The Rehman Sheriff Group has closely examined the Australia Federal budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal year and the implications the budget has for Australian immigration. ​This publication summarizes the key implications and measures for Australian immigration following the release of the Federal Budget.

 

Our Chief Executive Officer, Farhan Rehman, commented as follows on the program: “[The budget] is a good indication of the changes needed to the Australian immigration system including reforms related to compliance to increase credibility and resources to bolster visa processing efficiency. However, I am concerned about how the Government intends on achieving the right balance between potentially excessive compliance and ensuring that visa processing efficiency is achieved. It will be interesting to see how the balance is practically implemented”.

 

Planning Levels  

Planning levels for the 2024–25 permanent Migration Program (Migration Program) will be set at 185,000 places.

 

The 2024–25 permanent Migration Program has the following composition:

 

Skill stream (132,200 places, approximately 71 per cent of the program) – This stream has been designed to improve the productive capacity of the economy and fill skill shortages in the labour market, particularly those in regional Australia.

 

Family stream (52,500 places, approximately 28 per cent of the program) – This stream is predominantly made up of Partner visas, enabling Australians to reunite with family members from overseas and provide them with pathways to citizenship.

 

​On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced that the planning levels for the 2024–25 permanent Migration Program (Migration Program) will be set at 185,000 places.

 

Visa Stream Visa Category 2023–24 Planning Levels 2024–25 Planning Levels
Skill Name Employer Sponsored 36,825 44,000
Skilled Independent 30,375 16,900
Regional 32,300 33,000
State/Territory Nominated 30,400 33,000
Business Innovation & Investment 1,900 1,000
Global Talent (Independent) 5,000 4,000
Distinguished Talent 300 300
Skill Total 137,100 132,200
Family Partner1​ 40,500 40,500
Parent 8,500 8,500
Child1​ 3,000 3,000
Other Family 500 500
Family Total 52,500 52,500
Special ​​Eligibility 400 300
Total Migration Program 190,000 185,000

 

 

Primary measures

 

As was indicated at the conclusion of the Migration Review, the following measures are to be implemented:

 

  • A new National Innovation visa in late 2024 to attract exceptionally talented migrants with this subclass to likely replace the Global Talent visa and the Business Innovation and Investment visa programs (BIIP);
  • Decrease of Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 work experience requirement from 2 years just to one year in November 2024.
  • At the time of the above change, the new Skills in Demand visa is set to replace the TSS visa program in late 2024.
  • Introduction of a new Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) program for Indian nationals from 1 November 2024.This program will offer a pathway for 3000 Indian graduates and professionals aged 18 to 30 with knowledge and skills in target fields of study to live and work in Australia for up to two years.
  • An extension of Business Visitor visa validity periods for Indian nationals from up to three years to up to five years.
  • Consideration of using some form of technology for the assessment of trade skills for skilled migrants by Trades Recognition Australia with the view to expedite the skills assessment process.
  • The Government will introduce a visa pre-application (ballot) to help manage the capped Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa program from China, Vietnam, and India from 2024–25.
  • Cap on international student intake numbers across all education providers.
  • $1 billion over five years from 2023–24 to establish and support the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), and address court backlogs caused by an increasingly high number of applications for judicial review of migration decisions.
  • Investment of $100 million AUD to the Department of Home Affairs to support the performance of core functions including Australian Border Force operations and immigration compliance activities.
  • Allocation of $15 million AUD over three years from 2024-25 for information and education activities about workplace safeguards, protections and compliance measures relating to migration laws.
  • Allocation of $1.9 million AUD for a data-matching pilot with the Australian Taxation Office of income and employment data to be used to crack down on migrant worker exploitation and abuse of Australia’s labour market and migration system.

 

About the Rehman Sheriff Group

The Rehman Sheriff Group is a leading Australian Immigration Law firm with a subsidiary office in the United Arab Emirates. The firm was established in 2013 and provides legal services in Australian immigration law, skills acquisition to address shortages in Australia/other jurisdictions, Business Process Outsources (BPO) and immigration by investment in various jurisdictions including Malta, Portugal and others.

 

For more information or to make an enquiry, please contact us.

 

Footnotes available on request.