Australia has made it easier for skilled migrants in occupations of national shortage to obtain permanent residency.
The changes were made to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa and became effective on 7 December 2024.
The changes relate to the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams of the subclass 186 visa.
Changes to the Temporary Residence Transition Stream
As part of the updates, applicants can now count all of their sponsored employment towards their 2-year work experience requirement.
Moreover, all the experience will count towards this requirement, as opposed to the periods of employment with their sponsor.
Applicants employed in a related field or promoted can also count their work towards fulfilling the work experience requirement.
For the income threshold, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) replaces the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). However, the amount remains the same at AUD73,150 annually.
Changes to the Direct Entry Stream
The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) has been updated for the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 visa.
The CSOL is based on labour market analysis and consultation with Jobs and Skills Australia. It replaces the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List.
It will now include occupations in sectors like:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Cyber security
- Health and education.
The income threshold will be the same as the Temporary Residence Transition stream at AUD73,150.