Upcoming Changes to the Skilled Migration Program.

Upcoming Changes to the Skilled Migration Program

The partial release of the Commonwealth Government’s new Migration Strategy in December 2023 holds important implications for the future shape of Australia’s Skilled Migration Program. A new Skills in Demand visa will replace the current Temporary Skills Shortage visa. The new visa will have three pathways (or streams) and will be valid for four years from the grant date.

A. Specialist Skills Pathway

·      for applicants with annual earnings of $135,000 or more

·      annual limit of 3,000 places

·      processing time of 7 days

·      available for nearly all occupations (exceptions are trade workers, machinery operators, skilled labourers and drivers)

B. Core Skills Pathway

·      for applicants with annual earnings between $70,000 and $135,000 (indexed annually)

·      targeted occupations to be listed on a Core Skills Occupation List (will include selected trade workers)

·      processing time of 21 days

C. Essential Skills Pathway

·      for applicants with annual learning below $70,000 (indexed annually)

·      likely to be restricted to aged- and disability-care workers, and subject to union approval and oversight

·      processing time of 21 days