Migration Update : 21 November 2022
1. 191 visa commenced on 16/11/2022
The Regional Provisional stream of the Subclass 191 visa commences on 16 November 2022 and is the permanent pathway for Skilled Regional Provisional (Subclass 491 and 494) visa holders.
These two visas provide a period of stay in designated regional areas of Australia of up to five years. The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191) visa was also created at this time. The Subclass 191 visa has two streams – the Regional Provisional stream and the Hong Kong stream.
To be eligible for this stream, holders of either of the pathway Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas are required to demonstrate at least three years continuous residence in a designated regional area of Australia while meeting other eligibility requirements.
Once granted, the Subclass 191 visa in the Regional Provisional Stream allows the holder to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently.
The Migration Legislation Amendment (Hong Kong) Regulations 2021 created a dedicated pathway to permanent residence from 5 March 2022 for Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders that hold one of three eligible pathway visas namely:
- the Temporary Work (Skilled) (Subclass 457) visa,
- the Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa and
- the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa.
2. Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program Update: Final stage interim program opening – all eligible candidates
The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program is now open to Registrations of Interest (ROIs) from all eligible candidates.
This means all candidates who meet the minimum requirements for one of the nomination pathways can register their interest in nomination. This includes candidates who are eligible for an Orange Pass.
New Migration Tasmania Application Gateway update:
The new Migration Tasmania Gateway Application Gateway, which will become the central portal for applying for Tasmanian skilled visa nomination, is currently being finalised and tested.
We expect the gateway to go-live in early December 2022. Until then the current interim ROI process remains in place.
3. Skilled Migration Program update for offshore candidates
To help address South Australia’s urgent skills shortages, Skilled & Business Migration is increasing its nominations of offshore skilled migrants during 2022-23, with over 1,100 candidates already nominated.
If you are an offshore skilled migrant seeking to move to South Australia, the first step is to use the Commonwealth Government’s SkillSelect system to make an expression of interest (EOI), and select South Australia as your preferred State or Territory to move to in Australia.
Once you have submitted your SkillSelect EOI, the South Australian Government can view your application and may invite you to apply for state nomination for a Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) in priority occupations including Medical Specialists, Health and Science professionals, Nurses, Teachers, Defence, Technicians and Trades workers.