The Department currently is not accepting scores from the English language tests taken at home, such as TOEFL iBT-Special Home Edition, OET@Home, and IELTS Indicator, as evidence of their English language competency. The applicant for student visas, skilled visas, and some permanent visas must pass the English language tests and must score in accordance with their visa requirement, but these scores will not be accepted as evidence of their English language competency if they are from ‘at- home’ English language tests.
VETASSESS offices and phone lines will be closed for the holiday period from Wednesday, 22 December and will reopen on Tuesday, 4 January. However, VETASSESS will continue to accept online Skills Assessment applications, during the holiday period. VETASSESS priority processing is also suspended from now till 4 January. Also, the last assessment outcomes for 2021 will be issued in the week ending 26 December and will resume from 10 January 2022, due to the Trades Recognition Australia summer shutdown.
The updated Victoria Business Innovation and Investment Program has introduced changes to venture capital requirements for SignificantInvestor(188C) and Investor(188B) visa streams nomination and also modifies the Business Innovation Extension stream nomination application process. Significant Investor(188C) and Investor(188B) visa streams To qualify for Victorian Government visa nomination, the applicant must comply with the Venture Capital requirement and show that the complying investments will make a contribution to the Victorian economy. The applicants nominated under the Investor or Significant Investor visa streams are permitted to invest in all registered, eligible Victorian Venture Capital funds. For the purposes of venture capital requirement, the following are now eligible complying investment, either registered or conditionally registered with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources: Victorian Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLP) and Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP), This is applicable to all the applicants nominated on or after 1 July 2021, for a Significant Investor Stream or Investor visa stream. Business Innovation Extension stream The nomination application for the Business Innovation Extension stream visa must be submitted in the name of the intended primary visa holder, who can be the secondary applicant on the current visa and not necessarily be the current 188 primary visa holder.
Migration (Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa nil VAC) Amendment Instrument (LIN 21/097) 2021 (No. 2), dated 13 December 2021, amends Migration (Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa nil VAC) Instrument (LIN 21/021) 2021 to expand the class of persons who can apply with a nil visa application charge for a visitor Subclass 600 visa. The instrument adds certain current or former visitor visa holders to be eligible to apply for a new Visitor visa with a nil VAC by extending the period in which a person’s visa expired or will expire. According to this new instrument, an applicant will pay nil VAC amount if they held a subclass 600 visa that has expired or that will expire between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2022, which was earlier between 20 March 2020 and 31 December 2021. The amendments made by the instrument apply to the applications made for a subclass 600 visa on or after 27 February 2021. This instrument aims to provide concession to the Visitor visa holders who were not able to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 Pandemic. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 December 2021 and commenced on 15 December 2021. To access the instrument click here.
To enable international students who are ineligible to travel without an exemption, Australian state and territory governments are developing an international student arrival plan. Under this plan, the state or territory government and the education providers will work in coordination with each other to enable the return of eligible international students to Australia. The participants of the International Student Arrival Plan must hold a subclass 500 student visa and will also need a travel exemption, which will be applied by the relevant state or territory government on the participant student’s behalf. The international student arrival plan is for the following states and territories: Adelaide Canberra New South Wales Queensland Victoria However, the arrivals of international students under the international student arrival plan may be halted at any time, to ensure health and safety, which is of foremost importance.
South West region of Western Australia is creating a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Shire of Dardanup and with the Federal Government’s support to fill critical labour shortages for business and industry. The South West will be the eighth region in Australia to enter a five-year agreement with the Commonwealth aimed at filling critical employment gaps by bringing in skilled migrants where Australian workers are not available. The DAMA allows employers to bring in skilled workers under the labour agreement stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency. The establishment of DAMA will encourage skilled migrants to come and work and reside in regional Western Australia resulting in long-term economic and social benefits to the South West region.
Invitation Round: 06 December 2021 Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 01 invitations • ACT 190 nominations: 0 invitations • 190 minimum Matrix score: • ACT 491 nominations: 01 invitations • 491 minimum Matrix score: 75 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 0 invitations • ACT 190 nomination: 0 invitations • ACT 491 nomination: 0 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 54 invitations • ACT 190 nomination: 0invitations • 190 minimum Matrix score: • ACT 491 nomination: 54 invitations • 491 minimum Matrix score: 65 (Accountants: 95) Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or have previously received ACT nominations. The next Canberra Matrix invitation round will be held before 15 December 2021.
