Announced on 14 May 2024, the Australian Government has set the planning levels at 185,000 places. This initiative is designed to address critical skills shortages, support regional Australia, and enhance the social fabric of our communities.
Overall Composition
- Total Places: 185,000
- Skill Stream: 132,200 places (approximately 71% of the program)
- Family Stream: 52,500 places (approximately 28% of the program)
- Special Eligibility Stream: 300 places
Skill Stream Breakdown
- Employer Sponsored: Increased from 36,825 to 44,000 places to facilitate a smoother transition to permanent residence.
- Skilled Independent: Allocated 16,900 places, down from 30,375 in the previous year but still higher than COVID-era levels.
- Regional: Increased to 33,000 places, supporting regional economic needs.
- State/Territory Nominated: Increased to 33,000 places, enhancing state and territory-specific workforce requirements.
- Business Innovation & Investment: Reduced to 1,000 places, with the program set to close permanently in July 2024, paving the way for the new National Innovation visa.
- Global Talent (Independent): Slightly reduced to 4,000 places as it transitions to the new National Innovation visa.
- Distinguished Talent: Maintained at 300 places.
Family Stream Breakdown
- Partner Visas: 40,500 places, demand-driven to facilitate family reunification.
- Parent Visas: Maintained at 8,500 places.
- Child Visas: Set at 3,000 places for planning purposes, demand-driven.
- Other Family Visas: Maintained at 500 places.
Special Eligibility Stream
- Allocated 300 places for those in special circumstances, including returning permanent residents.
Analysis and Implications
The adjustments in the 2024–25 Migration Program reflect a strategic approach to address Australia’s evolving economic and social needs. Here’s what the data means for us:
1. Addressing Skill Shortages and Economic Growth:
Skill Stream Increases: The notable increase in Employer Sponsored visas (from 36,825 to 44,000) and Regional visas (from 32,300 to 33,000) highlights the government’s focus on targeting specific skills shortages, especially in regional areas. This aligns with the goal of boosting economic productivity by filling critical gaps in the labor market.
State/Territory Nominated Visas: The increase to 33,000 places for State/Territory Nominated visas underscores the importance of localised decision-making in addressing regional economic challenges. These visas allow state and territory governments to attract skilled migrants tailored to their specific needs.
2. Transition and Innovation in Business Migration:
BIIP Reduction and Closure: The reduction in the Business Innovation & Investment Program (BIIP) from 1,900 to 1,000 places and its impending closure in July 2024 reflects a strategic pivot. The new National Innovation visa will replace BIIP, focusing on attracting exceptional talent and innovation-driven entrepreneurs, which is expected to provide better economic outcomes for Australia.
3. Family and Social Cohesion:
Overall, we do not see changes in allocations for this category. However, it’s worth noting that quotas for Partner and Child visa are demand-driven, hence the allocations included in the chart for for indicative purposes only. This is to ensure that family reunifications are facilitated as well as flexibility and responsiveness to real-time needs, helping reduce processing times and backlogs in two crucial subclasses of this visa stream.
4. Planning for the Future:
Multi-Year Planning Model: The shift to a multi-year planning model starting in 2025–26 will allow for more comprehensive and long-term migration planning. This approach will better align migration with infrastructure, housing, and service delivery, ensuring sustainable growth and development.
5. Regional Focus and Commitments:
Priority for Regional Areas: By increasing planning levels for the Regional visa category, the government demonstrates its commitment to supporting regional Australia. This is further enhanced by priority visa processing, ensuring that regional areas receive the skilled workforce they need promptly.
Consultation and Future Planning
The planning levels and policy settings for the 2024–25 Migration Program were informed by extensive consultations with state and territory governments, academia, industry, unions, and community organizations. Factors considered included public submissions, economic and labor force forecasts, international research, and economic and fiscal modeling.
Starting from 2025–26, the Migration Program will adopt a multi-year planning model, extending the horizon to four years. This shift will allow better alignment with long-term infrastructure, housing, and services planning.
At Migration Affairs, we are dedicated to supporting our clients in understanding and complying with these new laws. For advice and guidance, we strongly recommend seeking legal immigration advice from our experts at Migration Affairs.
Unlocking Australia’s Future: Key Insights on the 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program
