News and updates

Migration update - Covid-19 There have been quite a lot of changes announced recently due to the rapidly evolving situation with Covid-19. We have summarised some these changes below and we will provide updates as and when changes are implemented. Read more.

Find out about the latest Skills Select Round for January 2020 In the January 2020 round, 1,000 invitations were issued for subclass 189 – Skilled Independent visa and 300 invitations for subclass 491 – Family Sponsored stream. Read more.

Skilled Migration Occupation List to be reviewed  The Department is in the process of reviewing the skilled migration occupation list.  As a part of the review, the department has issued the Traffic Light Bulletin which contains all occupations that are flagged for a change to their current status or are recommended for a salary caveat. Read more.

Novel Coronavirus and Australian visas  The Australian government has announced that all travellers who left or transited from mainland China from 1 February 2020 will be denied entry to Australia, with exceptions. Read more.

Early support can help raise wages by up to $70K per annum for skilled migrants  A new report from Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre says that only 60% of migrants from a non-English-speaking background are working in well-matched jobs. Read more.

Upcoming Changes to Skills Select and Points Test  The Department of Home Affairs has provided further information about the changes to the points test and the new regional postcodes. Read more.

Subclass 491 visa State and Territory Nomination update The subclass 491 visa came in to effect on 16 November 2019. The Department of Home Affairs have now released the list of occupations and the regional postcodes. Read more

October 2019 Skills Select Update                                        Skilled The minimum point score for the 11 October 2019 Skills Select round was 80 points. The 992 invitations issued on 85 points, 318 invitations on 80 points, 149 invitations on 90 points. Read more

Find out the new Designated Regional area postcodes                                       Skilled Migration Service is hosting a series of events to bring corporate partners and international students and migrants together. Read more

Victoria releases the nomination criteria for Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491)Visa Victoria will start accepting applications for Victorian nomination under the subclass 491 visa program from 9 am Monday 18 November 2019. Read More

Change to Driving Licence Rules for Temporary Visa Holders The new Victoria road laws to Driving Licence Rules for temporary visa holders including international students commenced on Tuesday 29th October 2019. Read more

Event update Skilled Migration Service is hosting a series of events to bring corporate partners and international students and migrants together. Read more

Regional News Update The federal government announced last week that Gold Coast and Perth will no longer classify as ‘major cities’ and will fall under the category of ‘major regional centres’ for skilled migration purposes. Read more

    

The research report - experience of Skilled Professional Migrants In researching the experiences of recent skilled migrants, we conducted a survey and two focus groups. We enlisted our strong alumni network to participate in a survey (153 invited to participate) and focus groups (approx. 20 participants). Read full report

Skilled migrants struggling to find their feet, study finds Highly educated, highly skilled migrants often can't find good jobs because employers don't trust their experience, according to a new study. The research suggests the skills of many migrants are wasted as has recommended that workplaces be required by law to give equal opportunity to migrants.  Read more

Regional opportunities for Skilled Professionals The new 'Skilled regional visas', which will take effect in November, will open up many opportunities to international skilled professionals who cannot otherwise access the independent skilled visa to live and work in Australia. These provisional visas will potentially provide a pathway to permanent residency if all conditions on the visa are met: mainly, the visa holder (and dependants) must live and work in regional Australia. Read more

English language requirements for skilled visas If you are applying for a skilled migration visa, you need to meet the required English language criteria. Depending on the visa subclass you are applying for, you can demonstrate this in several ways. Read more

School fees for dependent subclass 482 visa holders The subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Applicants for a TSS visa may include dependent family members in their application. Family member have the below rights. Read more

Changes to the Skilled Migration Program being introduced on 16 November 2019 The federal government has announced changes to the skilled migration stream that will be introduced for the 2019/2020 financial year. Read more

New points test coming in to effect on 16 November 2019 The Migration Amendment (new Skilled Regional Visas) Regulation 2019 will also introduce a revised points system for subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) and the General Skilled Migration visas (subclass 189/190) from 16 November 2019. Read more