Australia’s migration system is going through an overhaul, but what will it mean for those of us hoping to make the move Down Under? Words Jane Riley

In September last year, the Australian government introduced the first in a series of changes to its migration policy in a bid to attract the “best and brightest” migrants and help control Australia’s rapidly rising population. So what are the changes and how may they impact on anyone thinking of making the move Down Under?

The points system used to assess migrants has been tightened; English language requirements have increased – you now need a higher level of English than before; the number of owner/business investor visas being approved has been capped; and references are being more thoroughly checked.

The Immigration Department has also revoked the Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL), which listed 106 ‘in demand’ professions and skills. The revised – and significantly smaller – Skilled Occupation List will be announced in April and is   designed, in part, to reduce the number of foreign students  studying courses for industries    such as hairdressing and accounting that gave them a pathway to permanent residency but in which they never plan to work. The new list is said to focus on, among others, professions in engineering, mining and health such as doctors and nurses.

New legislation for the 457 business long-stay visa for up to four years for skilled foreign workers has replaced the minimum salary level with a market salary level and made health insurance the responsibility of the employee not employer.
As a result of these changes, processing times will be longer. For example, for independent points testing applications or general skilled migration visas, processing time is now about two and a half to three years (instead of six to eight months) and for the 457 visa, it is two to four months instead of two to three weeks.

While the policy amendments involve a tightening of requirements, these are not reasons to delay or to decide not to migrate. As Brenton Halligan of Legal Migration Services says, “The pathways are the same; they’re just being more carefully scrutinised.”

His advice? “Sponsored employment visas are still the preferred way to go for both temporary and permanent residency applicants. If you have the qualifications, work experience and a company willing to sponsor you, it’s easy,” he says.

Read more in the April 2010 issue of Living Abroad magazine