The Australia New Zealand Travel Bubble Opens After months of anticipation, the Australia New Zealand Travel Bubble commenced from 19 April 2021 to allow two-way quarantine-free travel between both countries. However, keep in mind that quarantine-free travel could be paused or suspended by either country at any time in response to… Read More »
The 408 Pandemic Visa | What You Need to Know In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government established the Pandemic Event Stream of the 408 Visa to provide flexible temporary arrangements for visa holders in Australia. Here’s what you should know about this visa option to extend your stay.… Read More »
Leaving Australia in the COVID-19 Era | Outbound Travel Exemptions With reportedly more than 11,000 Australians getting Outbound Travel Exemptions to head overseas each month, there are many reasons why a person may need to leave Australia – for example, for Compassionate circumstances or Critical Work overseas. According to… Read More »
Travel Bubbles Australia | Discussions to open travel with Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan and South Korea This month, Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack told ABC News the Government is working with Singapore on a plan to create an Australia-Singapore Travel Bubble, which could start from as early as… Read More »
Vaccine Passport Australia | What is a vaccine passport and how will it influence travel post COVID-19? The COVID-19 vaccine has started rolling out in Australia and many people are wondering how international travel could safely begin to reopen. Will the vaccination make it safe to resume international travel?… Read More »
FIFO travel has been impacted by suspended flights between Australia and Papua New Guinea. As announced yesterday by Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, all flights were suspended between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia from midnight last night, as PNG experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases. While Australia’s international border… Read More »
Applying for a Partner Visa is still possible during the pandemic – here’s a summary of recent concessions affecting Partner and Family Visa applicants – plus what you should know about applying for a Partner Visa in the COVID-19 Era. There are two main types of Partner Visas in Australia –… Read More »
International Travel Australia | Will Australia’s International Border Re-Open in 2021? Yesterday, Health Department Secretary, Brendan Murphy predicted it is unlikely there will be a return to widespread overseas travel this year, even with COVID-19 vaccinations being rolled out across the world. According to Mr Murphy, the prospect of… Read More »
The Government has announced new rules for travel to Australia, which include the need to take a COVID-19 test before travel and mandatory requirements to wear a mask. The changes were agreed by the National Cabinet on 8 January 2021 in response to the new COVID-19 strain that is more… Read More »
International Quarantine Australia | Exemptions and what you need to know when arriving in Australia As part of Australia’s international travel restrictions, all travellers to Australia need to quarantine for 14-days, except for: Travellers who have been in New Zealand for 14 days prior to travel (although this may differ between Australian States… Read More »
Business Visa Australia Update | Longer Stay and Direct PR for Business Owners, Investors and Entrepreneurs Business owners, entrepreneurs and investors will gain access to a longer visa period in Australia and a direct Permanent Residence (PR) pathway following changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) from… Read More »
Updated 19 January 2021: According to recent news, quarantine-free movement between Australia and New Zealand is still planned for April 2021. This is despite caution over the new COVID-19 strain and Government discussions as to whether Australia will re-open its international border in 2021. New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister has… Read More »
Australia Travel Declarations | What to do before travelling The Government has introduced a new process to better manage contact tracing and quarantine plans. All international travellers should complete an Australia Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before departing for Australia. This includes: Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents People who are automatically exempt… Read More »
Travel Exemption and Priority Migration We are continuing to see Travel Exemption categories gradually expand and occupations added to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) while Australia seeks to ensure it has the critical skills needed to boost the economy during the pandemic. Australian Travel Exemptions to… Read More »
Child and Partner Visa applicants in Australia will be pleased to know temporary immigration changes will make it easier to stay in the country with their families. Applicants for the below Child and Partner Visas who are in Australia will soon be able to remain in the country while their… Read More »
With Australia’s international travel restrictions, it is becoming more important for employers to be aware of all visa options available in the migration program for professionals. Here’s what employers and skilled individuals should know about the Global Talent Program. What is the Global Talent Program? The Global Talent Program is designed… Read More »
