Migration Policy Shifts in Favour

On 22 May 2022, Australia’sLabor Party won the federal electionIn early June, the newly appointed Minister for Immigration spoke for the first time, calling forpriority processing of the visa backlog.

In early September, the Labor Government announced that the 2022–23 financial year permanent migration programme cap would be raised from 160,000to 195,000. Of these,skilled migrationvisa places increased from 79,600 in the previous year to142,400。

Australia’s Points-Based Skilled Visa Categories

Category 1: Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa(Skilled Independent visa subclass 189) — PR in one step + 200+ eligible occupations

The Subclass 189 visa grants Australian PR in a single step. After submitting an EOI and receiving an invitation, applicants lodge their visa application directly with the Department of Home Affairs,with PR holders facing no geographic restrictions on where they live in Australia. Additionally, the nominated occupation must appear on theMedium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)to be eligible. In the 2022–23 financial year, there were212 nominated occupationson the MLTSSL eligible for the Subclass 189 visa.

Advantages: Straightforward application process; no geographic restrictions

Disadvantages: Invitations are unpredictable; fewer eligible occupations

Category 2: Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa — PR in one step + state nomination + 400+ eligible occupations

The Subclass 190 visa also grants Australian PR in a single step. After submitting an EOI, applicants must await a state government invitation,with formal state nomination required before they can lodge their visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. Nominated occupations on theShort-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or the MLTSSLare eligible for the Subclass 190 visa. In the 2022–23 financial year, there were427 nominated occupationseligible for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa.

Advantages: Multiple states to choose from (more opportunities); broader range of eligible occupations

Disadvantages: Competition can be intense in popular regions; higher scores typically required

Category 3: Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (Skilled-Work Regional visa)Two-step pathway to PR + state nomination + 500+ eligible occupations

The Subclass 491 visa is not a direct pathway to PR — it is a five-year temporary visa (TR). The process mirrors that of the Subclass 190: applicants must first obtain a formal state government invitation before lodging their application with the Department of Home Affairs. If the nominated occupation is on the Regional Occupation List (ROL), only the Subclass 491 may be applied for — not a 190 or 189. Occupations on either of the other two lists may also apply for the Subclass 491 temporary visa. In the 2022–23 financial year, 504 nominated occupations were eligible for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa.

Note: After holding the Subclass 491 (five-year temporary visa) for three years and meeting the requirements, holders may transition to the Subclass 191 visa (PR).

Conditions for Transitioning to PR:

1. Holders of the five-year temporary visa must satisfy a three-year residence requirement in Australia (any three years, consecutive or cumulative) and must also meet a tax obligation for three financial years,with the current policy requiring pre-tax income of at least AUD 53,900 per year.Subclass 491 visa holders in Australia faceno restrictions on the type or duration of employment.

2. The required regional area is defined as:all areas outside the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane CBD regions qualify as regional areas for the purpose of residence and employment.

Advantages: Lower points threshold; generally more favourable for offshore applicants

Disadvantages: Two-step pathway to PR

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent: A Wave of Invitations

The following nominated occupations for offshore applicants have, since the start of the 2022–23 financial year,received invitations with a minimum pool score of just 65 points. (Only the most common occupations for offshore applicants at 65 points are listed here. For a full list, please visit the official website:)

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds

22 August 2022 — Subclass 189 Round 1 Invitation Data:

6 October 2022 — Subclass 189 Round 2 Invitation Data:

8 December 2022 — Round 3 Invitation Data:

The above represents all Subclass 189 Skilled Independent invitation data issued to date,and it is clear that for nominated occupations on the MLTSSL, meeting the minimum pool score is sufficient to submit an EOI.

In short,the cost and threshold for Subclass 189 are relatively low. Applicants need only askills assessment + English score of at least 6 in each band + an EOI score of 65 (work experience, language and other factors can all contribute)to lodge an application.

The 2022–23 financial year is only halfway through — opportunities always favour those who are prepared. Applicants across all industries who can take advantage of this year’s favourable policies have the chance to secure permanent residency for their entire family in a single step.

Contact us now for a points assessment and evaluation

NSW and Victoria Join the Race for Skilled Workers

The wave of Subclass 189 invitations has also prompted favourable policy changes at the state level. The first to act wasthe NSW state government（the state where Sydney is located), whichremoved the previously established score and work experience requirements

Next wasVictoria state nomination(the state where Melbourne is located)policy. Since the start of the financial year, Victoria has applied the federal government’s migration occupation list,meaning occupations on both the MLTSSL and STSOL may apply for a Victorian Subclass 190 state nomination — with no mandatory work-related requirements.

From late September 2022,both NSW and Victoria began issuing Subclass 190 state nomination invitations to offshore applicants, and a large number of previously non-mainstream nominated occupations have been invited this financial year.For example:

NT-MINT Programme

In addition, there is a special Subclass 190 state nomination programme — the NT-MINT 190.Applicants need only a score of 60+5 on their EOI — no passive waiting or chasing high scores required. Any occupation on the MLTSSL or STSOL is eligible for the Subclass 190 through this programme,and meeting the Northern Territory government’s investment requirement of AUD 515,000 then secures a Subclass 190 place and grants the applicant’s entire family Australian permanent residency.

MINT applications must be submitted through agovernment- and fund-authorised registered agent.Newstars Brisbane and Beijing office director Simon WU (Tiyi WU)is one of the designated agents for this programme. Simon WU’s MARA registration number is 1175577.

Simon and his team have already helped dozens of families obtain Australian PR through the NT-MINT 190 programme. The following are some recent success stories:

Occupations successfully invited through the MINT programme include accounting, finance & investment, and marketing.

After receiving MINT programme invitations, these applicants — including software engineers, supply chain managers and restaurant managers — had their visas granted.

In summary, the 2022–23 financial year has marked the dawn of agolden era for Australian skilled migration. Whether you are an offshore applicant considering Subclass 189, Subclass 190, or the MINT 190 programme,we strongly recommend starting your planning early.In particular, if you have not yet taken the first step ofcompleting your skills assessment, act now. Migration policy can change at any time — do not miss your chance to secure Australian permanent residency!

Previous Articles — Click an image to read

Accounting, IT, Engineering, Marketing and More — Migrate Without Chasing High Scores!

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NSW’s Latest Subclass 190 — More Occupations, Lower Scores, More Places!

Missed the First Rounds of Subclass 189 Invitations? Here’s What to Do Next.

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Reply: 0000 → Latest policy update from 16 Nov (Subclass 491 + skilled migration points)

Reply: 000 → Latest visa/citizenship processing wait times

Reply: 001 → Latest Subclass 189 EOI official report

Reply: 002 → Subclass 189 Skilled Independent

Reply: 003 → Subclass 190 state nominations by state

Reply: 004 → Subclass 489 regional state nomination

Reply: 005 → Student entrepreneur and investor migration

Reply: 006 → Parent migration visa

Reply: 007 → Employer-sponsored visa

Reply: 008 → Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa

Reply: 009 → Partner migration/bonus points

Reply: 010 → Work experience bonus points

Reply: 011 → Professional Year bonus points

Reply: 012 → NAATI/CCL bonus points

Reply: 013 → Regional area bonus points

Reply: 014 → Visitor/family visit visa

Reply: 015 → Working holiday visa

Reply: 016 → TAFE study

Reply: 017 → Migration to Canada for Australia-based international students

Reply: 018 → Subclass 407 Training visa

Reply: 019 → Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa

Reply: 020 → New Zealand migration

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