The Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2024 introduces a one-off increase in the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa, effective 1 February 2025.
New Application Charges
Initial Subclass 485 Visa Applications:
Primary applicant: $2,235
Secondary applicant (over 18 years): $1,115
Secondary applicant (under 18 years): $560
Subsequent Subclass 485 Visa Applications:
Applicable to holders of a Subclass 485 visa in the Post‑Study Work, Post‑Higher Education Work, or Replacement streams applying for the Post‑Higher Education Work stream.
Primary applicant: $880
Secondary applicant (over 18 years): $440
Secondary applicant (under 18 years): $225
Component
Current charge
1 Feb 2025
Base application charge
$1945
$2235
Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18
$975
$1115
Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18
$490
$560
For those who already hold a Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa and are applying for a subsequent one
Base application charge
$765
$880
Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18
$385
$440
Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has released the findings of a December 2024 snapshot survey of 200 German universities. Based on those survey responses, DAAD projects that foreign enrolment in German higher education will reach 405,000 in the 2024/25 winter semester. That represents a nearly 10% increase year-over-year, and the greatest annual growth of the past decade.
The responding universities collectively account for 70% of Germany’s international enrolment, and DAAD summarises the survey data as follows: “Around 90% of universities report a stable or rising number of newly enrolled international students. Over half of the universities surveyed reported rising numbers, with a third reporting a sharp increase (10% or more). A further third reported no change, while a good 10% of universities reported a decline.”
The German agency notes that commencements were also up this year, by 7% overall and with notable gains in graduate student numbers in particular.
When asked to name the most important hurdles for foreign students in Germany, survey respondents said that visa policy and visa processing was the number one issue (83% of responding universities). This was closely followed by the availability of affordable housing (75%) and costs of study/costs of living in Germany (69%). “We urgently need more affordable accommodation for students from Germany and for international students,” said DAAD President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. “This is also essential for the continued success of Germany as a centre of business and innovation.”
The need for expanded career supports and work opportunities for international students also came through in the survey results. As Dr Mukherjee explains: “German universities are demonstrably very attractive for international students. In times of an increasingly noticeable shortage of skilled workers, we should do more in science, business, and society to open up career prospects in Germany for young people who come here from all over the world to study.”
Even so, the German government, in collaboration with higher education institutions around the country, has introduced new labour force transition supports for foreign students within the past year. Those initiatives include a funding commitment of up to €120 million through 2028 in order to smooth the transition to work for foreign graduates.
After worrying international enrolment trends in 2024, UK universities look poised for a better year beginning with the January 2025 intake. That outlook is informed by some advance data from service providers such as the student recruitment platform Enroly and enrolment services specialist UniQuest.
According to reports in Times Higher Education, international student deposits made through Enroly for the January 2025 intake are 27% higher than last year, and issuances of acceptance letters are up 14%. This is uplifting news especially since student visa applications in the first three quarters of 2024 were down 16% compared with the previous year.
Separate data from UniQuest also confirms international students’ renewed interest in the UK. UniQuest reviewed more than 40,000 applications for the January 2025 intake and found that firm acceptances (i.e., students who have said a definite yes to their offers) are up by 31% over 2024. Indian acceptances grew by 11%, and Pakistani acceptances jumped by 91%.
UK gained at the end of a year where Canada and Australia struggled
A Fall 2024 ApplyBoard pulse survey conducted among international student counsellors in 40 countries offered an early indication of a rebound. In that survey, the UK emerged as the second most attractive destination after the US, ahead of Australia and Canada. Australia and Canada were in the news all year for their respective governments’ efforts to curb international student numbers.
ApplyBoard notes: “With student interest towards destinations like Canada and Australia falling, UK institutions—and specifically UK universities—have an opportunity to reverse year-over-year declines and make 2025 a year of growth.”
Speaking to The Guardian in September 2024, Professor Max Lu, vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey, said that UK universities were greatly benefitting from the welcoming tone set by education secretary Bridget Phillipson. Less than a month into her new role in the Labour government, Ms Phillipson delivered a speech in which she declared that international students were valuable contributors to the UK. Prof Su said:
“I’ve had feedback from our agents, in China, India and south and south-east Asian markets. All the agents’ feedback has been very positive, and it’s been very well received.
