New Migration Program year!
Every year the Australian government sets a quota for the migration intake for the Migration Program. Migration Program year 2019/20 is set at 160,000 places. This year will have more places allocated to the Employer Sponsored, Regional and State and Territory Nominated visa categories.
Global Talent – Independent program
Last year in December, the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) announced the Global Talent – Initiative program, now recently renamed as the Global Talent – Independent (GTI) program. This program’s purpose is to identify, attract and invite the best and brightest skilled migrants from across the globe. This program includes up to 5,000 permanent migration places (inclusive of secondary applicants).
Expansion of Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) program
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) provides flexibility for states, territories or regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions through an agreement-based framework.
Under the DAMA framework, employers in designated areas experiencing skills and labour shortages can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers.
It allows regional employers to access a broader range of overseas workers than is currently available through the TSS or ENS program.
DAMAs are now in place for:
- Northern Territory
- Great South Coast, Victoria
- Goldfields, Western Australia
- Regional South Australia
- Adelaide city
- Orana, New South Wales
- Far North Queensland
DAMAs are an agreement between a state and the DOHA to allow businesses in specific locations to access certain types of skilled labour not available in the current system. A DAMA utilises the labour agreement stream of the TSS 482 visa. Whilst similar to the TSS, businesses under a DAMA enter into a labour agreement directly with the Australian Government to employ semi-skilled workers whose skill level or occupation does not exist on the occupation lists.
Different regions will have different occupations available and different requirements. There is still a need to be sponsored by a business under the DAMA, but it may be worth looking at possible job opportunities in these areas.
There are different benefits available that include pathways to permanent residency for labour agreement TSS visa holders, waivers to English language requirements, concessions to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and no caveats. This again varies depending on the occupation and under which DAMA one may fall under.
In our next article we will cover some requirements of DAMAs as well as the occupations available under them.
Read: The AILS Complete Occupation List Guide
Read: Your Complete Guide To The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) – Part I
Read: Your Complete Guide To The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) – Part II
Read: English Proficiency Tests
Read: TSS 482, ENS & RSMS Visas: Salary Requirements
Read: A Detailed Guide to Caveats
Read: TSS 482 & ENS 186 Visa: Does A Caveat Apply & Is There Any Wiggle Room?
Read: TSS, ENS & RSMS Visas: Skilling Australians Fund In effect From 12 August 2018
Children born to visa holders
Remember to notify the Department when you have a baby! Even if your baby does not yet have a passport. A child will automatically take on the visa that their parent holds. If you have a baby, do not notify the department and then go out of Australia, you may run into issues in returning with your baby as your baby would not have a visa.
Need help with an application, want to quickly get yourself on the 489 visa before it closes or want more information on the new 491 visa? Australian Immigration Law Services have been in the business for two decades and understand your needs. Let us help.
Call +61 2 8054 2537, 0434 890 199 or book online today to speak to our migration specialists.
