The Department of Home Affairs has shared some exciting updates about Australia’s skilled visa programs during the 2024 MIA National Conference in Brisbane. The announcements include new pathways, streamlined processes, and greater opportunities for skilled migrants looking to work and eventually settle in Australia. A major highlight of the update was the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa, designed to address workforce needs with a strong focus on high-demand skills. Here’s what you need to know:
The SID visa subclass 482 will replace the current Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa and is set to provide a pathway to permanent residency. With up to four years of validity, this visa brings fresh options to skilled migrants, offering an efficient route for high-demand skills to enter and remain in Australia. The SID visa subclass 482 is set to launch in late 2024 and is expected to streamline the process for applicants by closing the previous short- and medium-term streams under the TSS.
The SID visa subclass 482 will have three main streams:
1. Specialist Skills Stream
2. Core Skills Stream
3. Labour Agreement Stream
The Specialist Skills Stream
This stream is aimed at highly skilled migrants who meet a minimum income threshold of $135,000 per year. Eligible occupations cover a broad range of fields, excluding trades, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers. This stream provides a direct pathway for those with specialist skills to make a meaningful impact in Australia’s workforce while opening doors for permanent residency.
Key points of the Specialist Skills Stream
- Minimum earning requirement of $135,000 annually.
- Open to most occupations, with the exception of trades workers, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers.
- Prioritises highly skilled individuals, offering an expedited path to long-term residency.
The Core Skills Stream
The Core Skills Stream caters to skilled employees across various professions and introduces a new Core Skills Occupation List and Core Skills Income Threshold. The focus is on meeting Australia’s essential skills needs and enabling skilled professionals to work in roles critical to Australia’s economic stability and growth.
Key points of the Core Skills Stream
- Access to the new Core Skills Occupation List.
- Subject to the Core Skills Income Threshold.
- Provides an inclusive pathway for a wide range of skilled professionals to work in Australia.
The Labour Agreement Stream
The existing TSS Labour Agreement Stream will be rebranded as the Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream under the SID visa. Importantly, this stream reduces the work experience requirement, meaning eligible workers will now need just one year of experience to qualify. This change is a significant step in making skilled migration more accessible to overseas talent ready to meet industry-specific needs.
Key points of the Labour Agreement Stream
- Shortened work experience requirement of one year.
- Renamed as the Skills in Demand Labour Agreement Stream.
- Allows skilled workers to address Australia’s labour shortages in partnership with employers.
Transition from TSS to SID
As the SID visa is introduced, the Department of Home Affairs has announced that the existing TSS short-term and medium-term streams will be closed to new applications. This transition will simplify the process and open doors for more skilled migrants to join Australia’s workforce in vital roles.
The Department of Home Affairs is actively working on these changes, and the SID visa is expected to roll out by the end of 2024. Regional Migration Australia will keep you updated on further developments, so stay tuned!
Source: the Department of Home Affairs, November 2024
For more updates from the Department of Home Affairs click HERE
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