Australia overhauls visa program for skilled workers

In November 2021, the Australian government announced significant changes to its visa program for skilled workers, aimed at attracting more highly skilled migrants and addressing labor shortages in key industries. The overhaul is designed to streamline the process, reduce processing times, and provide more flexibility for employers and workers.

Key changes include:

  1. New Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: This visa will replace the current Subclass 489 visa and will allow skilled workers to live and work in regional areas for up to five years. The visa will have a lower English language requirement and will not require a nomination from a state or territory government.
  2. Streamlined processing for skilled workers: The government has introduced a new online application system, which will reduce processing times for skilled worker visas from 12-18 months to 6-12 months.
  3. Increased points for regional work experience: The points system for skilled worker visas will now award more points for work experience in regional areas, encouraging workers to take up jobs in these areas.
  4. New Skilled Employer-Sponsored (subclass 482) visa: This visa will replace the current Temporary Skilled Migration Initiative (TSMI) and will allow employers to sponsor skilled workers for up to four years. The visa will have a higher salary threshold and will require employers to demonstrate that they have tried to recruit an Australian citizen or permanent resident before sponsoring a foreign worker.
  5. Increased flexibility for temporary workers: The government has introduced a new temporary visa, the Skilled Temporary (subclass 408) visa, which will allow workers to stay in Australia for up to two years and will provide more flexibility for employers to sponsor workers on a temporary basis.
  6. New pathway to permanent residency: The government has introduced a new pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers who have worked in regional areas for at least three years. This will provide a more direct pathway to permanent residency for workers who have made a long-term commitment to living and working in regional Australia.

The changes are designed to address labor shortages in key industries, such as healthcare, technology, and construction, and to attract more highly skilled migrants to regional areas. The government hopes that the reforms will help to drive economic growth, innovation, and regional development in Australia.