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 has been introduced w.e.f. November 16, 2019, with the following features:
Schedule 2 Changes:
Schedule 3 changes:
To know more details or clarification about the rule changes above, you can e-mail your queries to our Australia immigration expert at info@visasavenue.com.
Apply Australia PR this year through the Certified Australia Migration Expert
If you want to apply for a Skilled visa, Study visa, Visit visa, etc. in Australia or wish to apply for an Australian PR visa this year, through the guidance of certified and vastly experienced Australia migration experts, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue- the top and trusted Australia Immigration Consultant in India.
You may call Visas Avenue migration experts on Toll-Free Number- 78-18-000-777. Moreover, to get your eligibility checked and subsequently receive a call from the expert, you may fill the free assessment form.
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