Australia Immigration Rule Changes in 2021

If you wish to apply for an Australian visa in 2021, you must know the process requirements and rule changes applicable this year. Australia has a quite straightforward and point-based system for immigration and allocating permanent residency to skilled and talented people overseas.

In the last few months, the Australian government has employed a few vital changes in the visa rules and process requirements, which will be applicable this year.

Here are some key Australia immigration rule Changes applicable in 2021:

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 2020:

• 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 2020

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 in 2020, 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.