English Requirements for Visas | Interstaff For most Australian visas, English proficiency matters. Unless exempt, applicants need to meet specific English language requirements that vary depending on whether they are the primary or secondary applicant and the type of visa they are applying for. The Department of Home Affairs… Read More »
482 Visa Sponsorship Demand and Trends | Interstaff As Australia continues to navigate a tight labour market, the Department of Home Affairs’ Temporary Resident (Skilled) Report – 31 March 2025 offers several insights for employers sponsoring skilled migrants on a 482 Visa. The data reveals not only the scale… Read More »
Visa Processing Times Updates | Interstaff For both employers and visa holders, it’s important to be aware of current visa processing times and trends that may impact applications and planning. Here’s a summary of updates relating to: Permanent Migration Program 2025/26 482 Visa Processing Times Regional Visa Processing Times… Read More »
Permanent Residence from a 482 Visa | Interstaff Permanent Residence (PR) via the 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Visa has become more accessible for 482 Visa holders since the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 Visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa in December 2024. Read on… Read More »
482 Visa Processing Times 2025 | Interstaff Is your team waiting on a 482 Visa outcome from the Department of Home Affairs? As a result of the 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa transition to the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa in December 2024, processing for both programs are… Read More »
Regional Visa Review | Interstaff As part of Australia’s Migration Strategy released in 2023, the Government committed to reviewing regional visa and migration settings. Now, in 2025, this focus on regional migration appears to be gaining momentum following the Government’s implementation of the Skills in Demand 482 Visa. Immigration… Read More »
Labour Agreement Visa Requirements | Interstaff Labour Agreements allow employers to negotiate with the Government for concessions to standard visa settings to address specific business or industry needs. As a result of recent legislative amendments, the Minister now has clear statutory authority to determine certain visa settings. While visa settings… Read More »
Changing Visa Sponsors | Interstaff Do you know which visa rules apply when Subclass 482 Visa holders change employer sponsors? For example – did you know that Subclass 482 Visa holders who have left their previous employer may be able to work for a new employer for 180 days… Read More »
Skilled Visa Salary Thresholds | Interstaff From 1 July 2025, a 4.6% increase in Skilled Visa Salary Thresholds will apply, requiring employers to offer higher salaries to employees they nominate for Subclass 482, 494 and 186 Visas from this date. The change reflects the Government’s commitment to annually adjust salary… Read More »
Immigration Federal Election 2025 | Interstaff We are now only a few weeks away from the Federal Election on 3 May 2025 and are currently seeing both major political parties campaigning to reduce immigration levels. The Coalition is cracking down on both the permanent and temporary migration programs, promising to… Read More »
Federal Budget Australian Immigration 2025 | Interstaff While the Australian Federal Budget usually provides insights on the size and composition of the permanent migration program for the coming financial year, these planning levels were not released in the 2025 Budget announcements. In response to the Federal Budget’s lack of… Read More »
Ceveats Skilled Occupation List | Interstaff On 14 December 2024, the Australian Government amended legislation to provide clarity on how caveats apply to eligible occupations for the Core Skills Stream of the Skills in Demand 482 Visa. This included the removal of Caveat 14 from 10 occupations (such as… Read More »
Skills in Demand Visa | National Innovation Visa | Interstaff Several pieces of legislation commenced last weekend to introduce the new Skills in Demand (SID) and National Innovation Visas, which are now in effect. Here’s what you should know: Features of the new Skills in Demand Visa Including Transitional Arrangements Existing Temporary… Read More »
Core Skills Occupation List 2024 | Interstaff After more than a year of anticipating the rollout of the Skills in Demand Visa, the Government has today released the new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which will provide access to employer-sponsored skilled migration across 456 occupations. The new skills list will support the rollout of the Skills… Read More »
482 Visa Requirements 2024 | Interstaff Legislative changes will soon allow workers to be sponsored for a Subclass 482 Visa with just one year of relevant work experience – a reduction from the previous requirement of two years. This will provide employers greater flexibility to sponsor suitably skilled and qualified workers,… Read More »
Skills in Demand Visa Transition | Interstaff Following comprehensive ‘once-in-a-generation’ migration reviews undertaken in 2022 and 2023, the Government promised to ‘get the right skills in the right places’ and ensure Australia meets its skills needs in coming decades. In the past 2 years, employers have seen the emergence… Read More »
WA DAMA Designated Area Migration Agreement | Interstaff The WA Government has launched a state-wide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), providing WA regional and metropolitan employers greater flexibility to engage migrant workers for occupations not usually available through standard skilled migration programs. The new WA DAMA may particularly benefit… Read More »
Australian Immigration Changes 2024 – 2025 | Interstaff Navigating the evolving landscape of Australian immigration is essential for HR professionals and businesses striving to maintain a competitive edge. As the 2024-25 program year unfolds, the changes that have been introduced have already begun to impact many facets of skilled… Read More »
Immigration Changes 2024 | Interstaff The Australian Government’s Federal Budget indicates policy spend for 2024/25 will focus on actions to reduce Net Overseas Migration (particularly international student migration) and reforms to the migration system to implement its Migration Strategy. This includes strengthening core functions, such as immigration compliance monitoring,… Read More »
TSMIT Changes | Interstaff New Nomination applications for employer-sponsored workers will need to meet a minimum salary requirement of $73,150 from 1 July 2024 (up from $70,000) following the Australian Government’s recent announcement to increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). Here’s what employers and skilled migrant workers… Read More »