State border restrictions were recently discussed at the National Cabinet meeting on Friday 13 November 2020. State, Territory and Commonwealth leaders met to discuss a plan to re-open Australia’s internal borders by Christmas. Here’s an update on state border restrictions and how they may apply to your interstate travel arrangements.… Read More »
Given recent news that a COVID-19 vaccination will be available in Australia as early as March 2021, it seems international travel restrictions could be lifted sooner than anticipated. In last month’s Federal Budget announcements, the Government indicated Australia’s international border would be closed until late 2021, based on the assumption that a COVID-19 vaccination would… Read More »
Australia Travel Exemption | Critical Work and Compassionate Travel Exemptions Article last updated: 3 December 2021. Update on 2 December 2021: After almost two years of waiting to enter the country for many Skilled Visa holders and International Students, the emergence of Omicron has delayed plans to remove the need… Read More »
The 2020-21 Federal Budget Immigration has confirmed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be felt in Australia’s migration program for years to come. While Australia’s migration program has historically been a significant economic driver, it will be severely limited by international border restrictions in the coming years.… Read More »
Health Minister, Greg Hunt yesterday confirmed Australia’s international travel restrictions will stay in place until 17 December 2020. Following medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the Government has extended the emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by an additional three months to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Biosecurity… Read More »
Visa sponsors will soon need to meet an additional Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirement before nominating an overseas skilled worker on a Subclass 457 / 482 TSS Visa or a Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa. Currently, employers must make two national advertisements to test skills availability in the local market. The… Read More »
Skilled migrants can now apply for a Travel Exemption to work in Australia under an expanded scope of Critical Skills and Sectors. Here’s what you need to know. The Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner has added several new categories of Travel Exemptions for critical work – including services for mining,… Read More »
Economic Outlook Immigration | The Government’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook released today shows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across all parts of the Australian economy, including immigration. The Outlook revealed a few key assumptions on how the pandemic will continue to affect migration to Australia: Between July and December 2020,… Read More »
On Friday 10 July, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced the rate of international arrivals into Australia would be halved to just over 4,000 people per week from Monday 13 July to avoid straining quarantine systems and better manage the risk of COVID-19 infections. International arrivals have been capped for several states: Perth: 525… Read More »
On the latest news about the Covid-19 Impact on Australia’s Migration… You may have seen in the media that the Government has forecast an 85% drop in Net Overseas Migration for 2020/21 compared to 2018/19 pre-COVID figures. This includes both temporary and permanent migration. This is a significant decrease and… Read More »
As part of Australia’s response to a new security law enacted in Hong Kong last week, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison yesterday announced several changes that will allow Hong Kong citizens to extend their stay in Australia. Here’s what you need to know: Hong Kong citizens who hold a Skilled or Graduate… Read More »
The Government’s recently announced Coronavirus travel ban means temporary visa holders will not be able to travel to Australia from mainland China despite having a valid visa. It will impact: Temporary visa holders in China who intend to travel or return to Australia Temporary visa holders who have recently transited through China This… Read More »
In Interstaff’s Q&A Video Series, our Registered Migration Agents answer your questions on how the introduction of the new Regional 494 Visa impacts businesses and skilled visa applicants. With Perth recently becoming classified as a regional city for visa purposes, we’ve had many people enquire how the new 494 Regional… Read More »
Why are more migrants choosing to study in Perth? With the Federal Government’s recent classification of Perth as a ‘regional’ area for visa and migration purposes in November 2019, the city is certainly becoming an even more attractive destination for international students. Perth International Students | New Visa Benefits Perth international… Read More »
Australia’s upcoming Skilled Occupation List changes will determine which occupations are eligible for skilled visas in 2020, so it’s important to understand how the lists may change. What is a Skilled Occupation List? | Skilled Occupation List Changes To work or migrate to Australia on a skilled visa, a person… Read More »
