OVERVIEW
Speak with any organisation or business owner and very quickly they will recount the challenges they are currently facing with staff shortages. After two years of disruption, it’s evident the staffing struggle is real and seems to be across all industries at all levels.
The good news is that the Australian government is allocating more opportunities for skilled migrants to work in Australia and to fill positions where no Australian workers are available. You can find additional details announced during the Jobs and Skills Summit September 2022. This will no doubt support local businesses and stimulate the economy whilst allowing skilled migrants to possibly call Australia home.
The Migration Program is set annually as part of the Federal Budget process. Every year, states and territories receive quotas from the government, based on which they nominate skilled and business migrants for the Skilled Nominated visa Subclass 190 and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491.
The 2022-23 Migration program will have an overall planning level of 160,000 places however a key principle of the Migration Program is safeguarding the jobs of Australian workers. Following consultation with States and Territories, the following nomination levels have been allocated for 2022-23:
Let’s take a closer look at the parameters state by state.
NEW SOUTH WALES – https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas
The New South Wales skills lists for the 2022-2023 migration year have just been released 07.09.22
Details regarding both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) have just been made available on the Investment NSW website.
NSW invites and nominates Skillselect expression of interest (EOI) applicants at the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) unit group level. To be eligible for NSW nomination you must be skilled in an occupation that both:
- Appears within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the skills list for the visa (see below) you are considering, and
- Is eligible for that visa.
It is important to note that not all occupations within ANZSCO unit groups identified on the NSW skills lists are eligible for the respective visa.
The skills lists for 2022-23 are available on the Investment NSW website. Additional ANZSCO unit groups will not be added this financial year, however, the skills lists are reviewed annually.
New requirements for minimum point scores and years of work experience have been introduced for 2022-23.
To be eligible for NSW nomination you must meet the minimum point score and minimum years of work experience in your occupation’s ANZSCO unit group.
VICTORIA – Department of Home Affairs occupation list
As of 11th August 2022, Victoria’s 2022-23 Skilled Migration Program is now open for Registration of Interest for offshore applicants and offering more occupations for onshore applicants. This will benefit both onshore and offshore migrants seeking permanent residency.
The Skilled Migration program in Victoria provides two visa pathways. These pathways include:
- Skilled Nominated Visa 190
- Skilled Work Regional Visa 491
The Skilled Nominated Visa 190 is a permanent visa. Skilled migrants can apply for this visa to work and live in Victoria anywhere they want. The Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 is a provisional Visa. It is for those skilled migrants who want to live and work in regional Victoria.
“As with previous years, applicants will first need to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) and then be selected on competitive merit to apply for visa nomination.” – Victorian Government.
Before submitting an ROI, applicants should ensure that they meet all eligibility requirements and ROIs will be assessed until May 2023. The government pointed out that the selection process was highly competitive and there were over 15,000 RoIs submitted in the 2021-22 program. The government has also encouraged applicants who were not selected previously, to submit a new Registration of Interest for the 2022-23 program.
All occupations on the relevant Department of Home Affairs occupation list are now eligible, and applicants are no longer required to be using STEMM skills and working in a target sector to apply.
Unlike in the past, there is no requirement to be working in your nominated occupation.
QUEENSLAND – Migration Queensland’s complete program updates
As of 16.8.22, the Victorian government has opened up their Skilled Migration Program following on from the opening of Victoria’s skilled program on August 11, 2022
Queensland’s skilled program officially launched on August 16, 2022, along with Queensland’s new nomination criteria. The program is open to onshore and offshore applicants. Graduates and small business owners are also encouraged to submit an expression of interest (EOI) from 16 August 2022.
From 16 August 2022, the new 188 – Entrepreneur stream will also open.
“Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) has 3,000 seats while Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) has been allocated 1,200 seats and The Business Innovation and Investment Program (subclass) 188 has been given 235 places for the current financial year”
Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
Of the 193,639 expressions of interest for State and Territory Government Nominated visa subclasses, which were lodged during 2021-22, and 16,515 expressed a specific interest in Queensland,”
Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – http://migration.sa.gov.au/
The 2022-23 General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is now open and the South Australian Government has published a revised skilled occupation list, outlining the skills it seeks to fill through overseas talent as well as migrants already living and working in South Australia.
The list is one of the nation’s most expansive, with skilled migrants, including our highly talented international graduates, able to seek state nomination from over 500 occupations.
The number of occupations open to overseas migrants has returned to pre-COVID pandemic levels with over 470 occupations this year, up from 380 in 2021-22.
The 2022-23 Skilled Migration Program will prioritise nominations for skilled migrants:
- with backgrounds in in-demand industries, such as Health, ICT, Education, Engineering, Agribusiness and Trades, or
- who can bring their skills to growing sectors such as Hi-Tech / Digital, Health and Life Sciences, Green Energy, Defence, Space and Cyber Security.
