Skilled visa processing priority changes

The Australian Government recently introduced a new Ministerial Direction to speed up the processing of skilled visa applications and address labour shortages. This change reduces the number of processing priorities and allows more skilled workers to enter Australia for the benefit of small business, regional Australia and industries currently struggling with a shortage of skilled workers.

The Department of Home Affairs are now prioritising applications in relation to:

• healthcare occupations

• teaching occupations

• offshore permanent and provisional visa applications
  

The new Ministerial Direction also removes the outdated Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL), restores priority for Accredited Sponsors and continues to prioritise applications for regional Australia to support the agricultural industry and regional labour shortages.

These new priorities apply to all skilled nomination and visa applications currently with the Department and any new applications.

For advice on sponsoring workers or becoming an accredited sponsor, contact one of our Registered Migration Agents today.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is of a general nature only and does not constitute immigration advice. For more detailed and case-specific information or advice, please contact SCA Connect.