The Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP delivered the 2022-23 Federal Budget on 29 March 2022. According to Federal Budget, the net overseas migration to Australia is projected to reach 180,000 in 2022-23, before rising to 213,000 in 2024-25.
2022-23 Permanent Migration Program Planning Levels
The 2022-23 Migration Program has been designed to boost Australia’s economic recovery and drive social cohesion outcomes in the post-pandemic environment. The 2022-23 Migration Program will maintain the planning level at 160,000 places, focusing on skilled migration.
Skilled Migration Program
Skilled migration places will increase from the 2021-22 planning levels to 109,900 and account for about 70% of the permanent Migration Program. This represents an increase of about 30,000 places over the 2021-22 program, with 20,000 of these places resulting from the overall increase in the program and 10,000 redistributed from the partner program.
Regional visas will more than double to 25,000 places to promote growth in regional Australia.
Occupation lists will be reviewed and revised in early 2022-23 to reflect Australia’s labour market changes, based on advice from the National Skills Commission.
| Visa stream | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Employer sponsored | 30,000 | 22,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 16,652 | 6,500 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 20,000 | 11,200 |
| Regional | 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 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Family Visas
Family visas will be allocated to the remaining 50,000 places within the program.
The Federal Budget states that from 2022-23, Partner visas will be granted on demand driven basis to expedite family reunification. This will help ease the Partner visa backlog and processing times.
| Visa stream | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Partner* (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to a ceiling) | 40,500 | 72,300 |
| Parent | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Child* (Demand driven: estimate, not subject to a ceiling) | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Other family | 500 | 500 |
| Total | 50,000 | 77,300* |
| Special Eligibility** | 100 | 100 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Humanitarian Program
The Humanitarian Program will be retained at 13,750 places in 2022-23. The Government will provide:
- $665.9 million over 4 years from 2022-23 for an additional 16,500 humanitarian places for Afghan nationals across the 4 years from 2022-23
- $9.2 million in 2022-23 to extend existing Youth Transition Support services for 12 months to 30 June 2023, to continue the provision of services to young humanitarian entrants and vulnerable migrants to increase engagement in education and community sport and assist in the transition to employment
- $1 million over 5 years from 2022-23 to establish a Human Rights Advocacy program providing grants of up to $100,000 to human-rights focused organisations advancing Australia’s human rights priorities (funded by DFAT)
- Grant access to up to 4,000 three-year temporary humanitarian (subclass 786) visas to Ukrainians across 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The Government is dedicated to settling 50% of humanitarian applicants in regional Australia as part of their support for the regional settlement.
Working Holiday Maker
The Government will increase country caps for Work and Holiday visas by 11,000 (30%) in 2022-23 to support Australia’s economic future and the continued growth of the tourism sector. Australia has Working Holiday Maker arrangements with 45 countries, of which 26 partner countries are managed under annual “cap” arrangements.
Work and Holiday visa holders who arrive in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022 (inclusive) will also be eligible for a refunded Visa Application Charge (VAC).
Resident Return Visa
The Government has mandated online lodgement of Resident Return visa applications unless exceptional circumstances apply. This will enhance processing efficiencies and facilitate applicants to track their applications better.
Presently, Resident Return visa applications can be lodged online or on a paper application form, with paper applications attracting a Non-Internet Application Charge.