I got a briefing from my director of admissions saying that international postgraduate conversion rates have gone up. I can pay a tribute to our secretary of state, Bridget Phillipson, because her message was widely publicised internationally, that international students are welcome, they contribute not only economically but also culturally and to diversity and everything else.”
Some source regions are up, some are down
According to the Enroly data, the rebound is being driven by students from East Africa (84% more deposits), West Africa (+27%), and South Asia (31%). Strong growth markets include Kenya, Nigeria, and Nepal. Deposits were down by over 30%, however, from students in the Middle East and East Asia.
In January 2024, the former Sunak government terminated international students’ ability to bring dependants if students are pursuing master’s-taught courses. It is likely no coincidence that in contrast to other types of programmes, deposits for master’s-taught courses are off slightly compared with last year. Otherwise, deposits were up 15% for postgraduate research programmes (which do allow dependants), and 7% for undergraduate programmes (which have never been tied to the ability to bring dependants).
Malaysia has always been a favoured Asian study abroad destination. Its appeal among international students is based on factors such as:
Highly ranked universities, including eight in the top 500 QS World University Rankings (2025).
Relatively low cost of living compared to other top destinations. For example, Malaysia has been estimated to be two-thirds less expensive to live in than the US and half as expensive as Canada and Ireland.
Affordable tuition fees. Annual tuition for an undergraduate degree is on average US$6,000.
Cultural and religious factors. Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation, which is attractive to many aspiring Muslim students in top markets such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Egypt. In addition, it has many Chinese-speaking communities, which appeals to Chinese families, who became much more likely during the pandemic to prioritise safety, comfort, and proximity when looking at study abroad options.
The Malaysian government rarely releases tertiary enrolment data. However, it does publish information on foreign students’ applications to Malaysian institutions through its international education arm, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). While the volume of applications will not exactly match the number of enrolments, it is a good indicator of enrolment trends given that the visa approval rates are relatively high in Malaysia. One source has it that the visa approval rate is about 90%.
Applications volumes are trending upward, in line with Malaysia’s official goal of attracting 250,000 international students by 2025.
Asian and African countries dominate Top 10 sending markets
In 2023, all of Malaysia’s Top 10 markets were in Asia and Africa. Chinese students sent in the most applications by far: nearly 27,000 – and up from about 12,000 in 2019. Bangladesh was the fastest-growing source of students.
Top 10 largest sources of international student applications to Malaysian universities 2019–2023. Source: EMGS
EMGS has also released data on applications by region for the first three quarters of 2024. As you can see in the chart below, demand from East Asia is only getting stronger. Between Q2 and Q3 2024, the number of applications from East Asian students almost tripled, driven by interest from China.
Applications to Malaysian universities by world region, Q1-Q3 2024. Source: EMGS
Post-study work rights for students from certain countries
The Malaysian government has been selective in its post-study work policies for international students. Last year, students from 23 countries became eligible for the 12-month Graduate Pass. Those countries include Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UAE, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Finland. These are not main senders of students to Malaysia but were selected based on the Malaysian government’s intention to pursue two-way internationalisation with the countries and institutions hosting the most Malaysian students.
In 2024, some Indian and Chinese students were also offered the Graduate Pass subject to certain conditions. This policy was intended to last only until the end of 2024, but it has since been extended to the end of 2026.
The Graduate Pass appears to be attracting attention in target markets. Times Higher Education reports that “Malaysia’s share of global page views [on search platform Studyportals] has risen by about one-quarter this year, with particularly strong increases from the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.” We can also imagine that the Graduate Pass opportunity for Chinese students has factored into the sharp rise in applications from China in the past year.
Degree programmes dominate
International students tend to come to Malaysia to obtain degrees. Undergraduate degrees remain the most popular, but since 2019, there has been much more growth at the master’s and postgraduate levels, as shown below.
Distribution of new applications by level of study. Applications to master’s programmes have more than doubled since 2019, and they have nearly doubled for doctoral-level programmes. Source: EMGS
As shown below, the fields of social sciences, business, and law attract the most international students
Top fields of study for international students applying to Malaysian universities. Source: EMGS
Competitive opportunities
In 2024 it became crystal clear that many universities in the West (e.g., Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US) are ill prepared to cope with regulatory changes that challenge their ability to recruit international students.
