Fee Increase

• Fee increases for visas, appeals, citizenship.

Student visa changes

An applicant in Australia cannot apply for student visa if they hold:

• Subclass 403 (Domestic worker stream only)
• Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary))
• Subclass 485
• Subclass 600, 601, 602 and 651
• Subclass 771 (Transit)
• Subclass 988 (maritime crew)
• Subclass 995 (Diplomatic) – primary applicant only.

Changes already made to Student Visas

• English language requirement increased.
• Genuine Student test replaced Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria.
• Greater scrutiny of education providers
• Restrict swapping to a lower level course
• Increased financial requirements in support of application.

Graduate Visas

• New streams – Post-Vocational Education Work stream (PVEW) (former Graduate Work stream) and Post-Higher Education Work stream (PHEW) (former Post-Study Work stream)
• Replacement Stream application no longer available for new applications
• No more than 4 subclass 485 visas to be held
• Age must be under 35 years or under at the time of application including for Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (former Second Post-Study Work stream), except if applicant holds Hong Kong or British National Overseas or completed master degree by research or PhD – must be less than 50 years old.
• No need to have held first student visa after 16 November 2011 for PHEW stream.
• English language test only valid for 1 year (change made in March 2024).
• Applicants for PVEW must have completed diploma, associate degree or trade certificate – stay period 18 months (except HK and BNO passports)
• Relevant degrees expanded for the PHEW to include graduate certificates and graduate diplomas but these not included in the definition of the Australian Study Requirement – stay period 2-3 years (except HK and BNO passports and Indian nationals).
• Specialist Qualifications Pathway for 485 applicants allowing longer stay closed 30 June 2024.
• Changes already made to Graduate Visas:
• Increased English language requirements
• Reduce visa validity of 485 visas and restrict extensions to regional students.

Working Holiday / Work and Holiday Visas (WHV)

• UK passport holders are eligible to apply for second and third WHV without having to do specified 417 work.
• Philippines now included in Work and Holiday Visas. Applicants need to have tertiary qualifications or successful completion of undergraduate or post-secondary study – cap of 200 visas per year, no start date as yet and not subject to the ballot (but will need Letter of Concurrence from Philippines Government).

Changes related to Employer Sponsored Visas

• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) – relevant for subclass 482, 494 and 186 nominations increased to $73150
• Work condition on 457, 482 and 494 visas – applicable to all visas granted after 1 July 2024 and to any period of the visa after 1 July 2024 – allows a person to cease work for up to 180 days but no more than 365 days during visa period. During this period can work for anyone in this period in any occupation.
• Change has already been made to provide pathway to PR for all 482TRT visa holders

Partner visas

• Cessation events that can still lead to visa grant (death of sponsor, child of the relationship or FV) extended to subclass 300 visa holders who can still apply for a subclass 820/801 visa even if they have not married the sponsor provided one of the cessation events has occurred
• Subclass 300 visas can be granted inside or outside Australia (must be outside Australia at the time of application).

Workplace Justice Visa

• A new pathway introduced in the Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa that will allow people to remain in Australia to undertake a workplace justice activity. No sponsorship is needed but it requires a certificate stating that there has been worker exploitation.

Visas and pathways closing

• Subclass 476(Skilled – Recognised Graduate) closing – Schedule 1, Item 1228 (3)(aa) states application must be made before 1 July 2024

Changes to policy on health

• Policy on health requirement (4005-4007) updated on 1 July 2024 will include that from 1 July, applicants over 15 years applying for provisional or permanent visa that were born in a high risk Hep B country will require screening for Hep B as part of health check
• Significant” costs have increased to costs more than $86,000 – for temp visa costs are life of the visa, for Perm or prov visas – 5 years (less than 75 years) or 3 years (more than 75 years).

DISCLAIMER

1. The content of this post is for information purposes only. This post is not intended to constitute legal or immigration advice or assistance.
2. No person should act on the basis of the material contained in this post without obtaining advice relevant to their own personal circumstances and without considering and taking professional advice as may be necessary.
3. For detailed and upto date information, visit  Immigration and citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au) website.