Mid-Year 2018 Selected legislation changes
| Change | Detail | Effective as of |
| Skilling Australians Fund legislation |
Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Act 2018 Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Regulations 2018 Proclamation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018N00125 Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Act 2018 Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Regulations 2018 |
12 August 2018 |
| LMT changes |
Migration (LIN 18/036: Period, manner and evidence of labour market testing) Instrument 2018 |
12 August 2018 |
| Review rights chenges and other changes |
Migration and Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Integrity) Act 2018 Part 1 - Public disclosure of sanctions Proclamation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018N00174 Migration Amendment (Enhanced Integrity) Regulations 2018 |
13 December 2018 |
| 189/190/489 Points test pass mark |
Increased Pass Mark - 65 points will be needed for GSM visas as a minimum. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L00920 Maximum age limit for partner points in the general skilled migration program is reduced to under 45. |
1 July 2018 |
| Skilled occupation lists |
NO CHANGE! Please refer to 18 March 2018 occupation lists: http://visa.ozhome.info/legislation-_-policy/2018/skilled-occupation-lists-18-march-2018 Home Affairs website: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work/work/skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists |
No change |
| Global Talent Pilot Visa | Highly skilled workers from around the world will have a new visa pathway into Australia as a part of the Government’s new Global Talent Scheme pilot program.
From 1 July all businesses will be able to sponsor highly skilled and specialised workers who will help to grow their businesses and create more jobs. The pilot will run for 12 months and provide businesses with a streamlined process to sponsor overseas workers with cutting edge skills, where there are no suitable Australians available to fill the vacancies. More details here https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work/skilledvisas/visas-for-innovation |
1 July 2018 |
| Bridging visa arrangements |
The purpose of this instrument is to prescribe a form, Form 1008 (Internet), for Bridging E (Class WE) visas. The new form may only be used by applicants who do not have a pending BVE application, as defined in the instrument, this measure will mitigate submission of surplus applications. The instrument replicates all other arrangements from the repealed instrument IMMI 18/057. |
1 July 2018 |
| Arrangements for Partner and prospective marriage visas |
IMMI 18/103: Arrangements for Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa Applications Online lodgment is mandarory unless authorized otherwise. |
1 July 2018 |
| Arrangements for Parent visas |
IMMI 18/079: Arrangements for Parent Visa Applications |
1 July 2018 |
| Arrangements for Other Family Visas and NZ relationship visa |
IMMI 18/076: Arrangements for Other Family Visa Applications and New Zealand (Family Relationship) Visa Applications |
1 July 2018 |
| Work and Holiday and Working Holiday visa applications |
IMMI 18/102: Arrangements for Work and Holiday and Working Holiday Visa Applications |
1 July 2018 |
| Arrangements for visitor visas |
IMMI 18/118: Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications |
1 July 2018 |
| Pacific Labour Scheme 2018 |
Migration Amendment (Pacific Labour Scheme) Regulations 2018 These regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to implement initiatives promoting Australia’s international policy in relation to employment opportunities and pathways for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) by making changes to Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (‘Subclass 403’). They make these changes in order to introduce a new Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) stream; provide for applicants, subject to conditions, to be granted a multi-year, multi-entry visa in the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) stream; and to strengthen integrity measures in the PLS and SWP streams by introducing a new condition that allows the visa holder, under limited circumstances, to change their sponsor. They also update the settings relating to when visas are in effect for all streams in the Subclass 403 to provide administrative flexibility for visa processing officers (VPOs), and greater certainty for visa holders in relation to their permitted period of stay in Australia. |
1 July 2018 |
| Arrangements for temporary work and temporary activity visas |
IMMI 18/085: Arrangements for Temporary Work and Temporary Activity Visa Applications IMMI 18/086: Agreements or Arrangements which are not Relevant Agreements for the purposes of the Government Agreement Stream of the Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations) visa)) Instrument 2018 |
After the commencement of the Migration Amendment (Pacific Labour Scheme) Regulations 2018 |
| Visa application charges increase |
Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2018 These regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to make changes to visa application charges (VACs) for certain visas. In particular, the regulations increase first instalment VACs for a number of visas. On 1 July 2017, most VACs were indexed in accordance with the 2017-18 forecast consumer price index (CPI). The regulations increase the majority of VACs so that they are increased by the 2018-19 forecast CPI. Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2018 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018 |
1 July 2018 |
| AAT fee annual increase |
The application fees for the review of a decision will increase to $1,764. The reduced (where applicable) fee will be $882 |
1 July 2018 |
| Currencies and exchange rates |
IMMI 18/064: Places and Currencies for Payment of Fees IMMI 18/063: Payment of Visa Application Charges and Fees in Foreign Currencies |
1 July 2018 |
| ETA eligible passports |
Migration (IMMI 18/084: Specification of ETA-Eligible Passports) Instrument 2018 |
14 August 2018 |
| DHA phone services |
Changes to the Department of Home Affairs’ phone services The Department has introduced a Global Service Centre (GSC) operating from Australia. The GSC has replaced all services previously offered by the London-based Europe Service Centre (ESC), the Ottawa-based Americas Service Centre (ASC) and the Sydney Service Centre (SSC). Clients from Europe and the Americas will now need to call the GSC on +61 2 6196 0196 (international rates apply). Australian clients can continue to use the 131 881 number. |
September 2018 |
| Citizenship fees - concessions | Australian Citizenship Amendment (Concessional Application Fees) Regulations 2018 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L00734 The fees for Australian citizenship applications for holders of prescribed health care cards and pensioner cards have reverted to the relevant concessional application fee of $20 or $40. |
DISALLOWED |
| Statutory Declarations Regulation |
These regulations set out the prescribed form for making a Commonwealth statutory declaration, list the occupations and persons before whom a Commonwealth statutory declaration can be made and repeal the Statutory Declarations Regulations 1993. Registered migration agents can authorise a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration now. Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2018L01296 |
18 September 2018 |
