Are you also looking for the best ways to get PR in Australia in 2024? Or are you curious to know what the new migration strategy has to say about getting permanent residency in Australia? If so, hold on. You are going to enjoy this blog post as it provides a comprehensive overview of the best ways to get PR in Australia based on the new migration strategy.
Australia is a top-notch destination to live, study and work. Everyone dreams of living permanently in an environment that offers a high-quality lifestyle, advanced healthcare facilities, and better educational institutions. However, the pathway to permanent residency in Australia is quite challenging and laborious, and many people get stuck or tangled in confusion along the way. On top of that, the current temporary skilled migration process outlines restricted pathways to permanent residency, making it more difficult for immigrants.
So, if you are one of those who are struggling to find the best ways to get PR in Australia? Here is the big news for you. The Government introduced a new migration strategy on December 11, 2023, that provides the best ways to get PR in Australia in 2024. Before exploring these best ways to get PR in Australia based on a new strategy, let’s first discover why action is needed for the major reforms in the migration system.
Understand the Background of New Strategy
The new migration strategy states that the number of temporary migrants has increased dramatically from 700K (in 2000) to over 2.2 million (in 2023), excluding visitors and transit visa holders. Many of these individuals, some of whom have lived in Australia for almost five years, have no clear road to permanent residency; instead, they are stuck in a state of permanent temporariness. These migrants pay taxes, give labor, skills, and income to our economy, and engage in civic and communal life within the confines of their current situation of employment and visa uncertainty. They lack the sense of community that comes with citizenship and permanent residency.
Even though Australia’s capped permanent migration program may not grant permanent residence to all temporary migrants, many have stayed for years, jumping from one visa to another just to extend their stay. It has created a negative social and economic impact on both the country and the migrants. So, it is the Government’s responsibility to provide migrants with complete information in order to prevent them from being misled about getting permanent residency in Australia. Therefore, the new migration strategy has introduced major reforms to address the broken immigration system in Australia. Let’s have a look at these key actions;
The first two key actions have a prime importance regarding the best ways to get PR in Australia. Want to know how? Let’s find out together what are the major changes regarding permanent residence in Australia.
1st Key Action: Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility
The temporary skilled migration system addresses the shortage of labor market by providing a clear pathway to permanent residency for potential candidates. Currently, the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482, formerly subclass 457) is the main visa used to enable temporary skilled migration. There are three main streams of this temporary skill shortage visa;
Short-term stream for the careers mentioned in the short-term skilled occupation list (STSOL). This visa allows a stay of approximately two years in the country.
The medium-term stream is designated for those occupations that are listed either on the medium- and long-term strategic skills list (MLTSSL) or on the regional occupation list.
The Labor Agreement stream is applicable for those workers who are unable to fulfill standard visa requirements and rules.
Existing Commitments Related to Permanent Residence
On April 27, 2023, the Government promised to provide a clear pathway to permanent residency to the holders of temporary skilled visas in the short-term stream of the TSS visa. This has now happened as a result of many regulatory modifications made in November 2023. This approach serves to keep Australia a top choice for skilled migrants by supplementing the current medium-term stream strategy.
Since there is now a clear path for all temporary skilled migrant workers to become permanent residents, the pathway also contributes to the restoration of permanence at the core of Australia’s skilled migration program. This does not guarantee a spot for every talented temporary migrant worker in a given year, nor does it provide a pathway for all temporary migrants currently residing in the nation. It entails giving a clear pathway to permanent residency for only temporary skilled visa holders.
New Commitments Related to Permanent Residence
The Government is going to introduce a Skills in Demand visa, a new 4-year temporary skilled worker visa. This new visa will offer defined pathways to permanent residency as well as more opportunities for workers to change employment. The complicated Temporary Skill Shortage visa, sponsored by a single company, will be replaced with the more focused and straightforward Skills in Demand visa. One of the main characteristics of this visa is its alternative mobility strategy, which eliminates many complicated requirements that restrict a migrant to a single job.
Other features include new visa settings, simplified applications, and consideration of trailing employer payments. These characteristics will assist in eliminating aspects that support worker exploitation and lower obstacles to job switching in the labor market, resulting in a more productive workforce. This strategy is similar to the “temporary skill mobility visa .”According to experts, this method is recommended over other models that were taken into consideration, such as industry sponsorship.
This new model more accurately captures the nature of skill usage today and in the future due to its ability to accommodate worker movement across different industries. For instance, software engineering is the most prevalent occupation for those with a current Temporary Skill Shortage visa. Like other occupations, their talents are applicable to a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation & logistics, and financial services. The new migration strategy 2024 states it as:
“Higher rates of job switching improve the matching of employees with employers which, in turn, contributes to improved productivity for employers, and higher wages and job satisfaction for workers.”
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Restricted Pathway to Permanent Residency
In the current scenario, the pathway to permanent residency is not clear, and the migrants are facing many challenges, including;
- There is no route to permanent residency for those with visas in the short-term stream.
- Only periods of training or work with nominating employers are included in the permanent residency requirements list.
- The few self-nominated pathways to permanent residency exist for many temporary skilled migrants.
Guaranteed Pathway to Permanent Residency
According to the new strategy the best ways to get PR in Australia come with a Skills in Demand visa. The benefits include;
- Holders of a Skills in Demand visa will have an avenue to permanent residency.
