Australia: a decrease in pure migration to continue; Skilled visa and minimum pay visa fee for international students can see the visa fee hike

The Indian migrant is the second largest migrant community in Australia, the second for the UK. ‘Land Down Under’ remains an attractive destination for outbound Indians. With the re -election of the Labor Party, in a landslide victory in the recently concluded elections, Australia will continue on its path to reduce pure migration. The ‘skills in demand’ visa category is likely to increase in various routes in Incurads Thresholds. While there is no possibility of a hat in the intake of international students, the increase of visa fees is around the corner.
Data reflected by the Department of Home Affairs (Australia) suggests that in the end of June 2023, 8. People of 45 lakh Indian origin were living in Australia, more than 3.78 lakhs on June 30, 2013. During the year 2023-24, about 49,848 Indians were admitted as permanent residents, growth of 21% last year. However, with strict measures, the visa reduced Indian students, giving only 50,516 visas during 2023–24, in contrast to 102,696 in the previous year.Temporary visa for efficient employment also saw a decline, falling from 27,402 to 18,397 during 2022-23.
Toi, under the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Albanis, the immigration reached the impression experts to decode what is further in space.

Decline in intake to continue:

“For the 2025 election, now, the inconsistent Labor party was won, the immigration policy was an important point of controversy between the Leader of the Opposition – Peter Datton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanis. In short, Datton called for sufficient reduction in the immigration for permanent migration program and international students. Tighten 2,50,000 and visa processes in 2024-25,” Gateway Imgration Walls in 2024-25. Said.
In December 2023, the government announced that by implementing hard tests on international students and focusing on high skills related to market needs, a record of 5,10,000 will be reduced to a record high to two years. In 2024–25 pure foreign migration numbers were estimated to fall to 2,50,000; 2,55,000 in 2025-26 and 2,35,000 in 2026-27.
Nicole Kirkwood, managing director of Australia Visa and Immigration Experts (AVI), said, “Labor party’s victory will be great for Australians if the government can remove the logical obstacles required to fulfill its election promises, including an increase in investment and renewal of 100,000 new homes, childcare centers, mental health doctors.He has also promised more doctors and nurses as well as cheap healthcare. While the Labor Party has not announced any change in the number of immigration before the election, it is clear from our conversation with employers that Australia are not just enough skilled workers who are now ready to do or can do the necessary work. ,

Skilled activists:

As reported by Toi in December, Australia introduced the ‘skill-in-demand’ visa and changed the earlier rule.
Also read: Australia introduces skills in demand visa, first replaces governance; Indian candidates cannot be affected

In Teresa Liu, Managing Partner (Australia and New Zealand) Fragoman, a global immigration law firm deepened this category. “With the return of the current labor -led government, we expect the current set of reforms and migration strategy reform agenda on the efficient visa program. The continuing employees and actually are trading in Australia, mainly for employers or Indian businesses, from a policy perspective, it is generally business for most programs from a policy reform perspective.However, this year’s expected “worldly” or business list and salary limit may have a more significant impact for the expected changes and aspirations of employees in early July, so it is important to get beyond this, and if a business or employee wants to move to Australia, then the plan should now be, “Liu said.
Skills included three routes in demand visa (subcontinent 482): expert skills; Core skills and required skills. Liu said: “Covering most of the roles, the list of main skill businesses is due to amendment this year and further refinement or even more significant impact may have the list.Combined, an aspiration can have an impact on an Indian employee. Given that we are in May, I would suggest that any aspiring employee should look at opportunities to avoid any unexpected effects from these changes. ,
As in relation to expert SkillPathway, which belongs to high income expert roles, Liu said, “Last night based on the victory speech of Prime Minister Albanis, the importance of local labor security and as the strong trade union heart base of the labor government last night, to provide flexibility or improving labor market testing (which was part of the migration strategy proposals). At a more regular level, expert skills are growing from AUD 135,000 to AUD 141,210 for the demand visa (subcontinent 482) for the skill income limit (SSIT) skills, effective from 1 July, 2025.,
He said that reviews and reforms on the skill pathway required for low salaried roles (which are focused on businesses in important areas such as healthcare and old care) are likely this year. But we expect high counseling with stakeholders such as trade unions to continue with current labor agreements related to specific industries, sectors or companies under this section and also for any future policy reforms.

More skilled workers and rapid processing require:

Immigration experts stated that employers require rapid processing of more skilled workers and employer sponsored visas. “When The Skills in Demand Visa was introduced last December, it came up with a promise of rapid processing of 7-14 days. However, five months later, the processing time is 46-84 days later. The ‘482 TSS’ visa recorded before 7 December, 2024 has become a low priority with a 5-8-month processing time.Employers are disappointed as they are unable to fill efficient jobs, and it is affecting their businesses and businesses they serve. It is clear that the government will need to focus on migration to fulfill its election promises, ”said Kirkwood.
“In the last 6 – 12 months, we have already seen a significant hardening of visa processes by the Albanis government, recently shown with the immigration number that it has the desired effect of the government in which the number is decreasing. Unfortunately for businesses working in Australia, this tightening of visa processes has seen a significant increase in processing time, with sufficient number of subclass 482 work visa applications number 6 to 9 months ago, specified to this day.This is very related, given that unemployment remains historically at a low level at around 4%, which is more wide and consistent in many areas. With the election we can only expect that the government draws its own attention to its own migration strategy released at the end of 2023, where it was said that the temporary efficient migration program would be more targeted to overcome the needs of skills and to promote activists dynamics, ”Wall said.
He said, “Employer sponsored permanent visas are also experiencing extensive delays with several cases of about 18 months, which creates uncertainty for both businesses and potential skilled migrants, businesses will expect government strategies to facilitate more well -organized processing of employers sponsored visas.”

International Students:

“As the opposition party has not succeeded in this election, there will be no more dramatic improvements in the number of students in the number of students and the student visa fees in the mid -year. However, the government has indicated an increase in the student visa fee (which was already increased considerably last year), which is one of the most expensive immigration programs worldwide.”
Last year, the Government of Australia failed in its earlier attempt to captivate the student’s intake, however, the increase in VIAS fees seems adjacent in July.
The current fee of AUD 1,600 was set in July 2024, which was 125% increase from the last fee of AUD 710. His revised approach includes Aud 400 to increase the application fee for Australian study visa by AUD 400 to stand at AUD 2,000 by AUD 400.

Top Three Source Country: International Students

Source: Education Department (Australia)

Temporary visa given to Indians

Source: Home Affairs Department (Australia) – India country profile