The changes to Australia’s skilled visa program, effective from 7 December 2024, introduce significant updates aimed at addressing workforce needs. Here’s a summary of the key components:

1. Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL):
   The CSOL replaces the multiple skilled occupation lists previously used for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. It includes over 450 occupations across sectors such as construction, cyber security, agriculture, and health. This list is based on labour market analysis and will be applied to the Skills in Demand (SID) Core Skills stream and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa (Direct Entry stream).
2. Skills in Demand (SID) Visa: 4 YEAR VISA – FEE AUD 3115/- processing time – 4 months
   The SID visa replaces the TSS visa and is designed to streamline the process for skilled migrants and employers. This visa offers a pathway to permanent residence and allows holders to stay for up to 4 years. The SID visa has three streams:

• Core Skills stream: Focuses on addressing workforce shortages in targeted occupations. Applicants must be on the CSOL and earn at least AUD 73,150. New Core Skills Occupation List
• Specialist Skills stream: For highly skilled migrants in fields outside certain ANZSCO major groups (like trades or labourers), with a salary of at least AUD 135,000.

3. Pathway to Permanent Residence:
   SID visa holders will have a clear route to permanent residency, with work experience with an approved employer counting towards this. The work experience requirement is one year less than the TSS visa.

These changes aim to make the skilled migration process more efficient and responsive to Australia’s labour market needs, providing clarity and long-term opportunities for skilled workers and employers.

For more details:

• Skills in Demand Visa Information

Student visa

Australia recorded a 38% drop in student visas between October 2023 and August 2024, issuing around 298,000 visas to foreign students during this period, according to official data recently this week. Filipino, Colombian, and Indian students were among those most affected, hinting that many are facing barriers that may make other study destinations more appealing.

According to government data:

• Vietnamese student visas saw a 28% decrease
• Indian student visas declined by 56%
• Colombian student visas fell by 62%
• Filipino student visas dropped by 67%

Despite these hurdles, Australia continues to attract a large student population. As of July 2024, about 944,000 international students were in Australia, marking a 14% increase from the same period in 2023. This suggests that, while new visa numbers have fallen, Australia’s existing international student base remains strong.

New cap for international students from 2025

Earlier this year, Australian authorities announced that from 2025, there will be a cap on the number of foreign students at universities and vocational training providers, limited to 270,000 new enrolments. This move intends to better manage the growing number of international students.

“There are about ten per cent more international students in our universities today than before the pandemic and about 50 per cent more in our private vocational and training providers,” said Education Minister Jason Clare.

Universities with particularly high numbers of international students will also face new restrictions. “Otherwise, about 30,000 of the student spaces available under the cap will be allocated to other universities and non-university providers, and about 95,000 will be allocated to the VET sector,” government officials said. Some exemptions to these caps may be allowed, though further details are awaited.

Few Universities have paused admission for International students for 2025 intake – Australian Catholic University (ACU) and University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Australian Physiotherapy Council announced the eligibility and requirement for Skill assessment. The Australian Physiotherapy Council has updated the requirements and eligibility criteria for skill assessment.

Eligibility Criteria – Applicant must meet Ahpra’s English Language Skills Registration Standard for physiotherapists

Requirements – Applicants must meet any one of the requirements:

• Complete a physiotherapy qualification included in the Board of Australia’s approved programs of study under the profession of “Physiotherapist” from Australia.
• Have an Australian Physiotherapy Council Final Certificate
• Holder of Australia Physiotherapy Council Certificate from the Substantial Equivalence of Qualification.
• Current Certificate issued by Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand for unconditional Annual Practising Certificate and maximum 2 years of work experience as a Physiotherapist
• Hold a physiotherapist qualification, completed in New Zealand and accredited by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, and holder of the current unconditional Annual Practising Certificate issued by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.

Important Announcement

Victoria will give more importance to Construction Trade Occupation for Australian skilled visas

• For the skilled visa nomination program, the Victoria government decided on November 2024, to give more importance to construction trade occupations for 2024-2025. The Skilled visas included for the nomination are Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visas to address the country’s labor shortage.
• Below are the list of prioritized Occupation list from Construction Trade Occupation:

Australia issued invites for eligible candidates via Skill select Invitations rounds

On 7th November, Australia issued 15,000 invitations to candidates under Subclass 189 visas. Eligible candidates from certain occupations, such as IT professionals, professional engineers, trade occupations, a few general occupations, and healthcare professionals, were invited.

You can refer to the below table for top occupations and the minimum score required for each:

Occupation Shortage List

The Occupation Shortage List (OSL) provides a point-in-time assessment of the shortage status of occupations in the Australian labour market. – https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortages-analysis/occupation-shortage-list

Holiday Closure Notice:

Australian Immigration office, the authorised Assessing bodies and Universities & Institutes will close at 12 noon on Friday, 20 December 2024, and reopen at 9 am on Monday, 6 January 2025 towards the yearly festive holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year