Important 1 July 2017 Changes

Visa Application Charges

All Visa Application Charges (VACs) will be increased in line with the forecast Consumer Price Index and rounded to the neared $5. However, indexation only applies to the 1st instalment and does not apply to 2nd instalment VACs.

 

Skilled Migration Visas

  • Subclass 189: maximum age limit has lowered to 45 years old
  • 189 New Zealand visa stream: new permanent visa stream for New Zealand citizens to be granted an Australian permanent residency. The 45 year old age limit does not apply to this visa.
  • NZ citizens under 189 visa stream: specification of income thresholds for 2011-2017 

 

  • Employer Nominated Migration Schemes (186/187):
    • English language requirements – attainment of Competent English score of IELTS score of 6 or equivalent
    • Age – a maximum age limit of 45 at the time of applying for Direct Entry stream applicants
  • Subclass 457 changes:
    • Expanding mandatory skills assessment
    • Introducing mandatory penal clearance checks
    • Tightening existing training benchmarks
    • Removing English language exemption based on a skilled migrant’s salary
    • 457 online application system moving from eVISA to ePLUS system from 1 July – any ‘saved’ partially completed 457 applications in eVisa will be lost when the new ePLUS forms are turned on

 

Other Temporary Visas

  • Working Holiday Maker – Visa application charge raised to $440
  • Online Visitor visa lodgement for Indian nationals – all Indian passport holders will have the option to lodge visitor visas online

 

Online Protection Visa Lodgement

  • Temporary Protection subclass 785 visa (TPV), Safe Haven Enterprise subclass 790 visa (SHEV) or Permanent Protection visa (PPV) included in the online lodgement system
  • PPV, TPV and SHEV will have a single paper application Form 866 from 1 July 2017
  • Form 1505 will be made available for subsequent applications for TPV and SHEV