SkillSelect EOI Invitation RoundResults FY2025–2026: Subclass 189 & 491 Visas

The Department of Home Affairs has published the results of the most recent SkillSelect invitation round, which determines invitations for the following visas:

• Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent visa

• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Family Sponsored stream)

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NEW Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa

Overview

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482). The SID visa allows most visa holders to stay in Australia for up to four years. It offers a streamlined process for both migrants and employers seeking skilled workers to grow their businesses.

SID visa holders benefit from a clear pathway to permanent residence, providing certainty for both migrants and employers.

SID Visa Streams

The SID visa has three streams tailored to address various workforce needs:

1. Core Skills Stream:Designed to meet targeted workforce shortages. Most SID visa holders will use this stream.
2. Specialist Skills Stream:Focused on attracting highly skilled migrants to drive innovation and job creation.
3. Labour Agreement Stream:Currently being replaced by the Essential Skills Stream, which is under development.

Benefits of the SID Visa

With a SID visa, you can:

• Access a pathway to permanent residence. Any work with an approved employer counts toward this pathway.
• Fulfill a reduced work experience requirement compared to the TSS visa. SID applicants need one year of work experience in their nominated occupation or a related field.
• Meet the same English language requirements as the TSS medium-term stream (equivalent to an IELTS band score of 5 in all four components).

SID Visa Streams in Detail

Specialist Skills Stream

This stream acknowledges that highly skilled migrants contribute significantly to national productivity. It is designed for applicants who:

• Meet general eligibility requirements.
• Have an occupation listed in the ANZSCO 2022, excluding ANZSCO Major Group levels 3, 7, and 8 (e.g., trades workers, machinery operators, drivers, and laborers).
• Earn at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD135,000, ensuring parity with Australian workers in the same roles.

Core Skills Stream

This stream addresses workforce shortages by targeting specific occupations. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Meet general eligibility requirements.
• Have an occupation listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) identified as being in shortage. This includes roles aligned with Australia’s commitments under international trade agreements.
• Be paid a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD73,150.

Transition from the TSS Visa

Applications for the TSS visa closed on 6 December 2024. Outstanding applications lodged before this date will continue to be processed under the existing arrangements.

TSS visa holders will retain access to a pathway for permanent residence, provided they meet all relevant eligibility criteria.

Need Help?

If you need further information about the new Skills in Demand Visa or assistance with your application, please contact our team. We are here to guide you through every step of the process.

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Australian Visa Changes from 1 July 2024

Several significant changes to Australian visas have come into effect from 1 July 2024. Here are the key changes you should be aware of:

1. Student Visa

From 1 July 2024 onwards, the following visa holders are prohibited from applying for the Student Visa through the onshore pathway:

• Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)
• Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)
• Medical Treatment (Subclass 602)
• eVisitor (Subclass 651)
• Maritime Crew (Subclass 988)
• Visitor (Subclass 600)

2. Employer-Sponsored Visa

• TSMIT Increase: Starting from 1 July 2024, the TSMIT increases from $70,000 to $73,150. This means that all new nomination applications for the mentioned visa categories must ensure nominees receive an annual salary of at least $73,150 or the annual market salary rate for their occupation, whichever is greater.
• Changes to Visa Conditions 8107, 8607, and 8608: From 1 July 2024, Temporary Work (Skilled) (Subclass 457) visa holders, Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa holders, and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa holders who stop working with their sponsoring employer will have more time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa, or arrange to depart Australia. These visa holders will have up to:

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

Note: The changes apply to existing visa holders, as well as those granted a visa on or after 1 July 2024. Any periods a visa holder stopped working for their sponsor before 1 July 2024 will not count towards the new time periods outlined above.

3. Temporary Graduate Visa

• The maximum age for applicants has been reduced from 50 to 35 years, except for Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders and Masters (research) or PhD graduates, who can apply until age 50.
• The Graduate Work stream has been renamed to Post Vocational Education Work stream.
• The Post Study Work stream has been renamed to Post Higher Education Work stream.