The fourth revision of ANZSCO dated 29 November 2021 updates the classification structure of occupations relating to agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, cyber security, naval shipbuilding, and the emerging occupations identified by the National Skills Commission, adding new occupations and unit groups and also removing some occupations and unit groups. ANZSCO version 2021 has made the following changes: 1. Occupations in the Combined List (MLTSSL, STSOL, and ROL) but Removed from the new ANZSCO version 2021 ANZSCO Name Assessing Authority Skill Level List New / Alternative Code 234112 Agricultural Scientist VETASSESS 1 MLTSSL 234114 311111 Agricultural Technician VETASSESS 2 ROL 311112 362212 Arborist TRA 3 STSOL 362511 121211 Cotton Grower VETASSESS 1 ROL 121511 121299 Crop Farmers nec VETASSESS 1 ROL 121212 Flower Grower VETASSESS 1 STSOL 121611 121213 Fruit or Nut Grower VETASSESS 1 ROL 121612 / 121613 362211 Gardener (General) TRA 3 STSOL 362611 121214 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower / Field Crop Grower VETASSESS 1 ROL 121512 121215 Grape Grower VETASSESS 1 STSOL 121617 362311 Greenkeeper TRA 3 STSOL 262112 ICT Security Specialist ACS 1 MLTSSL 262116 223211 ICT Trainer ACS 1 STSOL 223311 362213 Landscape Gardener TRA 3 STSOL 362711 121411 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer VETASSESS 1 ROL 121216 Mixed Crop Farmer VETASSESS 1 ROL 121317 Mixed Livestock Farmer VETASSESS 1 ROL 121217 Sugar Cane Grower VETASSESS 1 ROL 121513 121221 Vegetable Grower (Aus) / Market Gardener (NZ) VETASSESS 1 STSOL 121616 234518 Zoologist VETASSESS 1 MLTSSL 234522 New Unit Groups in version 2021 8421 Aquaculture Workers 3625 Arboriculture Workers 1215 Broadacre Crop Growers 8422 Crop Farm Workers 8431 Forestry and Logging Workers 8432 Garden Labourers 3626 Gardeners (General) 1216 Horticultural Crop Growers 8433 Horticultural Nursery Assistants 3627 Landscape Gardeners and Irrigation Technicians 8423 Livestock Farm Workers 8424 Mixed Production Farm Workers 1217 Mixed Production Farmers 8439 Other Forestry and Garden Workers 8434 Pest Control Technicians 3631 Senior Aquaculture, Crop and Forestry Workers 3632 Senior Livestock Farm Workers 3633 Shearers and Wool Classers Unit Groups Removed 8411 Aquaculture Workers 8412 Crop Farm Workers 1212 Crop Farmers 8413 Forestry and Logging Workers 8414 Garden and Nursery Labourers 3622 Gardeners 2232 ICT Trainers 8415 Livestock Farm Workers 8416 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers 1214 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers 8419 Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers 3612 Shearers New Occupation in Version 2021 ANZSCO Name 311112 Agricultural and Agritech Technician 234114 Agricultural Research Scientist 234115 Agronomist 311113 Animal Husbandry Technician 234116 Aquaculture or Fisheries Scientist 311114 Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician 363111 Aquaculture Supervisor 842111 Aquaculture Worker 362511 Arborist 842311 Beef Cattle Farm Worker 842411 Broadacre Crop and Livestock Farm Worker 121711 Broadacre Crop and Livestock Farmer 121599 Broadacre Crop Growers nec 842312 Cattle and Sheep Farm Worker 225114 Content Creator (Marketing) 842211 Cotton Farm Worker 121511 Cotton Grower 842299 Crop Farm Workers nec 262114 Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance Specialist 262115 Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist 262116 Cyber Security Analyst 262117 Cyber Security Architect 261315 Cyber Security Engineer 262118 Cyber Security Operations Coordinator 842313 Dairy Cattle Farm Worker 261316 Devops Engineer 225115 Digital Marketing Analyst 234521 Entomologist 363112 Fishing Leading Hand 121611 Flower Grower 843999 Forestry and Garden Workers nec 363113 Forestry Operations Supervisor 843111 Forestry Worker 842212 Fruit Farm Worker 121612 Fruit Grower 842213 Fruit Picker 843211 Garden Labourer 362611 Gardener (General) 842214 Grain, Oilseed, Pulse and Pasture Farm Worker (Aus) / Field Farm Worker (NZ) 121512 Grain, Oilseed, Pulse or Pasture Grower / Field Crop Grower 121699 Horticultural Crop Growers nec 843311 Horticultural Nursery Assistant 363114 Horticultural Supervisor or Specialist 843911 Hunter-Trapper 843912 Irrigation Assistant 311115 Irrigation Designer 362712 Irrigation Technician 362711 Landscape Gardener 842399 Livestock Farm Workers nec 842314 Livestock Husbandry Worker 843112 Logging Assistant 121323 Mixed Cattle and Sheep Farmer 842499 Mixed Production Farm Workers nec 121799 Mixed Production Farmers nec 842215 Mushroom Picker 842216 Nut Farm Worker 121613 Nut Grower 312914 Other Draftsperson 261317 Penetration Tester 843411 Pest Control Technician 842315 Piggery Farm Worker 842316 Poultry Farm Worker 311314 Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer 121614 Production Nursery Grower 234612 Respiratory Scientist 311217 Respiratory Technician 363199 Senior Aquaculture, Crop and Forestry Workers nec 363211 Senior Beef Cattle Station Worker 363115 Senior Broadacre Crop and Livestock Farm Worker 363116 Senior Broadacre Crop Farm Worker 363212 Senior Cattle and Sheep Farm Worker 363213 Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker 363299 Senior Livestock Farm Workers nec 363214 Senior Piggery Stockperson 363215 Senior Sheep Farm Worker 363311 Shearer 842317 Sheep Farm Worker 362312 Sports