2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels

Significant Decrease in 2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels

The Australian Government announced the 2024-25 Federal Budget on 14 May 2024, giving a full image of the Government’s plans for expenditure and revenue in 2024-25, including the migration program planning levels for the 2024-25 program year.

The 2024-25 migration program planning levels show a significant decrease in net overseas migration to 268,000 places (previously 528,000 places in the 2022-23 period), with 185,000 places assigned to the permanent migration program. The rest will be placed on other temporary visa programs such as Student Visa, Work and Holiday Maker program, and Australian citizens, New Zealanders, and Humanitarian migrants.

To better equip you with the necessary knowledge, we have summarized the 2024-25 migration program planning levels below.

Summary of 2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels on Permanent Migration Program

The 2024-25 migration program planning levels for the Permanent Migration program will consist of the following:

• 132,200 places (approximately 71% of the program) for the Skill stream to increase the economy’s potential for productivity and address the skills gap in the labour market, especially for workers in regional areas.
• 52,500 places (approximately 28% of the program) for the Family stream, predominantly for Partner Visas, facilitating the reunion of Australians with their family members living abroad and allowing them to become citizens.
• 300 places for the Special Eligibility stream. This stream deals with visas for people in unique situations, such as permanent residents returning to Australia after a time away.

The allocation of 2024-25 migration program planning levels for the permanent migration program will be as follows:

Visa Stream

Visa Category

2024-25 Planning levels

Skill

Employer Sponsored

44,000

Skilled Independent

16,900

Regional

33,000

State/Territory Nominated

33,000

Business Innovation & Investment

1,000

Global Talent (Independent)

4,000

Global Talent (Independent)

4,000

Family

Partner

40,500

Parent

8,500

Child

3,000

Other Family

500

Special Eligibility

300

Total Migration Program

185,000

More Visa Updates on 2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels

As part of the migration program planning levels and the 2024-25 Migration Federal Budget, the following changes to visa programs, such as Visa 482, Global Talent Visa, Business Visa, etc., will be in place.

Work Experience Requirement Cut for Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)

The Australian Government will change the work experience requirement for the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) to just one year for all applicants starting from 23 November 2024.

Currently, the minimum work experience requirement for all Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) applicants is two years.

Read more: 482 Visa Latest News: 482 Visa PR Pathway Gets Broaden!

Balancing the Number of International Students with the Housing Availability

The Government has declared its intention to collaborate with international education providers to restrict the total number of international students enrolled during a given period.

The Government will limit the number of international students a university can admit in accordance with the amount of available student accommodation. This will ease the burden on the housing market.

State and Territory Nomination Allocations

The State and Territory nomination allocations are available in the following visa categories:

• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190); and
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491).

The State and Territory nomination allocations in the 2024-25 program year will be advised soon.

BIIP to be Closed and Global Talent Visa to be Replaced by National Innovation Visa

The BIIP (Business and Innovation and Investment Program) will permanently close in July 2024. Thus, new applications for the Visa 188 will no longer be available.

However, the Government will continue assessing the BIIP Visa applications lodged in line with the Migration Program planning levels.

In the meantime, the Government is also working on a new Visa—the National Innovation Visa (NIV)—to replace the Global Talent Visa. The National Innovation Visa is expected to be available at the end 2024.

Rest assured, the Government will oversee the switch from a Global Talent Visa to a National Innovation Visa, ensuring that applicants are guided throughout the process. The transition will not negatively impact candidates for Global Talent Visas who currently have them. The National Innovation Visas issued in 2024-25 will be considered for the Global Talent Program.

Work and Holiday Visa Program with China, Vietnam, and India Nationals

The Government plans to launch a pre-application (ballot) system for applicants from China, Vietnam, and India for the limited Work and Holiday (subclass 462) Visa program.

The ballot approach aims to control program demand and expedite these countries’ application processing time. The cost will be AUD 25, which will be raised each year in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

5 Years Validity Period on Business Visitor Visas for Indian Nationals

The Government will increase the Business Visitor Visas validity period to 5 years for Indian citizens. The commencement date will be advised soon.

Introduction to MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme)

The Government plans to introduce the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) on 1 November 2024. This program aims to give up to 3,000 Indian graduates and early-career professionals (ages 18 to 30) a new path to mobility.

Professionals with specialized knowledge in particular fields of study can live and work in Australia for a maximum of two years.

There will be an AUD 25 pre-application fee and an AUD 365 visa application fee. Both fees will be modified annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Read more: Upcoming Immigration Changes Australia: New Visa Program and Expected Visa Fee Changes

Continuation of The Leaving Violence Program (LVP)

The trial for the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot and the Escaping Violence Payment is scheduled to go on until 30 June 2025.

The Leaving Violence Program is scheduled to launch in mid-2025, subject to acquiring a suitable service provider in response to the encouraging results and insights obtained from these programs.

The Government has committed to AUD 925.2 million over five years, with an annual commitment of AUD 263.3 million.

The Leaving Violence Program, which provides financial assistance, safety assessments, and connections to support services for those leaving violent situations with intimate partners, will remain open with the support of this funding.

What about the Skill In Demand Visa and Reformation on Permanent Residency Pathway?

Unfortunately, the Government has not specifically set the Skill In Demand Visa and reformation on Permanent Residency Pathway in their 2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels.

However, the Government has produced a discussion paper regarding the potential reform of the points test for permanent skilled migration, and a public consultation is currently underway.

Feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries in relation to getting Australian Permanent Residency or other type of Australian visa.

The Preferred Migration Agent in Perth by Assisting people to obtain the right Australian Visa legally and lawfully.