Australia allows again 160,000 new immigrants for 2020-2021.
The Australian government has unveiled a budget designed to pull Australia out of a severe economic crisis following the Great Depression caused by Code-19 epidemics. The budget expects the Covid-19 vaccine to be available by the end of 2021, which will gradually reopen borders. The Morrison (Australian prime minister) government has released the 2020 budget, including a commitment to the 2020-21 migration program. The thing is that how the Australian government will balance between providing the public demands for an economic boost through immigration and make the Australian people a top priority.
The program is set annually, with the total places available capped at a ceiling of 160,000 for 2020-21. Australia has already signed a bilateral agreement with New Zealand. One more thing is circulating that the Pacific, Southeast, and East Asian countries, including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, may follow suit.
Highlights of 2020-2021 immigration program
Skilled Immigration Quota: This is designed to improve the productive capacity of the economy and fill skill shortages in the labor market, including those in regional Australia. The majority of the places in the program are in the Skill stream (79,600 places in 2020-21, 50.7 percent of the program).
Family immigration Stream: This stream predominately made up of Partner visas, enabling Australians to reunite with family members from overseas, and provide them with pathways to citizenship (77,300 places in 2020-21, 49.2 percent of the program).
Special Eligibility Stream: This covers visas for those in special circumstances. This can include permanent residents returning to Australia after a period away and is the smallest stream (100 places in 2020-21). Whereas at least 3,000 Child places will be available in 2020-21.
The Australian government has planned:
- Significant increases in family visa locations from 47,732 to 77,300, including 72,300 partner visas (then mainly beaches)
- English language required for partner visa applicants and additional sponsorship responsibilities
- Focus on the cost of the Scale Select Free Visa Program on Special, New Global Talent (GT) and Business Investment and Innovation Program (BIIP)
- Visa application fee waivers and refunds for people with temporary visas and those infected with the Coronavirus epidemic
The overall planning level for the permanent program is at the previous level of 160,000 people. In fact, due to the lack of international travel, many of these people are already in Australia as part of the approximately 1.5 million temporary immigrants in Australia.
Category-wise immigrants quota of Australian Migration Year 2020-2021
| Stream and Category | Quota |
| Skill stream | |
| Employer-Sponsored | 22,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 6,500 |
| Regional | 11,200 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 11,200 |
| Business Innovation & Investment program | 13,500 |
| Global Talent | 15,000 |
| Distinguished Talent | 200 |
| Skill Total | 79,600 |
| Family Stream | |
| Partner | 72,300 |
| Parent | 4,500 |
| Other Family | 500 |
| Family Total | 77,300 |
| Special Eligibility | 100 |
| Child (estimate; not subject to a ceiling) | 3,000 |
| Total | 160,000 |
Read here Australia’s New Farm Worker Visa
Skilled Visa Streams
Employer-Sponsored
The employer-sponsored program remains unchanged in this budget, However; the industry expects the government to announce a review of the list of skilled tradesmen in the near future in response to the significant economic impact of the epidemic.
Trade investment and innovation
The government has made changes to improve the quality of investment and applicants so that they can focus on high-value investments and business owners of scale and business. The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) visa application fees will increase by 11.3%.
Global talent
The government has tripled the number of places available for the migration year ending June 2021 In the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program. The government is working to build the success of the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program through a new ‘complete government’ Global Business and Talent Attraction Task Force. Which will integrate existing government programs to create incentives for doing business in Australia. The task force focuses on businesses with a focus on more than 250M businesses and HK-based businesses.
Read here also Australia’s Temporary Graduate Visa subclass 485
Family Visa Stream
Partner Visa: 77,300 quotas has been earmarked for the Family Program, including 72,300 partner visas. The processing times for Anchor Partner Visa is currently estimated at 27 months (with a backlog of about 90,000 cases). From now on, additional requirements are required for visa applicants to become proficient in English. The government has announced that it will give priority to onshore partner visa applications for regional residents, possibly as part of a more general move on regional concessions in the immigration program. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge revealed new details of the English language requirements, announced in October’s Federal Budget, for people applying for partner visas. “This will apply to prospective partner visa applications, from about the middle of next year,” Mr. Tudge said. These new requirements abide by the applicant and a sponsor to have met functional level English or 500 hours of English language classes.
Refunds of visa application fees and Waivers
Discounts will be available for working holidaymakers and visitor visa applicants to promote tourism after the border reopens. The government has issued a series of fee refunds, exemptions, and extensions for prospective marriage visa holders, the Pacific Labor Scheme, and seasonal work program visa holders who are unable to travel to Australia. In some cases, visa holders will be eligible for a fee waiver so they can return to Australia where they left due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Refugee acceptance program
The humanitarian program has been compiled at 13,750 quota with a downtrend of 5,000 places.
Other important Visa, PR, and Immigration Programs of Australia
Australia’s new High-skilled visa scheme ‘Global Talent Independent Program
Australia starts ‘Regional Work Visa Program’
Supporting Innovation in South Australia (SISA) – Australia Business Visa