About 50% of Department of Immigration funding will be devoted to skilled visa places with the subclass 188, subclass 124 and subclass 858 visas being the main focus of budget spending.

The migration program will maintain 2020-21 levels of 160,000 visa places in total for the next financial year with a continued focus on onshore family visa applications being approved as well as the shift in focus for skilled visas.

Net overseas migration is expected to fall from 154,000 in 2019-20 to around -72,000 persons by the end of 2020-21 before gradually increasing to 201,000 persons in 2023-24.

The Global Talent visa Program will receive over $550 million in funding with the ATO providing fast-track tax advice to foreign investors and individual tax residency rules will be simplified.

The number of Family visas will be capped at 77,300 places for 2021-22.

As was previously announced the Adult Migrant English Program which helps new migrants to acquire english language skills will be given a shake-up. 

The 510 hour cap on education under the program will be scrapped in favour of allowing migrants to study until they have reached a ‘vocational’ level of english.

For information on visas, citizenship and migration to Australia, call +61 (08) 9221 4888 or book an appointment using the following link – https://easymigrate.as.me/schedule.php.

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Summary by Cyrus Mistry (Founding Partner – Easymigrate AMCS):

The Australian Federal Budget for 2020-2021 was announced today – 6th October 2020.

With increased places available, I expect the processing-time for Partner Visas will reduce from the current 24-30 months waiting periods. The places allotted for Global Talent visas has been tripled from 5,000 to 15,000 so we expect to see more activity within this program stream.
The bad news is that the Australian Government expects the net overseas migration numbers fall from the current 154,000 persons by almost 45% – down to about 83,000 in this financial year 2020-21. The good news is that net overseas migration is expected to bounce back to about 201,000 persons in another two years (2023-24).
 

• Previous Program Planning level (2019-20) was set at 160,000 places
• Current Program Planning level (2020-21) will stay the same at 160,000 places however the Family Stream will benefit by increasing the places from 47,700 to 77,300 for 2020-2021 only.
• In 2019-20 the net overseas migration was 154,000 persons.
• In 2020-21 the net overseas migration is expected to reduce by about 71,000 (net 83,000), increasing to around 201,000 by 2023-24 (further two years)
• Employer Sponsored, Global Talent, Business Innovation and Investment program visas will be prioritised.
• Onshore visa applicants will be prioritised.
• Partner Visa applicants will be prioritised especially where the sponsor lives in a “designated regional area”
• Temp Skilled Workers, Visitors, Working Holidaymakers: subsequent visa application fees may be “waived” in future – where they were affected by travel restrictions.

Subclass 189 New Zealand Pathway: Eligibility requirement is that applicants need to show fours years of taxable income above the TSMIT threshold in the last five years. This may be reduced to three years including the most recent year.
 
Business, Investment and Innovation Program: Focus will be given to higher value investors. Places will be increased to 13,500. The Government has announced a “Taskforce” that will focus on attracting “exceptional talent” and international businesses to Australia. This initiative is likely to increase local employment opportunities and assist in a post-COVID recovery.
 
Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program: This pathway will receive the best allocation yet. Placed will be TRIPLED to 15,000 places.
 
Family Stream Program: 72,300 places out of a total of 77,300 places will go towards “Partner Visas”, remaining 5,000 places will go to other visas within the Family stream. Sponsorship provisions and obligations will be strengthened. Partner visa applicants may be required to show English-language skills. This may give better social and economic participation outcomes.
 
Humanitarian Stream: The ceiling will e set at 13,750 places. Quota division between onshore and offshore applicants will be kept flexible, keeping COVID restrictions in mind.
 
Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals: Additional funding will be provided to continue processing the backlog of applicants who arrived between August 2012 and January 2014.
 
Federal Law Circuit Court: A$35.7 million will provide additional resources to the FCC. This will enable the backlog of pending cases relating to immigration matters.
 
The full Federal Budget papers can be accessed on the Budget.gov.au site.

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