The Department of Home Affairs has announced a new law related to employer-sponsored work visas, opening the door for Permanent Residence under this visa category.
Starting from November 25, 2023, the new law will permit all holders of this visa, regardless of whether they are on a short-term or long-term stream, and irrespective of their occupation, to apply for permanent residency if their sponsoring business continues to nominate them. The duration required to hold a visa and work for a sponsoring business has been reduced to a mere 2 years out of 3 years for continued nomination for permanent residency.
The proposed law for the transition from the 482 to the 186 TRT visa is likely to be well-appreciated by both employers and employees. If enacted, this visa category will hark back to the time before the 457 visa was replaced by the 482 visa in 2017. A notable change is the significant increase in the minimum salary required for nomination, which now stands at AUD 70,000.
However, this may not be favorable news for those pursuing the skilled visa categories 189/190/491. The immediate transition from the 482 to the 186 TRT visa will enable many people to qualify for PR. Despite these changes, the Department of Home Affairs has announced that the Migration Planning levels will remain unchanged. Consequently, competition for the skilled visa categories 189/190/491 is expected to intensify.
For those residing in Australia, this presents an opportunity to seek sponsorship, as it will be easier to find employment opportunities. However, for those outside Australia, the process may become considerably more challenging.
Please stay tuned for updates on the status of the new law from IMMI Centre after November 25, 2023.