- Work experience with any authorized employer will be taken into account for determining permanent residency criteria.
- Additionally, temporary skilled migrants will have the option to look for permanent residency via self-nominated independent routes, such as a modified points system.
Now, let’s discuss what the second key action says about permanent residency.
2nd Key Action: Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity
The new strategy focuses on maximizing Australia’s long-term prosperity under permanent skilled migration. The Department of Home Affairs will focus on selecting permanent skilled migrants differently from the temporary migration system, working on the elements that will most effectively increase Australia’s long-term economic growth and workforce participation.
Moreover it will provide the best ways to get PR in Australia for temporary skilled migrants. The issues related to the aging population need to be addressed. Nonetheless, the Government acknowledges the fundamental connection between permanent and temporary skilled migration. The number of permanent skilled migrants is determined annually by the Government and allocated to 4 main streams. Let’s discuss the best ways to get PR in Australia according to the new migration strategy.
1. Global Talent
This visa is designed to identify highly talented immigrants in key industries. With its roots in programs that started in 2018, the current Global Talent Program aims to draw in immigrants who can significantly benefit Australia and have a track record of exceptional success, innovative ideas, and cutting-edge skills. A new talent and innovation visa can attract global academics, big investors, and high-achieving business owners through a clear and more streamlined pathway.
2. Points-Tested Skilled Migration
This category comprises the majority of regional visas as well as skilled independent and nominated visas. Selection is based on a points test. The current complicated scoring system for choosing independent skilled immigrants discourages potential immigrants who can contribute to Australia’s long-term economic growth.
The Government will take into consideration the creation of a new analysis-based points test in order to more accurately identify the independent migrants who will contribute the most to the nation. In designing a new and more straightforward points test, the Government will make sure that there are transparent and equal routes for temporary skilled sponsored migrants to apply for self-nominated pathways to permanent residency.
3. Employer Nominated Scheme
Candidates must have a sponsor to apply for this kind of stream. In terms of lifetime fiscal outcomes for the country, the Employer Nomination Scheme visa is the most successful permanent skilled migration program option. Many Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders were previously considered “permanently temporary” since the Employer Nomination Scheme visa did not offer a clear route to permanent residency. Immigrants are eligible to petition themselves for permanent residency after working for their sponsoring employer for three years. Thus, it creates a power imbalance between the migrant and their employer, which may contribute to labor exploitation.
4. Business Innovation and Investment:
This visa stream is designed to target those immigrants who make investments or stimulate new ideas. The Migration Review identified the potential to leverage the relative strength of the Significant Investor stream to create a more precisely targeted visa product that selects immigrants who are able to lead creative investments in nationally significant sectors.
In order to recruit migrants, permanent residence is crucial as we compete with other countries for their talent. There won’t be any more funding available for the BIIP visa until the Government designs the new, single Talent and Innovation visa.
Reforms in Graduate Visa to Get PR in Australia
In an effort to enhance the application experience, the Government is streamlining the graduate visa process and accelerating the switch between student visa and graduate visa. The Government is also making it easier for graduates to get temporary skilled visas, which will provide businesses with additional assurances over their ability to continue hiring from graduates and their ability to obtain permanent residency. In the current situation, age eligibility does not correspond with the requirements for permanent residency.
Since forty-five is the cutoff age for permanent residence and the maximum age for a temporary graduate visa is fifty, many older graduates are left “permanently temporary.”
According to the new migration strategy, the temporary graduate visa will now only be available to those who are 35 years of age or under and may thus be considered a service for early career professionals who can make a longer-term economic contribution to Australia. Proposed changes to the points system will also speed up the process of obtaining permanent residency for graduates employed in specialized occupations.
Final Thoughts
So there you have the complete scenario related to the best ways to get PR in Australia. These are the major reforms that the Government is planning to implement in the year 2024. Are you planning to migrate to Australia? Stop a moment. You should read “Discover Which State is Easy to Get PR in Australia in 2024?” before making a final decision.
Remember, the pathway to getting permanent residency is not easy, and one should seek professional help from authentic migration agents before moving to Australia. The Migration is a registered company that provides genuine and cost-effective consultation services to its clients. So, why wait for longer when the best offers are at your doorstep? Therefore, book a consultation now and allow us to help you get PR in Australia.
FAQs
What is the required IELTS score for PR in Australia?
To get permanent residency in Australia, you must score 6.0 points in IELTS with no band less than 5.5.
What is the quickest and easiest pathway to obtain Australian PR?
The Subclass 189 visa is one of the easiest routes to permanent residence in Australia. It is intended for skilled workers who do not have family, state, or company sponsorship. However, applicants must fulfill the necessary points and occupation requirements in order to be eligible for this visa.
Is it difficult to get PR in Australia?
The process of becoming a permanent resident of Australia can be challenging and complicated, requiring perseverance, commitment, and careful planning. However, it also offers several benefits, including Australian citizenship, access to healthcare and education, and the ability to live and work permanently in the country.
I, Samavia Shahid, am a researcher and content writer at The Migration. I create easy-to-understand and informative content for people who want to move to Australia. My goal is to make the migration process simpler and less stressful for everyone.