4. Working Holiday Maker Program

• UK passport holders will be able to be granted up to three Working Holiday (Subclass 417) visas without having to meet any specified work requirements from 1 July 2024.
• Republic of Philippines passport holders are eligible to apply for a Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa.

5. Visa Application Charge Changes

The visa application charge for all types of visas has increased from 1 July 2024.

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2024-2025 Migration Program planning levels

On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced that the planning levels for the 2024–25 permanent Migration Program (Migration Program) will be set at 185,000 places.

The permanent Migration Program will help fill skills shortages in priority sectors and prioritise visa processing for regional Australia while the Australian Government builds the domestic pipeline of highly skilled workers.

The 2024–25 Migration Program also recognises the strong contribution all migrants make to social cohesion. It focuses on strengthening family and community bonds in Australia.

A well-targeted, skills focussed Migration Program supplements the cohort of working-age people. It helps boost participation rates and the size of the labour force.

The 2024–25 permanent Migration Program has the following composition:

• Skill stream (132,200 places, approximately 71 per cent of the program) – This stream has been designed to improve the productive capacity of the economy and fill skill shortages in the labour market, particularly those in regional Australia.
• Family stream (52,500 places, approximately 28 per cent of the program) – This stream is predominantly made up of Partner visas, enabling Australians to reunite with family members from overseas and provide them with pathways to citizenship. Of this stream:
  • 40,500 Partner visas are estimated for 2024–25 for planning purposes, noting this category is demand-driven.
  • 3,000 Child visas are estimated for 2024–25 for planning purposes, noting this category is demand-driven.
• Special Eligibility stream (300 places) – This stream covers visas for those in special circumstances, including permanent residents returning to Australia after a period overseas.

Migration Program planning levels, as announced as part of the 2023–24 and 2024–25 Federal Budgets, are as follows:

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What is Labour Market Testing？

Labour Market Testing (LMT) is a regulatory measure mandated by the Australian government to safeguard the interests of the domestic workforce. Its primary objective is to ensure that Australian employers exhaust all avenues to recruit local talent before turning to overseas workers to fill skilled positions. By implementing LMT, the Australian government aims to prioritize the employment of Australian citizens and permanent residents, thereby fostering a robust and sustainable labour market. Labour market testing (LMT) generally involves advertising the position in Australia.

TSS visa (subclass 482) Short-term stream and Medium-term stream and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) Employer Sponsored stream labour market testing

When sponsors nominate an applicant they must provide a copy of the advertising material used to advertise the position (that is, copies of all advertisements that meet the advertising requirements).

For most nominations, the position must have been advertised for at least four weeks within the four month period immediately prior to lodging the nomination application. If an Australian citizen or permanent resident worker has been made redundant or retrenched from the nominated occupation within 4 months before lodging the nomination application, the advertising must have occurred since the date of the redundancy or retrenchment.

Note: information about these redundancies or retrenchments must also be provided with the nomination.

In addition, the advertising of the nominated position must meet all of the requirements below:

• the advertisement was in Australia, in English and included the following information:
  • the title, or a description, of the position (multiple positions in one advertisement is acceptable)
  • the skills or experience required for the position
  • the name of the approved sponsor or the name of the recruitment agency being used by the sponsor
  • the salary for the position – if the annual earnings for the position are lower than AUD96,400 (it is acceptable to publish a salary range, for example, AUD80,000 to AUD90,000).
• at least 2 advertisements were published in any of the below:
  • on a prominent or professional recruitment website with national reach that publishes advertisements for positions throughout Australia
    • industry-specific recruitment websites relevant to the occupation that are in significant use by the industry are an acceptable method of LMT advertising
    • a general classifieds website or an advertisement solely through social media notification (such as Twitter or Instagram) are not acceptable methods. LinkedIn’s online recruitment platform is acceptable for LMT purposes. Job vacancies restricted to LinkedIn profile members only are not acceptable for LMT purposes.
  • in national print media (that is, newspapers or magazines with national reach that are published at least monthly and marketed throughout Australia)
  • on national radio with national reach
  • on the business’s website if the sponsor is an accredited sponsor.
• advertisements, including on websites, are expected to run for at least 4 weeks
• applications or expressions of interest for the advertised position must have been accepted for at least 4 weeks.

