All international visitors and immigrants who are up to date on their vaccinations are now welcome to Australia under several different visa categories, including skilled, student, family-sponsored, visitor, and visitor visas. If you plan to apply for an Australian visa this year, you need to be aware of the necessary steps and any applicable rule changes. To provide qualified and talented foreigners with permanent residency, Australia employs a rather simple point-based immigration system.

The Australian government has made a few significant modifications to the procedures and regulations about visas in the previous few months. These changes will be important for those seeking visas to enter Australia this year.

Australia’s 2024 Immigration and Visa Regulations

Below are the main changes to Australia’s immigration laws that will take effect in 2024. Visit and browse the Visas Avenue website’s Immigration News page to discover the important changes to the visa rules in full.

Higher English proficiency exam scores for students obtaining an Australia student visa

The Australian government has implemented new regulations that require international students to get higher scores on English proficiency exams in order to be eligible for an Australia Student Visa. There will be more scrutiny given to any further visa applications requesting extensions. This is especially relevant to the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS.

• The minimum score of 6.5 in English was raised for Graduate Visa applicants from 6.0.
• The minimum score of 5.5 in English proficiency was raised to 6.0 for applicants seeking student visas.

Work Permit: New Skill Needs Permit

The Australian government has announced intentions to replace the current Temporary Skill Shortage Visa with a new one called the Skills in Demand Visa. According to the evaluation, the purpose of this new visa is to give workers more freedom when switching jobs and to create clear routes to permanent residence for those who wish to pursue them.

There will be three different pathways for this four-year visa, each based on skill level.

The first path is intended for those with specialised knowledge and is mostly attended by highly qualified experts from the energy and technology sectors. Applicants must earn at least $135,000 annually in any occupation—trade workers, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers excluded—in order to be eligible for this course.

The second alternative, which focuses on core competencies essential to fulfilling workforce demands, has a “simpler” occupational list that is subject to periodic updates in response to changes in the dynamics of Australia’s labour market.

The third pathway is still in the development stage; it focuses on addressing labour shortages, particularly among lower-income individuals, and tries to address necessary skills.

Extending the COVID-19 Partial Exemption Period for Every Visa Category

Commencing in early 2020 amid international travel restrictions and economic hardship, the temporary COVID-19 concession period is slated to expire on November 25, 2023. Affected categories of visas include:

• TGV Visas Sponsored by Employers
• Regional Skilled Visa Subclass 887
• visas for families
• Visas for the Business Innovation and Investment Programme
• Enterprise Visa for Safe Haven
• Australia Migration Programme 2024–2025

Public feedback is being sought by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in order to develop the 2024–25 Migration Programme. The programme prioritises the long-term interests of the country while attempting to strike a balance between economic, social, and demographic goals. With the exception of the pandemic-affected years 2020–21 and 2021–22, Australia has set a target of 190,000 permanent residents for the current 2023–2024 programme, keeping the customary 70/30 mix between the Skill and Family streams. Contribute your ideas to Australia’s future migration plans.

New and enhanced NSW Regional Migration Nomination Processes

Announcement of NSW Regional Migration’s Improved Nomination Paths For skilled migrants seeking nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491, New South Wales (NSW) has improved channels. For a duration of five years, this nomination permits qualified individuals to live, work, and study in specific regional areas as defined by NSW.

Australia Increases PR Possibilities for Sponsored Temporary Skilled Workers

Australia is making it easier for sponsored skilled temporary workers to become permanent residents. The Australian government plans to amend the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa subclass 482 and the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa subclass 186 with effect from November 25, 2023 (pending regulatory approval).

NSW Puts Priority Sectors Above Skilled Occupation Lists in Focus

In order to better meet the changing skill shortages in the Australian state of New South Wales, the NSW migration approach is moving away from the traditional method of publishing a list of ANZSCO unit groups that are eligible. Rather, a new approach that focuses on particular industries that closely correspond with NSW’s skills needs is being implemented. The following are some of the industries that NSW migration identified:

• Agriculture
• Infrastructure
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Health
• Education