The Government has confirmed the eligible occupations for Australia’s new Regional Visas and importantly, the lists will establish new Permanent Residence (PR) pathways for skilled migrants from 16 November 2019. The 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Visa The 494 SESR Visa will enable businesses with operations in Perth, the Gold Coast and regional/remote areas to… Read More »
This week, Interstaff’s Managing Director, Sheila Woods commented on how the upcoming Regional Skilled Visa changes will impact businesses in the Resource Industry in an article for The Australian Mining Review and The Australian Oil and Gas Review newspapers. With the new Regional Skilled Visas commencing on 16 November 2019, the… Read More »
The new Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) 494 Visa will commence on 16 November 2019 and replace existing permanent residence pathways to sponsor overseas workers in regional areas. If your business employs Subclass 457/482 Visa holders, it’s important to know how the changes will impact permanent residence options for employees.… Read More »
The Government has launched a parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s migration program as part of its focus on encouraging migrants to live and work in regional areas. While Australia’s permanent migration intake rate has already been formally reduced by 30,000 places each year over the next four years, temporary migration figures… Read More »
If you’re an expat moving to Australia, you would know navigating visa requirements is only one piece of the puzzle when seeking to work abroad. It helps to have access to a pool of resources and a supportive group of like-minded individuals. Recently, Interstaff have been working closely with Expat… Read More »
You may have heard in the media last month that the Courier-Mail reported the Government may not pursue legislative changes that will require permanent residents to wait longer and meet tougher tests to become eligible for Australian Citizenship. The Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has since denied reports that changes… Read More »
Amended legislation to relax Australia’s Work and Holiday Visa arrangements commenced on 1 July 2019. The Work and Holiday Maker program is now available to more young migrants and provides a pathway for visa holders to stay an additional year to assist farmers and regional businesses with critical labour shortages.… Read More »
The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa will soon be replaced by a new regional points-tested visa, known as the Subclass 491 Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa on 16 November 2019. If you’re interested in becoming sponsored by an Australian State or Territory Government for skilled work in regional areas, read… Read More »
The bar has been raised even higher for skilled migrants requiring points for a 189 Visa invitation, particularly for high-demand occupations such as accountants, engineers and IT professionals. The 189 Visa is highly sought by skilled migrants because it provides permanent residence without the need for employer sponsorship. However, the… Read More »
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed less invitations will be issued to skilled migrants for a General Skilled Migration visa in 2019-20. As per our previous article, last month in April only 100 invitations were issued for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Australia-wide – the lowest amount offered… Read More »
WA Day! We’re very lucky in Western Australia to have a public holiday dedicated to everything that makes our state a great place to live, work and explore. This Monday 3 June is WA Day and there will be plenty of family activities on – both in Perth and right… Read More »
Following the 2019 Federal Election, we now have greater certainty of Australia’s immigration policy directions over the next three-year Government term. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison will continue to lead the Australian Government and immigration policy changes that were previously announced under his direction are likely to progress. This includes a… Read More »
After winning the 2019 Federal Election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will lead the Coalition through its third consecutive term of Government in Australia and has already selected which Ministers will form the new Cabinet. While there were some changes in ownership across Ministerial portfolios, responsibilities for immigration and related policies… Read More »
The privilege to vote and have a say in the shaping of our nation is just one of many good reasons to become an Australian Citizen. For those who are Australian citizens – whether it’s your first time voting or not – why not celebrate your freedom to vote with… Read More »
Drop In Invites For Skilled Migrants | Skilled visa applicants across Australia may face a longer wait to be invited by the Government to apply for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, due to a reduction in the number of invites being issued. The Subclass 189 Visa is highly sought… Read More »