Note:

• the nominated position may be advertised in the same medium (such as newspaper advertisements, on two separate occasions) or in any two different mediums simultaneously, or on two separate occasions
• the nominated position may be advertised over two or more overlapping periods totalling a minimum of 4 weeks
• advertising may have been undertaken by a third party if authorised to do so by the sponsor (for example, an associated entity or a contracted party, such as a recruitment agency) – there is no requirement that the sponsor placed the advertisement themselves.

Evidence of a total of 2 advertisements must be provided at the time the nomination is lodged.

Exemptions – International trade obligations (ITOs)

LMT is not required where Australia has waived this requirement under its ITOs, including in any of the following circumstances:

• the worker you nominate is applying in one of the LMT exempt categories under these ITOs and is a citizen/national of Brunei, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam or is a citizen/national/permanent resident of Canada, Chile, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or the United Kingdom.
• the worker you nominate is a current employee of a business that is an associated entity of your business, and the associated entity is located in an Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) country (Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam), Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Peru, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Niue, the Cook Islands or Vanuatu.
• the worker you nominate is a current employee of an associated entity of your business, and that associated entity operates in a country that is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the nominated occupation is an Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of ITOs, and the nominee will be responsible for the entire or a substantial part of your company’s operations in Australia.
• your business currently operates in a WTO member country or territory, or Tuvalu, Kiribati, Niue, or the Cook Islands, and is seeking to set up a business in Australia, and the nominated occupation is an Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of ITOs. Countries that are currently WTO members are listed on the World Trade Organization website. For the purposes of ITOs, the following occupations are considered to be Executives or Senior Managers.

• the worker you nominate is a citizen or an eligible permanent resident* of a WTO member country or territory and has worked for you in the nominated position in Australia on a full-time basis for the last two years.

Note: the above ITO exemptions do not apply for nominations lodged under a labour agreement and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494).

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The Costs of Sponsoring Foreign Employees for Employer-Sponsored Visas

Australia attracts skilled professionals from around the world, and businesses often seek to sponsor foreign workers for Australian Employer-Sponsored Visas to fill job vacancies. While these visas offer opportunities, it is crucial to grasp the costs involved. In this article, we will break down the expenses associated with sponsoring foreign workers for Australian visas, helping you understand the costs involved in the applications.

Visa Types

Currently, three main employer-sponsored visa types are available: Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa, Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa.

Application Steps

• For the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa, three steps are involved:

1. 1. Sponsorship
   2. Nomination
   3. Visa Application

• For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, two steps are involved:

1. 1. Nomination
   2. Visa Application

Sponsorship and Nomination Cost

• Becoming an approved sponsor under the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa program: AU$420
• Nominating a visa applicant for the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: AU$330
• Nominating a visa applicant for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa: AU$540. If the business is located in a regional area, the nomination fee will be NIL for eligible streams.
• Paying the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: The amount depends on the business turnover, visa type and the proposed period of stay of the employee.

Skilling Australians Fund levy

Employers must pay the applicable nomination training contribution charge referred to as the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. The purpose of the SAF levy is for employers to contribute to the broader skills development of Australians.

The levy funds are managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

The Department of Home Affairs calculates the required SAF levy amount which is payable in full at the time of lodging a nomination application using information provided in the online nomination application. The online form will calculate the amount you must pay, which depends on the:

• size of the sponsoring business and
• proposed period of stay of the overseas worker in Australia.

