Australia new immigration policy
Australia has a points-based immigration system, which is designed to attract skilled workers who can contribute to the country's economy and society. The system is managed by the Department of Home Affairs and is based on a points test, which assesses applicants' skills, qualifications, language proficiency, and other factors.
Here are some key features of Australia's new immigration policy:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): This visa is for highly skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member. Applicants must have a minimum of 65 points out of 100 to be eligible.
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): This visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government. Applicants must have a minimum of 65 points out of 100 to be eligible.
- Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: This visa is for skilled workers who are sponsored by a state or territory government or an eligible relative. Applicants must have a minimum of 65 points out of 100 to be eligible.
- Priority processing: The Australian government has introduced a priority processing system for certain visa applications, including those for skilled workers and international students. This means that applications will be processed more quickly if they meet certain criteria.
- Regional migration: The government has introduced a new regional migration program, which aims to encourage skilled workers to live and work in regional areas. This program includes a new visa stream for regional workers and a regional migration agreement with the states and territories.
- English language requirements: Applicants must demonstrate a certain level of English language proficiency, which is assessed using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Age: Applicants must be under the age of 45 to be eligible for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
- Education: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or higher qualification to be eligible for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
- Work experience: Applicants must have at least two years of relevant work experience to be eligible for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
- Points system: The points system assesses applicants' skills, qualifications, language proficiency, and other factors to determine their eligibility for a visa.
Some of the key changes to Australia's immigration policy in recent years include:
- Introduction of the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: This visa was introduced in November 2019 to encourage skilled workers to live and work in regional areas.
- Changes to the points system: The points system was updated in November 2019 to give more weight to applicants' English language skills and work experience.
- Introduction of the Priority Processing system: This system was introduced in July 2019 to prioritize the processing of certain visa applications, including those for skilled workers and international students.
- Changes to the regional migration program: The regional migration program was updated in 2019 to encourage more skilled workers to live and work in regional areas.
It's worth noting that Australia's immigration policy is subject to change, and new policies and programs are being introduced regularly. If you're considering immigrating to Australia, it's a good idea to check the Department of Home Affairs website for the most up-to-date information.