Australian Immigration Daily News

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/093), which takes effect from 7 December 2024. This instrument provides a comprehensive update to the occupations and assessing authorities associated with the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, aligning with the Government’s migration priorities.

Key Provisions

1. Adoption of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The instrument incorporates the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for the Subclass 186 visa, detailing the eligible occupations and their corresponding assessing authorities. This ensures consistency with contemporary labour market needs.

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/099), effective 7 December 2024. This amendment updates the English language requirements for the new Skills in Demand (SID) Visa, ensuring alignment with Australia’s skilled migration framework.

Revised English Test Requirements
The language test requirements for the Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams of the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa are consistent with those previously applied to the Medium-Term stream of the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa.

Approved English Language Tests
Applicants can demonstrate proficiency through the following approved tests:

The Australian Government has implemented the Migration (ANZSCO Definition) Specification 2024 (LIN 24/105), effective 7 December 2024, to update the definition of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) within the Migration Regulations 1994. This amendment ensures that migration processes align with the most current occupational classifications, reflecting contemporary labour market requirements.

Key Changes

1. Updated ANZSCO References:

   • The majority of the Migration Regulations will now reference ANZSCO Version 1.2 (published 27 June 2013).
   • For specific provisions, including regulations 2.72, 2.73, and subregulation 5.19(5), the 2022 ANZSCO update (published 23 November 2022) will be applied.

2. Centralized Definitions:

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The Australian Government has enacted the Migration Amendment (Skills in Demand and Nil VAC) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/097), effective 7 December 2024, to facilitate the transition to the new Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) Visa and repeal pandemic-related provisions. These amendments align with the Government's broader migration reforms, emphasising efficiency and consistency in skilled migration processes.

Key Changes:

1. Renaming and Alignment of Visa Classifications

   • The Temporary Skill Shortage (Class GK) visa is now the Skills in Demand (Class GK) visa.
   • Legislative instruments have been updated to replace references to "Temporary Skill Shortage" with "Skills in Demand," ensuring consistency with the new framework.

2. Repeal of Nil Visa Application Charge (VAC) Instrument

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The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Amendment (Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa) Regulations 2024, effective 7 December 2024. These amendments support the transition from the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa to the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa while maintaining funding for the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF).

Key Highlights:

• Continuation of SAF Levy:
  The SAF levy now applies to the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa, ensuring that employers hiring overseas workers contribute to the skills development of Australian workers.

• Nomination Training Contribution Charge:
  Employers must pay the SAF levy when nominating overseas workers for the following visas:

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