The Australian Government has released its Budget which included updated places for the Migration Program 2022-23.
Key Takeaways from the Budget release of 25th October 2022 are as below.
- Increase of 35,000 additional places from Budget released in March 2022 to total of 195,000 places.
- Priority will be given to offshore skilled applicants and on-hand applications for the Skilled Independent visa – New Zealand stream
- Additional $42.2 million funding is being provided by the Australian Government to accelerate visa processing, reduce the visa backlog, and raise awareness of opportunities for high-skilled migrants in Australia's permanent Migration Program.
- A new Pacific Engagement Visa for Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste to be introduced from 1 July 2023 and will be capped to 3,000 places annually which is in addition of the 195,000 total places for the migration program 2022-23.
- Student and secondary training visa holders will be allowed to continue to work more than 40 hours per week until 30 June 2023.
- Skilled visas are increased from previous cap of 79,600 to 142,400 places for Migration Program 2022-23.
- Parent and Child Visas will be demand driven with no limits placed on these programs.
- Parent Visas will be increased to 8,500 places from the previous cap of 6,000 places.
Overall, the Budget puts an emphasis easing critical skills and labour shortages in Australia.
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