UK citizens up to the age of 35 can now reapply for working holiday visas without regional work requirements. Additionally, Australia has introduced the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa for Philippine citizens aged 18-30. This visa requires applicants to hold tertiary education qualifications or have completed at least two years of post-secondary education.
Temporary Graduate Visa
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) has been renamed to include two streams: the Post-Vocational Work stream and the Post-Higher Education Work stream. The age limit for applicants is now 35, or 50 for those who have completed a Masters (research) or Doctoral Degree (PhD) or hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport. The English proficiency requirement has been raised to 6.5 on the IELTS or an equivalent test.
Student Visa Changes
In a significant change for student visas, holders of certain visas, including the Subclass 485 and Visitor Visas, can no longer apply for a student visa while they are in Australia.
Superannuation Employer Contribution
The Superannuation Guarantee has increased to 11.5%. Employers must ensure that sponsored visa holders receive this additional superannuation entitlement without reducing the approved guaranteed annual earnings to absorb the increase.
Other Notable Changes
Updates have been made to the 482 and 494 visa conditions.
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has been raised to $73,150.
The Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) is set at $175,000.
The BIIP 188 Visa has been closed, with a National Innovation Visa planned for 2024.
Enhanced fines have been introduced under the Migration Amendment Act 2024 for employer compliance.
Government lodgment fees have increased by approximately 2.8% for most visa subclasses.