The Australian government implemented new changes to the Australian Visa and Immigration regulations last July 1, 2023.
It aims to address the economic and social issues that the country is recently facing. The said changes cover a wide range of areas, such as the work hours reductions for student visa holders, Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), citizenship eligibility for New Zealand citizens, visa fee increases, and the introduction of a new visa category for migrants from Pacific countries.
Below are some amendments to the Australian Visa and Immigration Regulations that everyone needs to know.
Student Visa Holders
- Starting from July 1, 2023, the student visa holders will no longer work unrestricted and needs to abide by all their visa work conditions.
- The allowed working hours will be increased from 48 hours per fortnight to 40 hours per fortnight before.
- Meanwhile, student visa holders who work in the elderly care sector will not be included in capped work hours and can work unlimited hours until December 31, 2023.
Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
- The current rate for TSMIT will increase from $53,900 to $70,000 on July 1, 2023 (note that all dollar figures stated are Australian dollars).
- Additionally, the Department of Home Affairs verified that any nomination applications submitted before July 1, 2023, will not be affected by the increase in the TSMIT (even if the nomination and associated visa application are not finalised by July 1).
- Lastly, the increased TSMIT will only apply to all nominations filed from July 1, 2023 onwards.
The new Australian Visa and Immigration Regulations for Citizenship Eligibility of New Zealand Citizens
- New Zealand citizens staying in Australia for four (4) years straight or more no longer need to apply and be granted a permanent visa because they are eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship.
- Meanwhile, these are the changes applicable for New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category Visa (SCV) (subclass 444):
- Long-term New Zealand citizens resident in Australia will have their period of permanent residence backdated for citizenship reasons;
- New Zealand citizens SCV holders will regard as permanent residents for citizenship purposes;
- All New Zealand citizens given an SCV before July 1, 2022, will have their period of permanent residence for citizenship purposes backdated to July 1, 2022;
- All New Zealand citizens granted an SCV for the first time on or after July 1 2022, will be considered permanent residents for citizenship reasons from the date of their SCV grant;
- Lastly, all the provisions mentioned are also applicable to New Zealand citizens who are overseas but held an SCV immediately before last leaving Australia.
- Children of SCV holders starting from July 1, 2023:
- Any child born within Australia on or after July 1 2022, to an SCV-holder parent may automatically obtain Australian citizenship at birth;
- Children who meet these conditions can apply for evidence of citizenship.
Visa Fee Increases for the New Australian Visa and Immigration Regulations
- The Visa Application Charges (VACs) will increase by the 2023-24 forecast consumer price index (CPI) of 3.25%.
- For all the Visitors, Training, Working Holiday, Temporary Activity, Work and Holiday, and Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visas are increased by a further 21% in addition to CPI.
- Meanwhile, the Business Innovation and Investment Program visa fees are also increased by 46% in addition to CPI.
- The remaining visa fees will increase by 6% in addition to CPI.
- Moreover, there will be no increase apart from the CPI mentioned increase of 3.25% for Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations) visa fees in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream.
- The new VAC amounts are rounded to the nearest $5.
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