In Canada, for example, international student tuition has been essential for tertiary institutions’ operations given chronic government underfunding, but the Canadian government is now actively working to curb international student numbers. Without additional funding, it is likely that many institutions – especially colleges, which are more affected by new immigration regulations – will struggle or even close in 2025.
By contrast, Asian destinations are picking up steam and investing more in both education and international student recruitment. Reporter Benjamin Laker, writing recently in Forbes, observes:
“As institutions in parts of the West continue to face [funding] challenges, higher education institutions across Asia are seizing opportunities to strengthen their competitiveness—a process that can be understood through the lens of economic theory, particularly competitive leapfrogging. This concept describes how organizations or nations strategically capitalize on gaps left by established leaders, not just to catch up but to surpass them by leveraging innovation, investment, and alignment with future trends.”
Asian institutions are ever more present in world university rankings, and Malaysia stands out as the country rising the fastest in the rankings. In the QS 2025 world rankings, 65% of Malaysia’s universities improved their position. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Mr Laker that there is a strategy underpinning this success:
“Our goal is to create a pipeline of talent that meets industry demands while maintaining academic excellence. Investing in innovation is not just about economic gains—it is about positioning Malaysia as a hub for technological and intellectual leadership.”
Malaysia’s astute recognition of “academic power”
In his Forbes article, Mr Laker concludes:
“By adopting forward-looking strategies, [Malaysian institutions] are effectively ‘leapfrogging’ traditional limitations and reshaping the balance of academic power. The implications of this shift are profound, with potential impacts on global talent flows, research funding, and the distribution of academic influence for years to come.”
Youth population: Two-thirds of the population is under 30
Median age: 20.5
GDP: US$375 billion (2024)
Currency: Pakistan rupee (PKR)
Official languages: English and Urdu
Main language of instruction: English (especially in private schools) and Urdu (especially in public schools).
English proficiency: “Low” according to the EF Proficiency Index, and 10th of 23 countries in Asia.
Religion: Islam
Geography: Pakistan is in South Asia. It shares borders with Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the northwest and north, China to the northeast, and India to the east and southeast.
Outbound students: Over 100,000
Preferred destinations: UK, China, UAE, Australia, US, Malaysia
Top student cities: Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Peshawar
Pakistan is becoming an increasingly valuable recruiting ground for educators in leading destinations. A large segment of high-school and college-aged Pakistani students are interested in study abroad, and nearly half of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 20.
Market fundamentals
The market fundamentals are in some ways very strong. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan’s youth demographic is the largest in the world. Nearly two-thirds of the population is under the age of 30.
Pakistan is third, after only China and India, in terms of the size of its college-aged population. The British Council expects growth in Pakistani outbound mobility to be among highest in the world over the next decade, along with China, India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is also a country where there is massive income inequality and limited opportunities for youth. The Commonwealth’s Youth Development Index for 2023 found that in South Asia, Pakistan is one of two countries that ranks “low.” WENR has written:
“Failure to integrate the country’s legions of youngsters into the education system and the labour market could turn population growth into what the Washington Post called a ‘disaster in the making … putting catastrophic pressures on water and sanitation systems, swamping health and education services, and leaving tens of millions of people jobless’—trends that would almost inevitably lead to the further destabilisation of Pakistan’s already fragile political system.”
Pakistan’s gross tertiary enrolment (GER) ratio was only 13% in 2023, according to UNESCO. This is much lower than in India, and lower than in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. Of 109 countries UNESCO profiled in 2021, Pakistan’s tertiary GER was 100th. Given Pakistan’s huge college-aged population, there is serious unmet demand for higher education.
There are currently 4.5 million Pakistani students in secondary education (grades 9–10), and 2.5 million in upper-secondary education (grades 11–12). More than 25 million children aged 5–16 are “out-of-school” (36% of the cohort’s total population, a proportion similar to that in Nigeria).
Far more girls than boys do not complete school for a range of factors, including poverty and traditional views about the role of women. The literacy rate is 68% for adult men and 46% for adult women.
Regional disparities and opportunities
A Pakistani student’s access to education depends greatly on their household income, gender, and region. Just over a third (36%) of the population lives in cities, where there is more wealth and literacy, and where more schools are considered “functional.” In the poorest areas, many schools lack running water, plumbing, and electricity.
