Australian Immigration Visa Changes from 1ST July 2019

Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa (870)

As of 1 July 2019, where families have long been separated, this new visa enables parents and grandparents to reunite in Australia and live temporarily for up to 10 years. There is no capacity for permanent Australian residency and a ‘no work’ condition applies to this visa. 

Australian citizens and permanent residents may apply to be sponsors. Upon sponsorship being granted and since 1 July 2019, a visa application may be lodged for one or two overseas parents at any one time. 

The visa grant cap at this time is 15,000 visas per annum. Visas may be renewed after five years to a maximum of 10 years. Visa application fees are $5000 for up to three years and $10000 for up to five years. Australian sponsors must bear healthcare, living and accommodation costs of their visa-holder parent/s in Australia. 

Visa Eligibility

Including but not limited to, a visa applicant must:

• Be sponsored by an approved parent sponsor – be a biological, adoptive or step-parent (approved)
• Be at least 18 years or older
• Be outside of Australia
• Provide evidence of access to funds
• Provide evidence of health insurance
• Satisfy health, character and national security criteria

Immigration Cap Changes

The Australian Government has lowered its immigration cap to 160,000 per annum, a figure intended to be maintained for the next four years. Within this new cap figure, the number of regional visas has been increased: reserving a total of 23,000 places for new subclass 491 and subclass 494 visa holders. 

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (491)

In November 2019 a new regional visa, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, will replace the existing subclass 489 visa. This new visa provides for five years’ living and working in a regional location via sponsorship from either an eligible family member, or a state government, situated in a designated area. There is an age limit of 45 years and the applicant is points-tested. The government has allocated 14000 places for subclass 491 visa holders. 

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (494)

Another new regional visa from November 2019 is the Skilled Employer Sponsored visa, replacing the existing 187 subclass visa. This new visa provides for five years’ living and working in a regional location via sponsorship from an eligible regional employer. There is an age limit of 45 years and the applicant and the sponsor employer must meet certain criteria. The government has allocated 9000 places for subclass 494 visa holders. 

New Regional Visas – Pathways to Permanent Residency (PR)

From 2022, both subclass 491 and subclass 494 visa holders may be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after a minimum of three years’ living and working under their visas, complying with applicable visa conditions and meeting their income tax obligations. 

Visa Fee Increases

The Australian Government has increased visa application fees on applications lodged on or after 1 July 2019. Most visa subclasses are affected by the increases and these increases are generally greater than 5 per cent. 

As migration agents specialising in advice to visa applicants and individual/employer sponsors, we at Great Migration Strategies strongly encourage you to make contact with us to discuss these new visa opportunities and for us to help you make living and/or working in Australia a reality. 

How can Great Migration Strategies help?

Talk to our Great Migration Strategies Team today to see how we can assist you with your visa options. Contact us on (0412) 388 830 or by visiting the Contact Us page on our website.