Australian Immigration News
Australian Immigration Changes 2024 – 2025
The start of the new financial year means the start of a new program for Australian immigration, with many changes from 1 July 2024:
- Minimum income threshold for Essential Skills Visa:
$135,000 for highly skilled professionals (Specialist Skills Income Threshold – SSIT)
$73,150 for people in national shortage occupations (Basic Skills Income Threshold – CSIT)
- TSS 482 and 494 Visa Changes | 180-Day Interval Between Jobs
From 1 July 2024, TSS 482 and 494 Regional Visa holders will have up to 180 consecutive days to take time off work to find a new sponsoring employer, apply for another visa or make arrangements to leave Australia.
During this time, TSS 482 and 494 Regional visa holders can work for other employers in occupations not listed in their sponsorship nomination. This ensures that visa holders can support themselves while they seek a new sponsor.
Unless exempted, visa holders must stop working with their sponsoring employer before working for another employer. While working for the sponsoring employer, they must continue to work in their nominated occupation.
The total time a person can be off work during the visa period cannot exceed 365 days. Time off work before 1 July 2024 does not count towards the 180 and 365 consecutive day maximums.
- Minimum Salary / TSMIT Increase for Sponsored Visa Holders
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has increased from $70,000 to $73,150 from 1 July 2024 and now applies to new nominations for a TSS 482 Visa, Regional 494 Visa or Permanent 186/187 Visa – you can read more here.
New nominations must meet the new TSMIT or the Annual Market Salary (AMSR), whichever is higher. However, if the AMSR is lower than the TSMIT, the position cannot be applied for.
