Australia will maintain its current immigration direction under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labour government, with a focus on skilled migration and measures to reduce overall net migration. Following the Labour Party's re-election, the government will move forward with raising salary thresholds for skilled visa categories and increasing fees for student visa applications, as reported by Lubna Kably in The Times of India.
Australia’s Indian community, which is the second largest migrant group in the country, has grown significantly. As of June 2023, over 8.5 lakh Indian-born people lived in Australia—more than double the 3.8 lakh recorded in 2013. However, new visa restrictions have led to a sharp fall in visa approvals. In 2023–24, Indian nationals received 50,516 student visas, compared to 1.02 lakh the year before. Temporary skilled employment visas dropped from 27,402 to 18,397 over the same period.
In December 2023, the Australian government said it would reduce net migration from the record 5.1 lakh by half over the next two years. The plan includes tighter checks on international students and a focus on workers with high-demand skills. Projections estimate net overseas migration will drop to 2.5 lakh in 2024–25, 2.55 lakh in 2025–26, and 2.35 lakh in 2026–27 as per the TOI report.
Teresa Liu, managing partner (Australia & New Zealand) at global immigration firm Fragomen, told Lubna, "We expect the current set of reforms on the Skilled Visa Program and the migration strategy reform agenda to continue. The main takeaway for aspiring employees and indeed employers or Indian businesses doing business in Australia, is that from a policy perspective, it is largely business as usual. However, the more 'mundane' or expected changes in occupation lists and salary thresholds are expected to be announced in July."
In line with this policy, the ‘Skills-in-demand’ visa was launched last year, replacing the older system. The visa is split into three streams—‘specialist’, ‘core’, and ‘essential’ skills. Under these reforms, the salary threshold for core skills jobs will increase from AUD 73,150 to AUD 76,515. For specialist skills, it will rise from AUD 135,000 to AUD 141,210. Liu added that these changes will require both employers and workers to plan accordingly.
The government had earlier tried to cap student intake in 2023, but the attempt was unsuccessful. A visa fee hike appears likely from July 2025. The fee was last revised in July 2024 to AUD 1,600, a 125% rise from AUD 710. The new plan proposes an additional increase of AUD 400, bringing the total fee to AUD 2,000.
(With inputs from TOI)
Australia’s Indian community, which is the second largest migrant group in the country, has grown significantly. As of June 2023, over 8.5 lakh Indian-born people lived in Australia—more than double the 3.8 lakh recorded in 2013. However, new visa restrictions have led to a sharp fall in visa approvals. In 2023–24, Indian nationals received 50,516 student visas, compared to 1.02 lakh the year before. Temporary skilled employment visas dropped from 27,402 to 18,397 over the same period.
In December 2023, the Australian government said it would reduce net migration from the record 5.1 lakh by half over the next two years. The plan includes tighter checks on international students and a focus on workers with high-demand skills. Projections estimate net overseas migration will drop to 2.5 lakh in 2024–25, 2.55 lakh in 2025–26, and 2.35 lakh in 2026–27 as per the TOI report.
Teresa Liu, managing partner (Australia & New Zealand) at global immigration firm Fragomen, told Lubna, "We expect the current set of reforms on the Skilled Visa Program and the migration strategy reform agenda to continue. The main takeaway for aspiring employees and indeed employers or Indian businesses doing business in Australia, is that from a policy perspective, it is largely business as usual. However, the more 'mundane' or expected changes in occupation lists and salary thresholds are expected to be announced in July."
In line with this policy, the ‘Skills-in-demand’ visa was launched last year, replacing the older system. The visa is split into three streams—‘specialist’, ‘core’, and ‘essential’ skills. Under these reforms, the salary threshold for core skills jobs will increase from AUD 73,150 to AUD 76,515. For specialist skills, it will rise from AUD 135,000 to AUD 141,210. Liu added that these changes will require both employers and workers to plan accordingly.
The government had earlier tried to cap student intake in 2023, but the attempt was unsuccessful. A visa fee hike appears likely from July 2025. The fee was last revised in July 2024 to AUD 1,600, a 125% rise from AUD 710. The new plan proposes an additional increase of AUD 400, bringing the total fee to AUD 2,000.
(With inputs from TOI)
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