Australia increasing the number of available skilled and parent visas
The Department of Home Affairs will receive an extra $576 million in the federal budget starting in 2022, with more skilled visas will be made available.
KEY POINTS
- The number of skilled visas available will increase significantly from 79,600 to 142,400.
- More parent visas will be available, with the government increasing the allocation from 4,500 to 8,500 this year.
Regarding the number of available Skilled and Parent visas, the Albanese government plans to almost double the latter while significantly increasing the former as part of the federal budget along with restoring certain migration program funding which was cut by the previous Morrison government.
Moreover, the Department of Home Affairs will also receive an extra $576 million over four years towards visa processing in order to cover a shortfall in funding that occurred due to the need for the maintenance of offshore processing centers and to support refugees. However, this amount is still $300 million less than the amount which was taken out in March ($875 million).
According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, “the government was providing a “substantial” increase in funding to the department”.
He also stated on SBS news that “This is a substantial improvement in funding for Home Affairs, we are getting the processing of visas going again,”.
Albanese government statement regarding visas in the federal budget?
It was previously stated by the government that it would invest an extra $36.1 million for the purpose of bringing down visa time by hiring more staff along with increasing the number of places for Skilled and Parents visas from 160,000 to 195,000.
Although the government has yet to increase the number of visas available as part of the migration program, it will however introduce a new Pacific Engagement Visa for nationals of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
Starting next year there will be 3,000 normal places available each year along with an additional 195,000 places available as part of the permanent program. Furthermore, there will also be a significant rise in the number of available skilled visas (from 79,600 to 142,400) which will include employed sponsored, skilled independent, regional, as well as state and territory nominated visas.
Rise in the number of parent visas to be made available
In regards to the family visas category, the government will increase the number of available parent visas by increasing the number of allocations from 4,500 in 2021-22, to 8,500 this year. Aside from parent visas, there will be around 500 other family visas, and 100 special eligibility visas made available however the Partner and child visa will still have no limits and be demand-driven.
The number of places for the humanitarian visa program will remain at 13,750 with an extra 16,500 places given to refugees from Afghanistan.
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