Australia Immigration Rule Changes in 2022

If you are applying for Australian visa this year, you must know the process requirements and rule changes applicable. Australia has the quite straightforward point-based system of immigration to allocate permanent residency to the skilled and talented people from overseas.

In last few months, the Australian government has employed few vital changes in the visa rules and process requirements, which will crucial for the individuals applying for visa in Australia this year.

Australia Immigration Rule Changes and updates 2022: 

Here is the list of latest Australia Immigration Rule Changes and updates applicable in 2022: 

• A region of WA enters DAMA- South West region of WA has entered the DAMA agreement in order to fill labour shortage. The federal Government is creating a DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) with the Shire of Dardanup. It will the 8th region in Australia to enter a 5 year agreement with the Commonwealth.
• New South Wales to consider offshore candidates- The NSW is now considering the offshore candidates, skilled in a few main occupations within some ANZSCO unit groups in periodic invitation rounds. These unit groups have been marked already in NSW Skilled Occupation List.
• Australia reopened its borders- Australian government has opened its border from 15 December 2021 for all fully vaccinated eligible visa holders, i.e. skilled professionals and international students.
• Announcements for International students- Australian government has declared key measures for the overseas students. These new arrangements will extend measures to protect the post-study work rights of overseas students as well as increase the temporary graduate visa from 2 to 3 years for masters by coursework graduates.
• Section 48 bar no longer a hurdle- As per the announcement from Australian government, from November 13, 2021, onshore candidates affected by the section 48 bar can apply for the below three skilled visas, i.e. Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494).
• Changes in WA state nomination ranking- Western Australia (WA) has applied some key changes to the ranking system it uses for the issuing of ITAs for State nomination. The idea of these changes to focus more on the applicants, i.e. skilled workers and international students, currently staying in WA.

Update on South Australia Business & Investment Program 2021-22

The SA has removed two key steps from the application process, used in the former 2020-21 program year. The new changes comprise the following:

• Removal of the exploratory visit to South Australia and
• Elimination of the requirement to submit an ‘Intention to Apply’ (ITA) form for the 2021-22 program year.

The Business & Investment Program 2021-22… Read more

Changes to Victoria 2021-22 Skilled Migration program

Victoria, Australia has made some key changes inits Skilled Migration Program 2021-22. The changes includes, elimination of the minimum experience and hours worked requirement, rise in the number of targeted sectors, etc. ……Read more

Australia has increased the Citizenship Application fee

The Australian government has revised the Australian Citizenship Application fee with effect from July 1, 2021. The fee is being revised to more accurately reflect the cost of application processing. However, there are no changes to fee exemptions…. Read more

The Australian government has revised the visa fee

Australia has revised the visa fee for all its visa categories with effect from July 1, 2021. Among other visas, the Department of Home Affairs, Australia has slightly increased the visa fee for all popular skilled visa categories, i.e.

• Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
• Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491

The government revises the visa fee every year on…. Read more

Australia has updated the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List

The Department of Home Affairs, Australia has updated the PMSOL (Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List) on June 22, 2021.This time around, the DHA has included 22 new occupations to the list. It is now the list of 41 occupations, prepared to meet the critical skills shortage in Australia to support economic recovery in view of the Global Pandemic…. Read more

Changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)

Australia is making key changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) of Australia. The government will simplify it from nine to four key streams, and there will be changes to eligibility requirements as well. These changes will take effect from July 1, 2021….. Read more

Annual Nomination Quota allocated to states/territories

The Australian government has allocated a full annual nomination quota to states/territories of Australia. Most of them shall start accepting application for 2020-21 from January 2021 onwards.

English language requirement for the partner visa applicants

Alan Tudge- the acting Immigration Minister of Australia, has announced that Australia to introduce the English language requirement for the partner visa applicants from the closing months of 2021….. Read more

Australian Citizenship Test updated. 

Australia has updated the Citizenship Test from November 15, 2020. The new changes in the test will focus on Australian values. Alan Tudge- the acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, has confirmed the same…… Read more

Fee waiver on the lodgement of new international student visa

The DHA, Australia has confirmed that it has applied for the fee waiver on the lodgement of new international student visa applications from 5 August 2020 (midnight-AEST). The government has announced to waive the student visa fee of those students who held a student visa on or after 1st February 2020. Hence, could not complete their course of study within their original visa validity because of the global pandemic…. Read more

Key Changes applicable to Australia’s immigration point system

With effect from November 16, 2019, Australia has implemented the following changes in Australia’s Immigration point Calculator 2021:

• 10 points for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner
• 15 Points for applicants nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia
• 10 points –for having certain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) qualifications
• 10 points for applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner
• 5 Points – for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has competent English 

Other Important Australia Immigration Rule Changes applicable in 2022

Schedule 1 Changes: A news killed work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 has been introduced w.e.f. November 16, 2019, with the following features:

• Introduction of the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491), a new and enhanced Points-tested visa to benefit regional parts of Australia, for candidates nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area
• Removal of the Subclass 489 (Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 489) has been removed and replaced by Subclass 491 visa.

Schedule 2 Changes:

• Introduction of the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa (Subclass 494), a new and improved employer-sponsored visa to benefit regional Australia, with 2 key streams: Employer-Sponsored and Labour Agreement;
• Brings employers seeking to employ foreign workers on a Subclass 494 visa under the sponsorship regime for employers in the Migration Act (Division 3A of Part 2 of the Migration Act); and
• Removal of the Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa, except for certain transitional cohorts. TheSubclass 494 visahas replaced the old Subclass 187 visa.

Schedule 3 changes:

• Introduction of a new PR visa Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa (Subclass 191) from 16 November 2022
• provide that the new Subclass 191 may only be applied for by holders of the new Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visa

To know more details or clarification about the rule changes above, you can e-mail your queries to our Australia immigration expert at info@visasavenue.com. 

Apply Australia PR this year through the Certified Australia Migration Expert

If you want to apply for a Skilled visa, Study visa, Visit visa, etc. in Australia or wish to apply for an Australian PR visa this year, through the guidance of certified and vastly experienced Australia migration experts, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue- the top and trusted Australia Immigration Consultant in India.

You may call Visas Avenue migration experts on Toll-Free Number- 78-18-000-777. Moreover, to get your eligibility checked and subsequently receive a call from the expert, you may fill the free assessment form.