Australia new migrant policy starting in july 2019
In July 2019, the Australian government introduced a new migrant policy aimed at attracting skilled workers and addressing labor shortages in certain industries. The policy, known as the "Skilled Migration Program" or "subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa", has several key features:
- Regional focus: The policy prioritizes migrants who are willing to live and work in regional areas outside of major cities like Sydney and Melbourne. This is intended to address labor shortages and population decline in regional areas.
- Points-based system: The policy uses a points-based system to assess applicants' skills, qualifications, and work experience. Points are awarded for factors such as:
- Age (up to 30 points)
- English language proficiency (up to 20 points)
- Qualifications and skills (up to 20 points)
- Work experience (up to 15 points)
- Study in Australia (up to 5 points)
- Streamlined application process: The policy aims to reduce processing times and make the application process more efficient. Applications are now assessed online, and applicants can track the progress of their application.
- Increased visa duration: The new policy offers a 5-year provisional visa, which can be extended for an additional 5 years. This allows migrants to settle in Australia for a longer period and build a life in the country.
- Pathway to permanent residency: The policy provides a clear pathway to permanent residency for eligible migrants. After 3 years of living and working in Australia on a provisional visa, applicants can apply for a permanent visa (subclass 191 Skilled Independent visa).
- Industry-specific requirements: The policy identifies specific industries with labor shortages, such as healthcare, technology, and agriculture. Migrants with skills in these areas may be given priority in the application process.
- Increased focus on regional skills: The policy places greater emphasis on regional skills and qualifications, recognizing that regional areas often require different skills and expertise than major cities.
Key changes for migrants:
- New visa subclass: The new policy introduces a new visa subclass (491) for skilled workers, which replaces the previous subclass 457 visa.
- Regional work experience: Migrants are now required to have at least 2 years of work experience in a regional area to be eligible for the new visa.
- English language requirements: The policy maintains the same English language requirements as the previous visa, with applicants needing to demonstrate proficiency in English at a certain level.
Overall, the new migrant policy aims to attract skilled workers who are willing to live and work in regional areas, addressing labor shortages and population decline in these regions.