Federal Budget 2022-23: Migration news
Update:1 April 2022
Written by: Thanushki Kankanange, MARN: 1569448
The federal budget was delivered on 29 March 2022, and below we have prepared summary of the key migration related announcements made.
The 2022-23 Migration Program will have a planning level of 160,000 places, and a focus on boosting Australia’s economic recovery and social cohesion outcomes in the post-pandemic environment.
Skilled Stream
- The skills stream visas will increase to 109,900 places compared to the 79,600 places in the 2021-22 Program. This is an increase of 30,000 places in the new financial year, with over 20,000 places from the overall increase of the migration program places and the balance 10,000 redistributed from the Partner visa places, due to a decrease in number of Partner visa application on-hand.
- The allocation for Skilled Independent (subclass 189) has increased from 6,500 places to 16,652 places, which is a significant increase of 10,152 places.
- Regional visas places have almost doubled, with an increased allocation of 13,800 places for the 2022-23 program.
Skilled Stream Planning levels
|
Visa stream |
2022-23 |
2021-22 |
|
Employer sponsored |
30,000 |
22,000 |
|
Skilled Independent |
16,652 |
6,500 |
|
State and Territory Nominated |
20,000 |
11,200 |
|
Regional visas |
25,000 |
11,200 |
|
Business and Innovation and Investment |
9,500 |
13,500 |
|
Global Talent |
8,488 |
15,000 |
|
Distinguished Talent |
300 |
200 |
|
Total |
109,900 |
79,600 |
Family stream
- Parent visa allocation has seen an increase of 1,500 places
- Home Affairs has announced that the Partner visa processing will move to a demand driven basis.
|
Visa stream |
2022-23 |
2021-22 |
|
Partner (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to ceiling) |
72,300 |
40,500 |
|
Parent |
6,000 |
4,500 |
|
Child (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to a ceiling) |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
Other family |
500 |
500 |
Working Holiday Makers
Work and Holiday Maker places will increase by 11,000 places and those travelling to Australia under this visa between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022 will be eligible for a refunded VAC.
Humanitarian Program
The Humanitarian Program will be maintained at 13,750 places in 2022-23.
Afghanistan - An additional 16,500 places will be available for Afghan nationals under the Humanitarian program and will be equally allocated over the next four years. This brings the total number of places available to Afghans across Australia’s Humanitarian and Migration Programs to 31,500 over the next four program years
Ukraine - the Government will make available up to 4,000 three year Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas (Subclass 786) to Ukrainians across 2021-22 and 2022-23. However, most Ukrainians are expected to resettle in Europe.