In the lead up to the Federal Election, debate and discussion has again been raised on how Australia should manage its skilled migration programs. Congestion busting in metropolitan areas remains a contentious issue, and the Opposition has criticised the Coalition’s population policy for failing to address high numbers of temporary… Read More »
Recent debate in the lead up to the Federal election has highlighted the issue of extremely long wait times and high fees faced by many who apply for Australia’s Parent Visas. There is significant demand to bring parents to Australia, however only 7,371 permanent Parent Visas were issued in 2017-18.… Read More »
The Government has introduced legislation for Australia’s new Skilled Regional Visa options, which will require migrants to work for three years in regional areas before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence. Here’s what you need to know about the new Regional Visas. Currently, migrants can directly apply for permanent… Read More »
The Government’s points test changes from 16 November 2016 could mean migrants will be able to claim extra points to qualify for Australia’s independent skilled visas. Details of the revised points allocations were released under the Migration Amendment (New Regional Skilled Visas) Regulations 2019, as part of the Government’s review… Read More »
Overseas-trained nurses wanting to apply for permanent residence through the General Skilled Migration program may soon need to undertake an outcomes-based assessment instead of a three-month bridging program to qualify. The outcomes-based assessment will require overseas-trained nurses to be assessed based on cognitive and behavioural components, and previous qualifications and… Read More »
Perth is a great place to celebrate Easter with family and friends. There are always plenty of events and activities on offer each year. If you’re currently in Perth on a vacation (or staycation for permanent residents), here’s our rundown of things to do and places to see over the… Read More »
From 17 April 2019, the Department of Home Affairs will begin accepting Sponsorship applications from Australian citizens/permanent residents and eligible New Zealand Citizens to sponsor their parent(s) to come to Australia for up to 10 years on the new Subclass 870 Temporary Parent Visa. As the visa will be capped… Read More »
The Australian Governor-General yesterday proclaimed that the Partner Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) will commence on 17 April 2019. The changes may result in a more onerous and lengthier process to obtain a Partner Visa, and will particularly impact those lodging their application from within Australia. The legislative amendment will allow the Department of Home… Read More »
2019 Federal Budget outcomes Last night’s 2019 Federal Budget announcements confirmed Australia will continue to focus on encouraging migrants to live and work regionally, with nearly $50 million of spending to be allocated to new regional visas over the next five years. Other key take-aways for the migration program included: A 5.4%… Read More »
Employers and Subclass 482 Visa holders may be interested to know a new permanent residence option has opened up for an additional 31 occupations in the Oil and Gas, IT, Science, Professional services and Arts industries (among others) through the General Skilled Migration program. Prior to the Skilled Occupation List… Read More »
Does your business struggle to find local workers for its regional operations? Do visa processing times get in the way of your business securing the workers you need? According to the Government’s $19 million plan to tackle the uneven distribution of Australia’s population growth over the next four years, businesses… Read More »
This month, the Government announced the Accredited Sponsorship Scheme will be expanded to allow more businesses to access priority processing times of up to 5 business days for a 482 visa, compared to the current average wait of 42 business days for a 482 Visa. Currently only 900 businesses have… Read More »
Employer sponsored doctors from overseas who are intending to practice in Australia will first need approval to work in a designated area from a Rural Workforce Agency (RWA’s) before applying for their visa. Due to a new condition on the revised Skilled Occupation Lists announced on 11 March 2019, overseas… Read More »
The Government today revealed Australia’s permanent migration intake would be reduced by 30,000 people as details of the new population policy were released. Under the policy changes, Australia’s annual permanent migration intake will be set at 160,000 places for the next four years, formally reducing the number of permanent residence… Read More »
Interstaff recently attended the Australian Oil and Gas (AOG) Exhibition and Conference held on 13-15 March 2019 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Each year the AOG Expo provides an opportunity for our team to network with peers in the oil and gas industry and learn more about the… Read More »
Immigration was the subject of contentious political debate in 2018 and discussions shifted from the size of Australia’s permanent migration intake to how to distribute issues of apparent overcrowding in Sydney and Melbourne. We expect many of the discussions that began in 2018 will continue this year and could result… Read More »