Example: a business with an annual turnover of more than AUD15 million per year that wishes to nominate an employee to apply for a subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa for a period of 4 years, the business would be liable to pay a levy of AU$7,200 (4 years x AU$1,800).

Visa Application Fee

Other Costs

In addition to the application fees mentioned above, there will be other incurred costs, such as professional fees for migration agents/lawyers and expenses for labour market testing, which may vary among different companies.

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When applying for an Australian visa, you may be required to submit an Australian Police Certificate to support your application. This certificate provides information about your criminal history in Australia and is often a mandatory requirement for immigration and visa applications. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of obtaining an Australian National Police Certificate to assist you with your visa application.

Note:

• You must include details of all names you have been known by.
• The Department of Home Affairs does not accept state- or territory-issued Australian police certificates.
• Fingerprints are not needed for Australian police checks.

Step 1: Visit the Australian Federal Police website to start the online application form: https://afpnationalpolicechecks.converga.com.au/

Step 2: Select the identification documents that you will submit to the AFP for the Australian National Police Check application. Keep in mind that you must provide a minimum of 100 points of identification.

Step 3: Provide your full name, date of birth, and email address. For the purpose of the check, select “Commonwealth Employment / Purpose” and then choose “33 – Immigration/Citizenship to supply it to the Department of Home Affairs”. Check the “Request for Hard Copy Certificate” box if you require a physical copy.

Step 4: Verify your details and provide consent for the Australian Federal Police to conduct a National Police Check on your behalf.

Step 5: Upload your identity documents.

Step 6: Provide your additional personal information.

Step 7: Provide your current residential address, mailing address and previous residential address. Please note that you need to provide all of your residential addresses in the past 10 years.

Step 8: Confirm your details.

Step 9: Enter your payment information to make payment.

The post How to Apply for an Australian National Police Certificate for Visa Applications？ first appeared on M&Z Consultancy.

Australia offers a range of employer-sponsored visas for individuals seeking to work and live in the country. The three main visa options are Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa), Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme Visa), and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa). In this blog post, we will provide you with detailed information about these visa types and application processes, to help you make an informed decision on which visa is the best fit for your needs.

Visa Type

Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa)

The Subclass 482 visa, also known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, is an employer-sponsored visa that allows skilled workers to work in Australia for up to four years. The visa is designed to fill temporary skill shortages in the Australian labour market and is divided into three streams:

1. Short-Term Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been nominated by their employer for a skilled position that is on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and allows them to work in Australia for up to two years (or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies).
2. Medium-Term Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been nominated by their employer for a skilled position that is on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and allows them to work in Australia for up to four years. Applicants may also be eligible for a Permanent Residence Visa if they have worked for the sponsor for three years and satisfy the visa requirements.
3. Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been nominated by their employer under a labour agreement negotiated between the employer and the Australian government.

Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, including English language proficiency, work experience and health and character requirements. The Subclass 482 visa also requires the employer to demonstrate that they have attempted to find Australian workers to fill the position before sponsoring a foreign worker. The visa can provide a pathway to permanent residency in Australia under certain conditions.

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme Visa)

The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently. Also known as the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, this visa requires the applicant to be sponsored by an Australian employer who has been approved as a sponsor by the Department of Home Affairs. There are three streams under the Subclass 186 visa:

1. Direct Entry Stream: This stream is intended for individuals who have the skills and experience necessary to fill a position that cannot be filled by an Australian worker. It allows applicants to obtain permanent residency in Australia if they are nominated by an employer and meet the relevant visa criteria.
2. Temporary Residence Transition Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been working for their employer on a temporary basis for at least three years and who have been nominated by their employer for a permanent position.
3. Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been nominated by their employer under a labour agreement negotiated between the employer and the Australian government.

To be eligible for the Subclass 186 visa, applicants are required to meet specific criteria such as age, English language proficiency, work experience, as well as health and character requirements.

Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa)

The Subclass 494 visa, also known as the Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, is a temporary employer-sponsored visa that allows skilled workers to work and live in Australia for up to five years. This visa is designed to address skill shortages in regional areas of Australia and is only available to applicants who are sponsored by an employer in a regional area. The Subclass 494 visa is divided into two streams:

1. Employer-Sponsored Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been sponsored by an employer in a regional area of Australia for a skilled position that is on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) and allows them to work and live in Australia for up to five years.
2. Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants who have been sponsored by an employer under a labour agreement negotiated between the employer and the Australian government.

Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, including age, English language proficiency, work experience and health and character requirements. The visa also requires the employer to demonstrate that they have attempted to find Australian workers to fill the position before sponsoring a foreign worker. Additionally, visa holders must work for their sponsoring employer in a regional area of Australia for at least three years before they can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.

Application Process

Here are the steps to apply for an employer sponsor visa:

1. Finding a Sponsor: Your first step is to find an Australian employer who is willing to sponsor you and who meets the sponsorship requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.
2. Standard Sponsorship Application: The employer must apply to become an approved sponsor by submitting an application to the Department of Home Affairs. This involves providing information about the company’s business activities, financial standing, and any previous involvement with sponsoring workers. (For subclass 482 and 494 visas)
3. Nomination by Employer: Your Australian employer must nominate you for the position you are applying for. This requires your employer to provide evidence of your skills, qualifications, and work experience, as well as demonstrate that you meet the relevant requirements for the visa.
4. Visa Application: To apply for the employer sponsor visa, you must complete an online visa application form available on the Department of Home Affairs website. Along with the visa application form, you will need to provide several documents, such as your passport, proof of English proficiency, as well as character certificates.
5. Waiting for Visa Outcome: Once your visa application has been lodged, you will need to wait for the visa outcome for a certain amount of time. The processing time for the employer sponsor visa can vary depending on your individual circumstances. You can check the current processing times on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Conclusion

To sum up, Australia provides various visas for skilled workers who desire to reside and work in the country with employer sponsorship. The Subclass 482, 186, and 494 visas are the three main options available, each with its own requirements and eligibility criteria. These visas can provide a pathway to permanent residency in Australia for those who meet certain conditions. It is important to carefully consider your options and choose the visa that best fits your needs and circumstances.

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Invitation rounds for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored visas.

The current invitation round results for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored have been released. The total number of invitations is more than 35,000.

Invitations issued on 8 December 2022

The table below shows the number of invitations issued in the SkillSelect invitation round on 8 December 2022.

Invitation process and cut offs

Occupations included in 8 December 2022 Invitation Round

* Results could indicate that no candidates were available to be invited, or did not meet parameters to receive an invite.

** Onshore/Offshore location as indicated in SkillSelect system at the time invites were issued.

Invitations issued during the 2022-23 program year

The above figures do not include invitations issued for State and Territory Government nominated visa subclasses. State and Territory Governments nominate throughout the month for specific points tested skilled migration and business innovation and investment visas.

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Skillselect Invitation issued in January 2021

Invitation rounds for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored visas.

The 2021 first invitation round results for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored has been released recently. The total number of invitations is greater than the number issued in last invitation (October 2020).

The table below shows the number of invitations issued in the SkillSelect invitation round on 21 January 2021.

According to the latest invitation results, the Department mainly issued the invitations to the following occupations:

• Registered Nurse
• Other Medical Practitioners
• Psychologists
• Internal Medicine Specialists
• Geologists
• Mining Engineers
• Other Engineering Professions

The minimum points score was 65 points for both visa subclasses. The latest EOI for a 189 visa was effective from April 2020, while the most recent EOI for a 491 visa was from November 2020.

When is the next invitation round?

The Department will run quarterly invitation rounds for the remainder of 2020-21 program year. The next invitation round will run in April 2021.

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