In an excellent report published in 2024 focused on regional opportunities in Pakistan, the British Council considers that, at the city level:
“Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad will continue to provide the bulk of outbound students simply because of their population size. Second-tier cities, however, are proliferating. Faisalabad is large and fast-growing. Peshawar has begun to emerge as the next major city for outbound students….
Second-tier smaller cities are also seeing strong growth in demand for study abroad, especially in the Punjab (Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Multan). Their economic growth lies in their connection to the bigger metropolitan areas, with a four or five-hour drive seen as an acceptable connection time. Important and growing industries in these second-tier cities mean that families have money to pay for education. Hence, industry growth has been matched by rapidly growing education provision. Large private school networks are also spreading out from the major cities to the smaller ones. These feed students directly into higher education.”
Further, students prefer certain destinations depending on where they live in the country:
“Punjab, the largest and most populated region in Pakistan, is the largest contributor to student mobility to the UK. The UK has consistently been the top study destination, mainly through strong family connections with many fourth-generation families having well-established businesses in UK cities. Many political and business leaders of Pakistan from the region have also studied in the UK.
In Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, students mainly choose between the UK, North America and Australia. Often, the UK is not the top destination choice.
Pakistan’s south region has the smallest population and includes Karachi and a few smaller cities. Students from this region mainly choose the US as a study destination.”
Outbound mobility trends
Leading destinations are all recording significant increases in Pakistani enrolments, and demand is especially high for postgraduate studies. Successive governments of Pakistan have slashed educational budgets, and one implication has been the closure of many graduate programmes, which is driving outbound mobility at this level.
Recent data on which destinations are hosting the most Pakistani students include:
UK: 34,690 in 2022/23 (+50% y-o-y)
China: 28,000 before the pandemic
UAE: 24,865 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Australia: 23,380 in 2023 (+49%)
US: 10,165 in 2022/23 (+16%)
Germany: 8,210 in 2022/23 (+22%)
Kyrgyzstan: 6,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Malaysia: 5,000 in 2023
Canada: 4,750 in 2023 (+101%)
Turkey: 2,385 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Qatar: At least 4,000 in 2020 according to UNESCO
Malaysian institutions are currently recruiting intensively in Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia has been increasing its scholarships for Pakistani students.
Meanwhile, educators in Canada, the US, and UK understand that while Chinese and Indian demand for study abroad remains high, it can be easily disrupted by immigration policies and geopolitics. It is worth noting that:
ApplyBoard found that January to June 2024, Pakistani student demand for the UK grew by over 30% compared to the same period in 2023.
Studyportals found that Pakistan was second only to India in terms of growth in demand for study abroad between 2022 and 2024 and that its share of enrolments, among the top-five student sending markets, is trending upward.
Trend in share of total enrolments for the top five origin countries, 2019–2023. Pakistan and India are trending upward in terms of enrolments abroad. Source: Studyportals
Transnational education
Thousands of Pakistanis are currently pursuing foreign degrees online, and they may soon be able to study for these degrees in-person in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched a revised transnational education policy in September 2024 that opens the door for foreign branch campuses. According to Times Higher Education:
“Under the policy, foreign institutions can offer degree programmes in Pakistan if they are among the 700 top-ranked universities in the world. There are also specific requirements around local contexts, with institutions required to ‘strictly comply with and respect the constitutional provisions, local laws, and the ideology of Pakistan.’”
The British Council reports that “HESA data show that 11,715 students in Pakistan are taking UK qualifications through transnational education, with most choosing distance and online models.”
Middle-class pressures
After slowing in 2023 (following devastating floods in 2022), the Pakistani economy has recovered somewhat, and the Pakistani rupee has stabilised a bit relative to the US dollar. The agricultural sector was the main reason for growth, up 6% in 2024 compared with overall GDP growth of 2.5%. But the situation remains difficult, as you can see in the following chart from KPMG comparing economic indicators in Pakistan and India in 2024 versus 2023.
Middle-class pressures
After slowing in 2023 (following devastating floods in 2022), the Pakistani economy has recovered somewhat, and the Pakistani rupee has stabilised a bit relative to the US dollar. The agricultural sector was the main reason for growth, up 6% in 2024 compared with overall GDP growth of 2.5%. But the situation remains difficult, as you can see in the following chart from KPMG comparing economic indicators in Pakistan and India in 2024 versus 2023.
