TSMIT increase – minimum salary for visa holders and PR pathways | Employer-sponsored visa changes
Following Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil’s announcements on changes to the skilled migration program a few weeks ago, here’s how some of the changes will be implemented.
- The minimum salary requirements known as the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) for Employer-Sponsored Visa holders will increase to $70,000 per annum from 1 July 2023. This will affect all nominations lodged on or after that date, but not those lodged beforehand.
- A pathway to Permanent Residence (PR) through the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transitional (TRT) Stream Visa will be available to all Subclass 482 TSS Visa Holders by the end of 2023. This will only require two years of living and working in Australia with their employer rather than three years.
- Subclass 482 TSS Visa Holders in the Short Term Stream will no longer be limited to a maximum of two visas onshore.
Read on to understand what this means for employers and skilled visa holders/applicants.
Consider Minimum Salary (TSMIT) Impacts for Employees
Businesses will need to assess if the increase in the TSMIT from $53,900 to $70,000 per annum will affect any employer-sponsored visa holders they plan to engage in coming months.
The change will not affect existing visa holders, however workers whose visas are expiring and require a renewal after 1 July 2023 will need to meet the new TSMIT as part of their new nomination application.
Consider PR for 482 Visa Short Term Stream Visa Holders
Since the government split the employer-sponsored visa program into two streams – the Short Term and Long Term stream in 2018, Subclass 482 TSS Visa holders on the Short Term list have had limited pathways to PR.
Some had been eligible for a pathway by applying for the 494 Regional Provisional Visa and then the 191 Visa, but this required them to live and work in a regional area for three years.
Businesses with employees on the Subclass 482 Short Term stream should now consider PR options through the 186 TRT Visa as it is a shorter pathway and does not require a skills assessment.
Applicants will need to continue to work in the occupation nominated for their 482 TSS visa(s) and meet all other requirements for the 186 TRT Visa.
Business Migration | Strategic Thinking
We hope this was helpful. For further information on these changes, you may be interested in our articles below:
Major Skilled Visa Changes Announced
Government Skilled Visa Changes | Interstaff’s Insights on ABC Radio Perth
As always, if you require professional visa or migration advice, we encourage you to call Interstaff’s Migration Agents on 08 9221 3388 (Perth) or 02 7200 2567 (Sydney) or 03 8319 0902 (Melbourne) or +61 8 9221 3388 (International) or get in touch here if you have further questions.
You may also wish to connect with us on LinkedIn to keep up-to-date on these changes.
Source:
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents
Migration Institute of Australia
Department of Home Affairs
