Every year as part of the Federal Government’s Budget process, the size and composition of Australia’s Migration program is set and places are allocated for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia .
For FY21, the total places available are capped at a ceiling of 160,000, the same as the previous year. However, the program’s focus and priorities have changed quite significantly. Due to the impact of COVID 19, the focus is on supporting the economic recovery, growing Australian business and creating jobs for Australians.
Summary
Skilled migration visa categories (189, 190, 491, 494, 186) are allocated 79,600 places, down from 108,682 in the previous year.
Parent visas are allocated 4,500 places, a reduction of 38.9% year-on-year.
- Other family streams have been reduced by 11%
- Special eligibility stream has been reduced by 57.6%
- And the child stream is reduced by 10.4%
Increased allocation has been across the following visa categories:
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1. Global Talent Independent Program
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To attract the world’s best and brightest migrants and high income earners at the top of their field to work and live in Australia, the Program has 15,000 allocations this financial year, increasing from 5000 allocations. A new taskforce will be established to attract international businesses and exceptional talent to Australia.
This program is highly flexible, with no age criteria and no formal skill assessment criteria, and it targets applicants who are highly skilled in one of these future focused sectors:
- AgTech
- Space and Advanced Manufacturing
- FinTech
- Energy and Mining Technology
- MedTech
- Cyber Security; and
- Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT
The applicant must demonstrate the potential to earn a salary of at least $153,600 per annum
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2. Business, Investment and Innovation program
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The government is set to introduce changes to improve the quality of investments and applicants within the program focusing on high-value investors, business owners and entrepreneurs.
The places in this program will be increased to 13,500 allocations, an increase from 7400 in the previous year.
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3. Partner visa in family stream
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Within the family stream allocation of 77,300 places, 93.53% or 72,300 places are allocated in the partner category.
English language requirements are flagged to be introduced for both applicant and sponsor.
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Even though the future of immigration to Australia may look different as the world emerges form Coronavirus, there are still opportunities available and we are able to assist with immigration enquiries across all visa allocations.