Every six months, the Government reviews its lists of eligible occupations for a skilled visa to ensure the migration program continues to reflect Australia’s changing labour needs. The latest revisions came into effect on 11 March 2019. No occupations were removed from the Medium to Long Term Skilled Lists, however,… Read More »
Australia is known for its world-class education system, which is part of the reason why so many people choose to raise their family here. Giving your kids a good education is so important and is an integral part of the Australian lifestyle. If you’ve chosen to base you and your… Read More »
This Australia Day long weekend, people across the country will celebrate everything that makes our nation so amazing. In Perth, there will be plenty of activities for families and friends to enjoy. Here are our top 5 ways to celebrate the Australia Day long weekend in Perth – and best… Read More »
If you are on a skilled visa or applying for one you may be interested to know that as a result of recent legislative changes, the Government can now request your Tax File Number to cross-match your financial records with your visa information and more easily identify cases of non-compliance… Read More »
Changing Skilled Migration Landscape | We have certainly seen a number of changes to Australia’s migration landscape since Interstaff was first established in 1988 three decades ago. One of the most significant changes recently has been the replacement of the 457 Visa scheme with the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Subclass… Read More »
There will be major changes to the Partner Visa process as the Government has passed legislation governing the way in which couples can apply for a Partner Visa. Find out what has changed and why, as well as how the changes impact you and your partner. Partner sponsors to… Read More »
This week, Interstaff had the pleasure of presenting on the topic, ‘Reimagining Skilled Migration’ at the 2018 WA HR Leadership Forum. As you may know, this year’s replacement of the 457 Visa scheme with the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 Visa and broader changes in Australia’s migration arrangements have… Read More »
Employer sponsored migration will be a key focus for Australia’s Immigration Minister, David Coleman according to his speech to the Migration Institute of Australia in October 2018. Mr Coleman stated Australia’s skilled migration policies should emphasise visa categories providing the highest economic benefits, such as employer sponsored migration and regional… Read More »
The Government has announced it will relax Working Holiday Visa program restrictions relating to age limits, areas of work, employer flexibility and length of stay to help agricultural businesses struggling with labour shortages while the Government considers creating a dedicated agricultural visa for a long-term solution. The Working Holiday Visa… Read More »
Last week, the Government announced Irish and Canadian citizens can now apply for a Working Holiday Subclass 417 Visa in Australia up to the age of 35. Prior to the change on 1 November 2018, people over the age 31 were ineligible for the program. The increased age limit therefore… Read More »
Interstaff is pleased to welcome our new Registered Migration Agent to the team, Melissa Phan (MARN: 1808239). As part of our Registered Migration Agent team, Melissa advises clients on migration solutions for businesses and individuals according to current migration legislation and manages all aspects of the visa and/or sponsorship application process… Read More »
Interstaff had a great lawn bowls night recently with WA Singapore Business Connect. Have you ever tried your hand at lawn bowls? It was a first for a few of us in the Interstaff team at the South Perth Lawn Bowls Club. Trying lawn bowls for the first time and… Read More »
One Fine Day There’s plenty of free things to see and do in Perth and they don’t have to cost you the Earth! We are lucky to have so many natural attractions to visit and with the weather beginning to heat up, we’re excited to start heading out for a… Read More »
The latest on plans for Australia’s new migrants to live in regional areas Australia’s Population and Urban Infrastructure Minister, Alan Tudge recently confirmed the Government is progressing plans to develop a new landmark population policy that will introduce visa conditions requiring overseas workers to settle outside Sydney and Melbourne for… Read More »
The WA Graduate Occupation List is now in effect, which means that apart from our world-class universities, international students now have another reason to choose to study in WA – a priority pathway to stay in Australia. The WA State Government recently introduced the Graduate Occupation List to provide eligible… Read More »
How will Australia manage its population growth? Since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister, we have been keen to see how he would begin to shape Australia’s immigration policies and population growth. It seems he is already beginning to shift debate on the size of Australia’s annual immigration intake, revealing facts… Read More »
Find out what’s happening across the state to celebrate everything that makes Western Australia a great place to visit, work and live. What’s on: For a comprehensive guide on all the events across the State over the long weekend, visit the Celebrate WA website: Celebrate WA – Events across Perth… Read More »