Pakistan’s economy is more fragile than India’s. Source: KPMG
A 2017 estimate by Pakistani market research firm Aftab Associates put 40% of Pakistanis in the middle class, up substantially from previous years. But this proportion may be shrinking.
The middle class is shaky and dynamic due to a lack of internal structural stability in the economy. Pakistan is incredibly dependent on loans and other packages from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and allies such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and China. For the 24th time, the IMF approved a new loan in September 2024 in an “ongoing effort to strengthen macroeconomic stability, address deep structural challenges, and create conditions for a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient growth.”
In the meantime, Pakistanis are struggling due to persistently high inflation rates and currency fluctuations.
“The lower middle class has been really hit in the last few years,” Javaid Ghani, pro vice chancellor at Karachi’s Al Ghazali University, told the Wall Street Journal earlier this year. Many households “are struggling to hold on to the markers of a middle-class life as they are buffeted by higher food and energy prices.”
Pakistan’s independent newspaper, The Friday Times, featured an article in August 2024 that explained how current economic trends affect students aiming to study abroad:
“One of the primary challenges Pakistani students face in their quest to study abroad is financial affordability. Tuition fees, living expenses, and currency exchange rates often present insurmountable barriers for many Pakistani families because the value of the Pakistani Rupee has sunk to such depths that a single US dollar (August 7, 2024) costs around Rs278.5. Because of these circumstances, even the wealthiest people in Pakistan are forced to lead modest lives in developed countries. Managing spending becomes extremely challenging as the Pakistani currency’s value has diminished by more than 100%.”
When they undertake a cost analysis, Pakistani students find that overseas university tuition is surprisingly and excessively expensive. The ordinary Pakistani cannot afford the cost of international flights, rent, food, and transportation. In a developed foreign country, one can only purchase a cup of coffee with a monthly wage of Rs12,000 in Pakistan.”
As difficult as study abroad may be to afford, many families remain determined to secure a quality higher education for their children abroad, driven by a sense of hopelessness about opportunities in Pakistan. An Ipsos poll conducted in the summer of 2024 found that only 1 in 10 Pakistanis believe their country is headed in the right direction.
Muhammad Khan, a restaurant manager in the northern city of Rawalpindi who turns his fridge off in the day and works two jobs but who still cannot make ends meet, told the Wall Street Journal:
“The lower middle class, like us, is now just posing as white collar. Honestly, we are in the poor class now. Seeing the political situation, I have no hope.”
Private schools
Where there is hope, however, is in Pakistan’s thousands of private schools. These have ballooned from 3,000 in 1982 to 137,000+ in 2024. Almost half of Pakistani children attend private schools – many of them from lower-income households.
A fascinating study by researchers at Harvard explores what is behind the popularity of Pakistan’s for-profit, non-religious, fully autonomous private schools. It investigates why middle-class and poorer families are able to send their children to these schools, and finds:
“The key element in their rise is their low fees. They hire predominantly local, female, and moderately educated teachers who have limited alternative opportunities outside the village. Hiring these teachers at low cost allows the savings to be passed on to parents through low fees ….
At the time of writing, a typical private school in a village in Pakistan charged a fee of Rs. 1,000 per year (roughly $18). The countrywide data analyzed shows that fees are low for all the provinces in Pakistan, as well as within rural and urban regions within each province. The analysis shows that in rural areas, the median annual fee roughly translates to $1.50 a month, or less than—much less than a dime a day. Thus, these schools’ fees are affordable even for someone living at the dollar-a-day poverty line established as a global benchmark.”
The researchers also note that affordability does not mean lower quality:
“Despite lower levels of education and training, lower salaries in private schools do not imply lower educational quality. Because private schools are held accountable by parents, who may monitor teacher behavior and can withdraw their children if performance is poor, private schools have full incentives to hire the best available teachers who then exert high effort. Indeed, teacher absenteeism rates appear to be lower and student test scores higher in many private schools as compared to government schools.”
Government support for study abroad
The number of universities in Pakistan has been rising quickly, but quality is a major issue, as is government interference and underfunding. There are over 200 universities and 3,000 degree colleges (which are similar to community colleges) across the country.
To counter domestic higher education issues, the government supports study abroad, not least because personal remittances from Pakistanis abroad compose a significant portion of GDP (over 8% in 2022). The UN says. “The substantial share of remittances highlights the importance of the Pakistani migrant community abroad in the economic development and stability of the country.”