Turf Manager 362313 Sports Turf Trades Worker 842318 Stablehand 842217 Sugar Cane Farm Worker 121513 Sugar Cane Grower 361116 Track Rider 843113 Tree Faller 362512 Tree Worker 121615 Turf Grower 261113 User Experience Designer (ICT) 842218 Vegetable Farm Worker (Aus) / Market Garden Worker (NZ) 121616 Vegetable Grower (Aus) / Market Gardener (NZ) 842221 Vegetable Picker 363117 Vineyard Supervisor 842222 Vineyard Worker 121617 Wine Grape Grower 363312 Wool Classer 842321 Wool Handler 234522 Zoologist Occupations Removed and New/Alternative Code ANZSCO Name New / Alternative code 234112 Agricultural Scientist 234114 311111 Agricultural Technician 311112 841111 Aquaculture Worker 842111 362212 Arborist 362511 841511 Beef Cattle Farm Worker 842311 121211 Cotton Grower 121511 841299 Crop Farm Workers nec 842299 121299 Crop Farmers nec 841512 Dairy Cattle Farm Worker 842313 841999 Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers nec 121212 Flower Grower 121611 841311 Forestry Worker 843111 841211 Fruit or Nut Farm Worker 842212 / 842216 121213 Fruit or Nut Grower 121612 / 121613 841212 Fruit or Nut Picker 842213 841411 Garden Labourer 843211 362211 Gardener (General) 362611 841213 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Farm Worker (Aus) / Field Crop Farm Worker (NZ) 121214 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower / Field Crop Grower 121512 121215 Grape Grower 121617 362311 Greenkeeper 841412 Horticultural Nursery Assistant 843311 841911 Hunter-Trapper 843911 262112 ICT Security Specialist 262116 223211 ICT Trainer 223311 362213 Landscape Gardener 362711 841599 Livestock Farm Workers nec 841312 Logging Assistant 843112 841611 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Worker 842399 121411 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer 121216 Mixed Crop Farmer 841513 Mixed Livestock Farm Worker 121317 Mixed Livestock Farmer
The Prime Minister of Australia, on the basis of medical advice by the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, has announced to pause further easing of border restrictions, until 15 December to better understand the Omicron Variant. The decision to temporarily halt the reopening of Australia to international skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holidaymakers, and provisional family visa holders from 1 December until 15 December also include travelers from Japan and the Republic of Korea. The following announcement is made by the Australian government: No entry in Australia for anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or their immediate family including parents of citizens, and who have been in African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, and Mozambique), where the Omicron variant has been detected and spread within the past 14 days. Immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days subject to jurisdictional arrangements for Australian citizens and permanent residents, immediate family members including parents arriving from these African countries. Immediate isolation and testing for COVID-19 for everyone who has already arrived in Australia and who has been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days and following jurisdictional quarantine requirements which will include quarantine for 14 days from the time of departure from Southern Africa. These restrictions are also applicable to international students and skilled migrants, arriving from the safe travel zones established with New Zealand and Singapore who have been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days. (Seychelles has been removed from the list of countries of concern) This necessary and temporary pause will provide time to Australia to better understand and discuss the Omicron variant, to enable Australia to take sensible and responsive evidence-based action, led by medical experts.
The Minister for Home Affairs has announced changes and concessions relating to Skilled visa holders to allow them to stay in Australia and continue working in businesses facing critical shortages, particularly in health, hospitality, and the regions. The Minister also announced concessions for visitor visas holders and concessions for Temporary Graduate visa holders to ensure Australia remains a priority destination for international students. Skilled Visa Holders Extension of Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489, 491 and 494) Improved permanent residency pathway for existing SC 482 visa holders in the short term stream and legacy SC 457 holders who can no longer meet the age requirement Skilled Regional Provisional visa holders overseas can enter Australia from 1 December 2021 and will be eligible for a visa extension. Visitor Visas Nil VAC for a further six months, for new visitor visa applicants offshore where their visa expired or will expire between 1 Jan 2022 and 30 June 2022. Temporary Graduate Visas Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions will be able to apply for a replacement visa. Increase in the length of stay for subclass 485 visa holders in Masters by Coursework and Vocation Educational and Training (VET) streams. Extension of existing measure for recognition of time spent offshore by students and temporary graduates studying online to be counted towards the requirement of qualifying for a Temporary Graduate subclass 482 visa. To know more, click here.