Changes to PR Pathway Clarified.
During her National Press Club address on April 27th, 2023, the Honorable Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, declared a raise in the TSMIT and unveiled new avenues for employer-sponsored temporary skilled visa holders to attain permanent residency.
Expanded Pathway to Permanent Residency
The Australian Government has announced significant changes to the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, providing more opportunities for temporary skilled sponsored workers to apply for permanent residency in Australia.
By the end of 2023, the TRT stream will be available to all Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa holders whose employers want to sponsor them, regardless of their occupation. Previously, this stream was limited to occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The eligibility requirement for the TRT stream will also be reduced from three years to two years of employment with the sponsoring employer.
To support these changes, the Government is removing limits on the number of Short-term stream TSS visa applications that visa holders can make in Australia, making it easier for temporary visa holders to apply for further visas without having to leave the country.
These changes reflect the Government’s commitment at the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022 to expand pathways to permanent residence for temporary skilled sponsored workers, providing more equitable access to permanent residency. The changes will also provide more certainty to TSS visa holders and their employers about the permanent residence pathways available to them.
Employers will benefit from having access to permanent employer-sponsored pathways for a wider range of occupations, allowing them to alleviate skills shortages by retaining skilled workers in their businesses. By enabling temporary skilled sponsored workers to become permanent residents more quickly, the Government aims to attract and retain the best talent from around the world, contributing to Australia’s economic growth and competitiveness.
Raising the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold
Starting on July 1, 2023, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will rise from $53,900 to $70,000. Any new nomination applications submitted after this date must meet the updated TSMIT of $70,000 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is greater. However, individuals who currently hold a visa and those who have already submitted their nomination application before July 1, 2023, will not be affected by this change.
Sources:
National Press Club address – Australia’s Migration System
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