Know About New Immigration Rules Australia 2024!

Since July 1, 2024, the Australian Government has taken into force some of the major changes in the immigration policies that impact various visa conditions and programs.

As the new financial year begins, here's the summary of new immigration rules in Australia you need to be aware of.

1. Australian Visa Conditions Update for Temporary Migrants Starting 1 July 2024.

Starting 1 July 2024, the Australian Government will implement changes to visa conditions 8107, 8607, and 8608 as part of Australia's New Migration Strategy

Key changes will benefit holders of the following visas:

• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)
• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494)

Visa holders who stop working with their sponsoring employer will now have up to:

• 180 days at a time, or
• A maximum of 365 days in total across the entire visa grant period

During this time, visa holders can:

• Work for other employers
• Work in occupations not listed in their most recent sponsorship nomination
• Support themselves while seeking new sponsorship

The visa holders must:

• Cease work with their current sponsor before working for another employer
• Continue in their nominated occupation while employed by their existing sponsor.

READ THIS: New Skills In Demand Visa Australia

2. TSMIT Increase

Thus starting from 1 July 2024 the TSMIT rises from $70000 to $73150. This adjustment is critical for the firms and employees who are affiliated with Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494), and Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visas.

3. Changes to the Australia Temporary Graduate 485 Visa Program

The Australian Government has shared plans to update the Temporary Graduate visa programs in its latest Migration Strategy. These updates are set to start on July 1, 2024, if the necessary legal changes are approved.

Changes in the Graduate Work stream:

• It will be called the Post-Vocational Education Workstream.
• People applying must be under 35 years old (except for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who can be under 50).
• You need to have an associate degree, diploma, or trade qualification related to a specific job on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
• If you have a higher degree like a bachelor's or above, you can't apply for this stream anymore.
• You can stay for up to 18 months, but Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport holders might stay for up to 5 years.

Changes in the Post-Study Work stream:

• It will be called the Post-Higher Education Workstream.
• People applying must be under 35 years old (except for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who can be under 50).
• The special 2-year extension for certain degrees will stop.
• The length of stay depends on your degree:
• Bachelor's degree: up to 2 years
• Master's degree: up to 2 years for coursework and extended programs, up to 3 years for research-based programs.
• Doctoral degree (PhD): up to 3 years.

For Indian nationals, there are different stay periods based on agreements between Australia and India. - Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), remain as:

• Bachelor's degree (including honors) - up to 2 years
• Bachelor's degree (with first-class honors in STEM, including ICT) - up to 3 years
• Masters (coursework extended and research) - up to 3 years
• Doctoral degrees (PhD) - up to 4 years.

Also, this: Overcome Visitor Visa Refusals with SIEC Expert

4. Australia's new visa application charges have been introduced by the Australian Government.

As of 1st of July 2024, new charges for Australia visa applications has been implemented. The above new charges shall be applicable to every application for a visa that has been lodged at the Department on or after 1 July 2024.

Here's a brief overview of some of the most popular subclasses:

Other Australia Immigration New Rules 2024!

Australian Government will implement a New Pre-Application (Ballot) System for Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa for Indians at AUD 25

A significant update to the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa process, the Government will implement a pre-application (ballot) system for the 2024-25 program year. This new process will apply to high-demand countries, including China, Vietnam, and India, with a registration fee set at AUD 25.

Australian Government Halts New Subclass 188 Visa Applications from July 2024

New Subclass 188 Visa Applications are halted by the Australian Government since July 2024. The Migration has informed that no new applications for Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa will be entertained from the month of July 2024. As a result, the Victorian Government will also have no more arrangements for any new application for the Victorian nomination within this visa subclass. The subclass 188 visa holders, who meet the requirements for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) visa, still have the chance to do it. Also, those in Business Innovation or Significant Investor streams may apply for an extension if they require more time to satisfy the subclass 888 conditions. Their applications for the 188 – Extension stream subclass 188 visa as well as all streams of the subclass 888 visa are still being accepted by the Victorian Government.

Australian Fair Work Commission confirms the minimum and award wages to be increased by 3.75% from 1st July 2024

Australia's minimum and award wages are poised to rise by 3.75% following a ruling by the Fair Work Commission. Effective July 1, the national minimum wage will increase to $24.10 per hour or $915.91 per week based on a 38-hour work week. The decision, affecting approximately 2.6 million workers—about 20.7% of the national workforce—represents an approximate $33 per week increase from current levels.

Western Australia Opens Doors to 10,000 Immigrants Through New DAMA and State Program

On July 1, 2024 - Western Australia announced the introduction of a new Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) and state migration program that aims to welcome 10,000 immigrants to the region. This initiative is part of the government's effort to address labor shortages and stimulate economic growth. The new DAMA will provide tailored solutions to meet the specific workforce needs of regional areas, allowing businesses to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled workers. This agreement covers a wide range of industries including agriculture, hospitality, healthcare, and construction.

What To Do Next?

If you intend to relocate to Australia seeking assistance from specialists at SIEC could prove beneficial, given their extensive knowledge of Australian visas and skill assessments. We are the highly Certified MARA Agents listed on the Register of Migration Agents and are licensed to provide legal immigration assistance for individuals wanting to migrate overseas and have the capacity to provide comprehensive support throughout the entire journey.

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