Key motivations for students
Pakistani students are first and foremost interested in accessing a high-quality foreign degree to enhance their career prospects. Affordability is a major concern – and so scholarships are much sought-after. Similarly, the ability to work during studies and post-study work opportunities can make the difference in decision-making about where to go. Source: https://monitor.icef.com/2024/10/market-snapshot-international-student-recruitment-in-pakistan/
Migration Amendment (Graduate Visas No. 2) Regulations 2024– this instrument includes an express definition of ‘degree’, specifically for the purposes of the Sc 485 visa and ensures that the Sc 485 visa criteria operate as intended following the 1 July 2024 changes to the Sc 485 Post Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream.
Following this, it requires an applicant for an initial Subclass 485 visa in PHEW stream, in the period six (6) months immediately before the application for that visa was made, to have completed one or more degrees for award by an Australian educational institutions as a result of a course or courses:
that are registered courses; and
that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months; and
that were completed as a result of a total of at least two (2) academic years study; and
for which all instruction was conducted in English; and
that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study
This instrument commences on 14 December 2024.
Ministerial Direction 112 – National Innovation Visa Sc 858
As per section 8 of Ministerial Direction 112 (MD 112) the order of priority for allocating applications for the Sc 858 National innovation visa (NIV) are the following:
Priority one- Exceptional candidates from any sector who are global experts and recipients of international ‘top of field’ level awards. This includes but are not limited to Nobel Prizes; Breakthrough Prizes; Rousseeuw Prize; Eni Award; Institution of Electrical Engineers Medal of Honor; Fields Medal; Chern Medal; Abel Prize; L’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science; Turing Award; ACM Prize in Computing; Pulitzer Prize; International Booker Prize; International Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal; Olympic Gold Medal and Laureus World Sportsman or Sportswoman of the year.
Priority two- Candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency.
Priority three- Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievementsin a Tier One sector:
Critical Technologies
Health Industries
Renewables and low emission technologies
Priority four – Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector:
Agri-food and AgTech
Defence Capabilities and Space
Education
Financial Services and FinTech
Infrastructure and Transport
Resources
s 9 of MD 112 specifies that decision makers should have regard to a demonstration of multiple achievements, which may include but are not limited to:
receipt of a national research grant in Australia or overseas indicating that the individual is ‘top of their field’ level talent, including from:
the Australian Research Council; Department of Education Accelerator grants; or other similar level grants;
equivalent level grants from other countries, such as the United Kingdom research and Innovation Grants program; funding from the EU Commission; funding from the US National Science Foundation.
holding a PhD with high-levels of academic influence or thought leadership in their field, including:
recent publications in top ranked journals, such as Nature, Lancet or Acta Numerica
a high h-index for their stage of career, for example an early career researcher with an h-index of 14
research-based degree from a top global university, for example ranked in top 100 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
recent keynote appearance at a high-profile international conference, for example Web Summit, International Congress of Mathematicians, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting or International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.
having recognised intellectual property attributed to them, such as holding relevant international patents.
earning at or above the high income threshold (employment offer or current salary) where
there is written communication from an Australian employer offering employment in Australia with an annual salary equivalent to or higher than the high income threshold; or
the primary applicant’s current earnings is an amount equal or greater than the high income threshold
In considering exceptional and outstanding achievements for applications under Priority 2 which are for candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency, decision makers should have regard to a broader range of achievements, which may include but are not limited to:
achievements listed in subsection 9(3) ( all of the above);
top of field level sports and arts awards
evidence of innovative business activities, such as Significant ‘Angel’ Investors with established track record of supporting successful innovative ventures, or having led internationally reputed companies to their Initial Public Offering;
evidence of promising entrepreneurial activities that will lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of a business or enterprise in Australia, particularly where linked to State or Territory based start-up incubators;
actions by individuals that provide exceptional service to the Australian community, including outstanding work in establishing organisations that improve community cohesion or wellbeing of Australians;
other exceptional achievements in the context of the supporting agency’s strategic priorities.
Skilled migrants in occupations of national shortage now have a smoother path to stay in Australia permanently.
From 7 December 2024, changes have been made to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.