Migration Planning | Interstaff Registered Migration Agents Australia’s skilled migration program is undergoing significant change, starting with revisions to the ways in which skills shortages are identified so that the program can better meet the needs of employers and the wider economy. This year, the Government expects to reform… Read More »
Labour Market Testing Australia | Interstaff Registered Migration Agents Under current international trade provisions, organisations will no longer need to test the local labour market before sponsoring Malaysian nationals and citizens for work in Australia on a Subclass 482 Visa. The Department of Home Affairs’ new interpretation of mobility… Read More »
Core Skills Occupation List | Interstaff Registered Migration Agents Jobs and Skills Australia is currently evaluating which occupations should and should no longer be listed on the Core Skills Occupation List for the new Skills in Demand Visa, which is expected to replace the Subclass 482 TSS Visa before the end of the year.… Read More »
Designated Regional Areas Priority Processing | Interstaff Registered Migration Agents Employer-sponsored Visas for regional work are being prioritised for Government processing in 2024, according to the latest Ministerial Direction. This includes applications for a 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa, 494 Skilled Regional Visa or a 186 Permanent Residence… Read More »
Australia Migration Strategy | Interstaff Migration Agents The Government’s Migration Strategy has revealed how Australia’s Skilled Visa and Migration System will change in 2024 and beyond to better support the nation’s skills needs for decades to come. 8 Key Actions have been identified to deliver strategic outcomes outlined on… Read More »
Skills in Demand Visa Australia 2024 | Interstaff Registered Migration Agents One of the changes in the Government’s Migration Strategy that will have the biggest impact on employers and skilled visa applicants will be the replacement of the Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa with a new Skills… Read More »
Labour Market Testing for UK and Other Passport Holders | International Trade Obligations Navigating visa changes can be complex, and mobility provisions under International Trade Agreements can make it even more difficult for employers to understand when Labour Market Testing is required. As you may know, LMT refers to… Read More »
Parent Visa Grants | Australia Australia allocated almost double the amount of placements to Parent Visas in 2022/23 (8,500 placements) compared to the previous year (4,500 placements), and another 8,500 places have again been allocated in 2023/24. But although the Government is continuing to focus on granting Parent Visas,… Read More »
Australia Trade Agreement UK India UK and Indian passport holders are set to benefit from new visa and mobility arrangements that have been recently negotiated in Australia’s Trade Agreements. The Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) came into effect on 31 May 2023 and will soon allow UK… Read More »
Aged Care Labour Agreement Australia | Greater Flexibility to Sponsor Visa Holders The Government has made an industry-specific Aged Care Labour Agreement immediately available to aged care providers across Australia. Recognising that the aged care sector is an essential industry experiencing persistent skills shortages, it allows aged care providers… Read More »
TSMIT and New PR Pathways | Q&A’s with Interstaff Significant changes in skilled migration were announced by the Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil last month, such as an increase in the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Threshold) minimum salary for employer sponsored visa holders and new PR pathways, but what… Read More »
New Skilled Migration Program | The Government’s Vision – What Strategy Documents Reveal The Government aims to deliver a better targeted, more efficient and outcomes-focused migration system, as revealed in its recently released Migration Strategy Outline, ‘A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia’. As part of… Read More »
Federal Budget 2023 Immigration Australia | What the Federal Budget Means for Migration to Australia The government’s first Federal Budget since it was elected in 2022 has revealed the size and composition of the migration program will continue to focus on skilled migration in 2023-2024. Here’s a summary of the main Budget… Read More »
TSMIT increase – minimum salary for visa holders and PR pathways | Employer-sponsored visa changes Following Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil’s announcements on changes to the skilled migration program a few weeks ago, here’s how some of the changes will be implemented. The minimum salary requirements known as the TSMIT (Temporary… Read More »
Government Skilled Visa Changes | Interstaff’s Insights on ABC Radio Perth Interstaff’s Managing Director, Sheila Woods was live on ABC Radio Perth on Thursday evening to discuss how Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil’s skilled migration announcements will impact businesses and visa holders. In case you missed it, have a listen… Read More »
Skilled Visa Changes Australia 2023 | Announcements by Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil Update on 27 April 2023: Interstaff’s Managing Director, Sheila Woods was recently live on ABC Radio Perth on 27 April 2023 to discuss how the Government’s recent skilled migration announcements will impact businesses and visa holders.… Read More »
The Government has released new statistics, which reveal the impact of the pandemic on arrivals to Australia. Here are our insights on entering and exiting Australia. Sharp Reduction in Arrivals to Australia As to be expected under an international travel ban, Government statistics show there was a 97% decrease… Read More »
In these challenging times, many visa applicants may be wondering how Government visa processing times have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has provided the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) with an update on the status of skilled visas applied from offshore. Here’s a summary. Skilled Visa… Read More »
Businesses and visa holders have had to adapt very quickly to Australia’s Travel Ban and quarantine requirements, however exemptions for travel to Australia are available under limited circumstances, such as for critical work or compelling and compassionate cases. These travel restrictions may be with us for some time to come, although… Read More »
The size of Australia’s temporary migration intake has again come under the spotlight. In a recent policy speech, Opposition Home Affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Kenneally, emphasised that while changes to immigration policies have reduced the annual permanent migration intake, temporary migration figures continue to increase. Ms Kristina Kenneally highlighted that according… Read More »
