Australia has announced new student, work visa rules

Australia Student Visa- Higher scores in English proficiency tests

For the Australia Student Visa, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Australia has introduced new policies, requiring foreign students to achieve higher scores in English proficiency tests. There will be increased scrutiny on second visa applications for extensions. Under the IELTS (International English Language Testing System),

• English proficiency requirement increased for Graduate visa applicants from a score of 6.0 to 6.5
• English proficiency requirement increased for Student visa applicants from a score of 5.5 to 6.0

Also read- How to Apply Australia Study Visa from India

Work Visa- New Skills in Demand Visa

The Australian government has announced the introduction of a new visa, the Skills in Demand Visa, set to replace the existing Temporary Skill Shortage Visa. According to the assessment, this fresh visa targets to afford workers greater flexibility to change employers and setup clear paths to permanent residency for those aspiring to pursue them.

This four-year visa will feature three distinct pathways, each delineated by skill level.

• The first pathway caters to specialist skills, drawing highly skilled professionals primarily from sectors like technology and energy. Eligible applicants for this pathway must earn a minimum of $135,000 in any occupation, excluding trade workers, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers.
• The second pathway focuses on core skills essential to fulfil workforce demands, with a "simpler" regularly updated occupation list expected to evolve over time to align with Australia's job market dynamics.
• The third pathway, yet to be developed, aims essential skills and emphasizes addressing labour shortages, particularly for people with lower incomes.

The Australian government expects that these new pathways will contribute $3.4 billion to the budget's bottom line over the next decade.

Also read-  General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program of Australia

Australia Student Visa for Indians- Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement

Addressing the Australia Student Visa for Indians, Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, assured that commitments under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) would be maintained. Indian graduates can live on a Temporary Graduate Visa for

• 2 years for a bachelor's degree,
• 3 years for a Master's degree, and
• 4 years for a Ph.D.

The decision to overhaul the visa systems stems from a estimated peak in net immigration at 510,000 in 2022-23, primarily driven by foreign students. To manage this inflow, the Australian government aims to align immigration levels with pre-covid numbers, expecting a drop to around a quarter of a million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, as per official data.

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To apply for relevant visa in Australia in 2024, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue Australia migration expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar