Federal Budget 2021 – 2022: Australia’s Immigration Programs Updates

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2021-2021 Federal Budget plan was released recently with the migration program numbers announced.  Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in Parliament “Australia’s effective management of COVID-19 makes us an even more attractive place for the best and brightest from around the world.”

“To take advantage of this, we are streaming visas to target highly-skilled individuals when circumstances allow.” He added.

This Budget plan was announced at the time when the Morrison government also announced that Australia’s international borders set to remain shut until mid-2022.

The following are the highlights of the 2021-2022 migration plans:

  • Migration planning levels will remain the same as last year at 160,000.
  • Focus on onshore skilled migrations, special consideration for parent visa.
  • The Government will provide further support to employers in the tourism and hospitality sectors to help them find workers, by temporarily allowing student visa holders to work more than 40 hours per fortnight, as long as they are employed in the tourism or hospitality sectors.
  • Skilled visas-around 50% of the program dedicated to skilled visas and given priority to highly skilled migrants in the employer sponsored, business innovation and investor programs and global talent visa cohorts.
  • Family visas- the number places available for family visas (spouse, parents, child) will be set at 77,300 places for 2021-2022.
  • Humanitarian program will be maintained at 13,750 places for 2021-2022 year.
  • For Sponsored Temporary Parent visa (subclass 870) will be extended by 18 months for individuals who are unable to use the visa due to COVOD-19 travel restrictions.
  • Global Talent visas – Overs the next four years A$550 million will be committed to attracted to attract talent and business for overseas. The ATO will provide fast track tax advice to foreign investors and individual tax residency rules will be simplified.
  • Adult Migration English Program — The government will introduce a new delivery model for the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) from 1 July 2023 to improve English language, employment and social cohesion outcomes for migrants by linking provider payments to student outcomes.The cap of 510 hours will be removed and migrants will be able to study until they have reached the level of ‘vocational’ English.


A full document of the 2021-202 Budget can be accessed via Government’s website at: https://budget.gov.au/