Category: Australia

Category: Australia

Australia’s Bold New Migration Strategy (Dec 2023): A Comprehensive Overview

Australia's Bold New Migration Strategy (Dec 2023): A Comprehensive Overview

Today (Dec 11 2023), Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, The Hon Clare O’Neil MP unveiled the much-anticipated Migration Strategy. It's a substantial document, a full 100 pages, packed with insights and significant changes to the visa system in Australia. But, don't worry, we've got a brief overview to keep you in the loop! Over the next few days, we will go deeper into each aspect of the announcement to look at how it might impact various visa options in the coming years.

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September 2023 Australian Migration Update – New Visa Planning Levels Announced

Key Takeaways

  • New 2023-24 planning levels set at 190,000 places, a reduction of 5000 from last year
  • Skilled visa numbers for Subclass 189, Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 reduced slightly, GTI numbers maintained at 5000
  • No new allocations for BIIP program. Numbers cut to 0.
  • Most family visa numbers maintained. Parent visa numbers boosted to 8500

Introduction

Hey there! We wanted to share some of the latest announcements about Australia's permanent Migration Program for 2023-24. As you might've heard, there has been some major changes to the Migration Program Planning Levels for this year as compared to last. The 2023-24 migration program has been set at 190,000 places. This represents a reduction of 5000 places from last year's levels. The program is divided into the Skill stream, Family stream, and Special Eligibility stream. This post discusses the allocation of visas across these streams.

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Understanding the Migration Program Planning Levels

Introduction

Australia is one of the most popular destinations for immigrants across the globe. The country has a well-structured immigration system that aims to attract skilled workers, investors, and students from different parts of the world. The Australian government sets the annual Migration Program Planning Levels that determine the number of visas that will be issued for different categories of migrants. In this blog post, we will discuss the Migration Program Planning Levels in detail.

What are Migration Program Planning Levels?

Migration Program Planning Levels refer to the number of visas that the Australian government plans to issue in a financial year. The financial year in Australia starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the next year. The planning levels are set by the Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for administering the Australian immigration program.

The Migration Program Planning Levels are divided into different categories, including skilled migration (which includes the points based visas such as 189 and 190, the Global Talent Visa and various Business and Investment Visas), family migration, humanitarian migration, and other special visas. The department sets the planning levels for each category based on the country's economic needs, social priorities, and demographic objectives.

How are the Migration Program Planning Levels determined?

The Australian government sets the Migration Program Planning Levels after a careful consideration of various factors, such as the state of the economy, the country's population growth, and skill shortages in different sectors. The government conducts a comprehensive review of the existing immigration policies and programs to identify areas that need improvement. Based on the findings of the review, the government sets the planning levels for the next financial year.

The planning levels are also influenced by the feedback received from various stakeholders, including migrant communities, employers, and industry bodies. The government consults these stakeholders to understand their needs and concerns and to ensure that the planning levels reflect the country's changing economic and social landscape.

Conclusion

The Migration Program Planning Levels play a crucial role in determining the number of visas that the Australian government will issue in a financial year. The planning levels are set after a careful consideration of various factors, including economic needs, social priorities, and demographic objectives. Understanding the Migration Program Planning Levels is essential for anyone who wishes to migrate to Australia or is interested in Australian immigration policies and programs.

If you are planning to migrate to Australia, it is advisable to consult with a registered migration agent who can guide you through the immigration process and help you understand the various visa options available to you. Wisekangaroo migration agents can also help you prepare your application and ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the visa that you wish to apply for.

Budget 2021-22: Latest Updates to Australian Visa Rules

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered the Federal Budget on Tuesday 11 May 2021. I've been pouring over the Budget Documents to identify the changes to the Australian Visa rules. This year's budget has been surprisingly light on Immigration rule changes. Perhaps it's because the Australian Government expects 2021 to be a repeat of 2020 so not many significant changes have been announced. However, it is important to be aware of the latest visa updates if you are a temporary visa holder looking to transition to permanent residency. Keep reading the learn more about:

  • Recent developments in relation to  Coronavirus (COVID-19) and visa processing 
  • Impact of Budget 2021 initiatives on Australian visa applicants and visa holders 
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25 Things to Know Before Moving to Australia

Australia offers tons of opportunities for migrants not only in areas of education and recreation but also in employment and healthcare. Skilled migrants move to Australia to enjoy a high standard of living, get quality education and experience cultural diversity. However, before deciding to migrate it's a good idea to know some interesting facts about the country that very few people know. Whether it's the local culture, cost of living or information regarding the geography and weather, these facts cover it all.

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