For those dreaming of making Australia their permanent home, there’s great news on the horizon.

The Australian government is introducing significant changes to its migration system, aiming to make the journey from temporary to permanent residence smoother and more accessible for skilled workers.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the key changes that will take effect from November 25, 2023.

Why the changes?

The current pathways to Permanent Residence (PR) for temporary skilled visa holders often result in a growing number of ‘permanently temporary’ residents.

Recognizing this challenge, the government is dedicated to creating clearer pathways to PR for all Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa streams. The goal is not only to attract the skilled workers Australia needs but also to simplify the nomination process, providing certainty to both employers and TSS visa holders.

What’s Changing with the TSS Visa?

Starting November 25, 2023, exciting changes are coming to the Short-term Stream of the TSS visa:

• Lodging Applications in Australia:

  Limits on the number of Short-term Stream TSS applications will be removed, allowing applicants to lodge multiple applications from within Australia.

• Travel Requirements for Expired Visas:

  Short-term Stream TSS holders with visas expiring before the changes will need to travel outside Australia to lodge a third short-term Stream TSS application.

Enhancements to the TRT Stream:

For the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa subclasses, several positive changes are coming:

Eligible Visa Requirements:

• Employers can nominate holders of all TSS visa streams, including Short-term and Labour Agreement streams.
• Nominees must have held their TSS (or subclass 457) visa(s) for 2 out of the last 3 years before nomination.

Nominated Occupation Updates:

• Nominated occupations will no longer be restricted by skilled migration occupation lists.
• The nominated occupation must be listed in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), with the nominee continuing to work in the nominated occupation for their TSS visa(s).

Work Experience Adjustments:

• The required period for TSS visa holders to have worked in a position with their sponsoring employer will be reduced to 2 out of the last 3 years before nomination.

Changes to Age Exemptions:

• Age exemptions for regional medical practitioner applicants and high-income earning applicants aged 45 years and over will be adjusted to allow for a two-year pathway.
• COVID-19 related age exemptions will be terminated as a result of the two-year pathway.

These changes mark a significant step towards providing more equitable access to PR for all TSS visa holders.

As we eagerly anticipate these improvements, Questra Immigration is committed to keeping you informed and assisting you in navigating these exciting updates.

Book a consultation today to find out your migration options in Australia, all in one consultation.

Bill Mitroulas

Head of Migration at Questra Immigration. Managing and overseeing the growth and performance of Questra’s team of migration agents, while maintaining a client-centric and quality-driven approach. A registered migration agent since 2015 and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in international education and 11 years in Australian Migration law.