The changes relate to the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Direct Entry (DE) streams. They deliver on the Government’s commitment to offer clearer pathways to permanent residence, as outlined in the Migration Strategy.
Changes to Temporary Residence Transition stream
Applicants can count all periods of sponsored employment towards their 2-year work experience requirement. This does not just apply to employment with their sponsor.
Applicants who have been employed in a related field or received a promotion can count this work towards the work experience requirement.
Applicants are required to provide evidence they meet the work experience requirement, rather than the nominating employer.
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) replaces the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This is the same amount of AUD73,150, indexed annually.
Age exemptions under the Temporary Skill Shortage visa still apply under the Skills in Demand visa. These include exemptions for regional medical practitioners and high income applicants. Without an exemption, applicants need to be younger than 45 at the time of application.
Changes to the Temporary Residence Transition stream do not extend to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187). This visa closed in 2019, except for certain transitional groups who can access the program in limited circumstances. This access continues for those eligible.
Changes to Direct Entry stream
A modernised single Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) applies to this stream. This replaces the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List. The CSOL is based on labour market analysis and Jobs and Skills Australia stakeholder consultation. It includes occupations in sectors such as:
Before we consider a start-up for accredited status we need to approve them as a standard business sponsor.
We have also strengthened the integrity of the accreditation process and will be more strictly enforcing accreditation requirements and sponsorship obligations.
From 7 December 2024 we will also update sponsorship obligations. This means that once a sponsored visa holder leaves their sponsor’s employment, the sponsor doesn’t have to ensure they only work in their nominated occupation.
Temporary employer sponsored visa holders who stop work with their sponsoring employer have up to 180 days at a time and 365 days across their entire visa grant period to:
A new invitation-only permanent visa program for exceptionally talented migrants is now open.
From 7 December 2024 the National Innovation visa (NIV) replaced the Global Talent visa.
It is an exclusive program for migrants with world-leading skills. This may be in areas like advanced robotics, quantum computing and clean energy.
Exceptionally talented individuals need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department of Home Affairs. The department will then invite a select number of people who have made an EOI to apply for a NIV.
We will process invitations to apply and NIV applications according to the following priority order:
Recipients of internationally prestigious awards. This includes: Nobel Prize laureates, Fields Medal recipients, Booker Prize winners or Olympic gold medallists.
Exceptionally talented people in their field who are endorsed by a relevant Australian state, territory or federal government agency.
People with exceptional skills in critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies and health industries.
Exceptionally talented people in agri-food and ag-tech, resources, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and fin-tech, and infrastructure and transport.
There is no age limit for the NIV and English language requirements are flexible. We accept EOIs made from overseas or from people already in Australia on a temporary visa.
EOIs for the NIV are valid for 2 years. We may invite you to apply for a visa during this time.
he NSW State Migration Program has announced its holiday closure schedule. The office will close at 12 noon on Friday, 20 December 2024, and reopen at 9 am on Monday, 6 January 2025. During this period, no applications will be processed, and enquiries will not be addressed.
Applicants with visas or supporting documents expiring during this closure are advised to contact skilled.migration@investment.nsw.gov.au by Wednesday, 18 December 2024. This ensures their applications can be reviewed before the office closes for the holidays.
The team at NSW Business and Skilled Migration appreciates everyone’s understanding and extends warm wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!
he Department of Home Affairs has released the following information on the news section of its website: On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government announced the release of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The new CSOL fulfils the Government’s commitment to replace complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in our temporary skilled visa program. The CSOL is a single consolidated list, informed by labour market analysis and stakeholder consultations by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) that provides access to temporary skilled migration for 456 occupations. The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa. More details on other reform taking place on 7 December 2024, including the Skills in Demand visa and National Innovation visa, will be announced shortly. Members can access this information and the Core Skills List on the Department’s website.
VETASSESS has announced that its Melbourne head office will close for the summer break, with the last working day being Friday, December 20, 2024. The office will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. During this period, Priority Processing applications will be paused, resuming on January 6.
For trade occupations, due to the Trades Recognition Australia summer shutdown, the last assessment outcome letters for 2024 will be issued by the week ending December 20, and the process will resume on January 13, 2025.
Additionally, VETASSESS has introduced webchat functionality on its website, allowing agents and applicants to contact the customer service team directly. The webchat is available Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4:45 PM AEDT.
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