The state’s focus is to nominate migrants who are already living and working in South Australia—to retain those with in-demand skills—as well as nominating skilled and experienced migrants from overseas who can fill critical shortages.
Once a skilled migrant with the relevant skills and experience has been nominated by the South Australian Government, they are able to submit a visa application to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
All information and requirements for South Australian nomination is available on the skilled migrants section of this website.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA – https://www.migration.wa.gov.au/services/skilled-migration-western-australia/wa-state-nomination-combined-occupation-list
The Western Australian (WA) Government has made changes to its migration program in an effort to make WA the state of choice for skilled workers moving to Australia.
“WA’s strong economic growth, very low unemployment rate and high demand for skilled workers meant there was a need to attract in-demand workers to sustain the economy.
Premier Mark McGowan
The McGowan Government will amend the State nomination criteria by introducing some temporary measures, including waiving the $200 application fee, halving the requirement to have an employment contract from 12 months to six months, reducing requirements for applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds, removing additional English requirements for professional and manager occupations, and reducing work experience requirements for the 2022-23 year.
WA received 8140 places for 2022–23, 4950 more places than the previous year, and the third largest allocation overall, after New South Wales and Victoria.
Premier Mark McGowan
NORTHERN TERRITORY – https://theterritory.com.au/migrate/migrate-to-work/northern-territory-government-visa-nomination
The Northern Territory (NT) has now received an interim allocation of nominations under the general skilled migration program.
MigrationNT continues to receive and assess onshore nomination applications under the existing eligibility criteria. You must ensure that you meet both the NT nomination criteria and the standard Home Affairs criteria at the time of lodging your nomination application and throughout your application process.
Offshore applications remain closed. A date for the reopening of this program and eligibility criteria will be announced in the near future.
TASMANIA – https://www.migration.tas.gov.au/
The Tasmanian skills lists for the 2022-2023 migration year have just been released 06.09.22. The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program is expected to open to Gold and Green pass candidates by Monday 12 September 2022.
Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for one of the nomination pathways AND have at least one gold or green priority attribute will be able to register their interest in nomination.
During this interim stage, all candidates who qualify will need to seek an invitation from Migration Tasmania before they can apply for nomination. Detailed steps will be published on the Migration Tasmania website by Monday 12 September 2022.
Those candidates who meet the minimum requirements but do not have at least one Gold or Green priority attribute will be able to register their interest in the Application Gateway in October 2022. Further details will be made available shortly.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY – https://www.act.gov.au/migration/skilled-migrants
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government has the flexibility to address skills shortages and labour market needs in the Territory through the state/territory nominated stream of the Australian Migration Program. The Australian Government allocates the ACT a fixed number of nomination places each financial year.
Nomination pathway
Canberra residents
To follow this pathway, you must be living in Canberra. Read the eligibility criteria carefully. You cannot apply for ACT nomination if you do not meet the criteria:
- ACT 491 nomination: to follow this pathway, you must be living and working in Canberra for at least three months.
- ACT 190 nomination: to follow this pathway, you must be living and working in Canberra for at least six months.
You cannot apply under this pathway if you are living interstate or overseas; or if any dependents are living and / or working interstate.
Overseas applicants
To follow this pathway, you and any dependents cannot be in Australia (except children enrolled in an ACT school). Read the eligibility carefully. You cannot apply for ACT nomination if you do not meet the eligibility criteria:
- ACT 491 nomination: to follow this pathway, you must have at least three years relevant experience in your nominated occupation
- ACT 190 nomination: to follow this pathway, you must have a genuine ACT job offer in your nominated occupation.
You cannot apply under this pathway if you are living in Australia.
Doctorate Streamlined nomination
The ACT offers streamlined nomination for holders of a Doctorate completed at an ACT university. You will benefit from a simplified application process with minimal supporting documentation, priority processing and fee free. To follow this pathway, you must meet the following criteria:
- Canberra resident: you are living in Canberra and you completed a professional or research doctoral degree at an ACT university.
- Interstate / overseas applicant: you were awarded a professional or research doctoral degree from an ACT university within the last two years.
You cannot apply under this pathway if you did not study at an ACT university.
Canberra Matrix
We use the Canberra Matrix to fairly manage the nomination process and select applicants who will best contribute to the Canberra region. The Matrix is a merit based assessment tool where you can score points for your economic and / or social contribution to Canberra e.g., length of ACT residence, occupation, business activity, employment, English, study, investment and close family ties.
We will rank your Matrix based on the number of points you’ve claimed. Those who rank high enough will receive an invitation by email to apply for ACT nomination with a web link to the online application.
NEED ASSISTANCE
If you are in Australia and would like to know the possibilities for permanent residency in your state, please contact via: enquire@visaroos.com
Dario Ishiyama – Principal Registered Migration Agent, Visaroos
MARN: 180046