News - Core Skills Occupations List Published

The occupations of the new Core Skills Stream (Core Skills Occupation Skills - CSOL) of the new Skills in Demand visa have been published, and CSOL is coming into effect 7/12/2024.

Containing 456 occupations, the CSOL replaces complex, out of date and inflexible occupation lists in the temporary skilled visa program. 

No more MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL, just a single consolidated list - CSOL for the new sc482 SID visa

The CSOL will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills In Demand (subclass 482) visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. 

The CSOL will also apply to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

Noting that 482 nominations and visa applications lodged prior to 7/12/2024 will continue to be assessed by the Department and/or the Tribunal, as advised by Department representatives at the Annual Conference of the Migration Institute of Australia in October 2024.

Even though some occupations which were in the previous 3 lists are not in the CSOL, overall the change is a significant positive step towards skill shortages being addressed throughout Australia.
 

More details on other reforms taking place on 7 December 2024, including the other 2 streams of the Skills in Demand Visa and the National Innovation Visa, are awaited to be announced shortly.

The other 2 streams of the Skills in Demand visa:

• Specialist Skills Stream – for highly skilled occupations with Annual Market Salary Rate in Australia over $135,000 p.a. in any occupation, excluding trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers;
• Essential Skills Stream – a list of occupations of essential skills with earnings below TSMIT. Likely to be similar to the current labour agreement stream 

[Source: Department of Home Affairs & Migration Institute of Australia]

As always we will be on full alert for even minor changes, acting swiftly to request details & clarifications, if required, so that we can provide you with forthright advice and assistance whether you are a new client or we already manage your case.

COVID-19 CONCESSION PERIOD CEASES 25/11/2023 

By Legislative Instrument as required under the Migration Regulations, the Covid-19 Concession Period which began 1 February 2020 ceases 25 November 2023.

IN BRIEF

Family visas

• Applicants for certain Partner and Child visas (usually granted outside Australia) who applied/apply before 26 November 2023, and who were in Australia at any time during the concession period, will continue to be eligible to be granted a visa in Australia (if they meet all other visa criteria) after the end of the concession period. 
• The COVID-19 concession arrangements will not apply to Partner and Child applicants who were not in Australia at any time during the COVID-19 concession period.
• The COVID-19 concessions for certain Parent visa applicants, only applied during the COVID-19 concession period, from 1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023. 

Employer Sponsored visas

• Periods of reduced work due to COVID-19 will not count towards meeting the work experience requirements for new ENS/RSMS TRT stream nomination applications.
• The  COVID-19 concession to the age exemption for high income earning  applicants will not apply for new ENS/RSMS visa applications.
• The age exemption for legacy 457 workers in Australia for 12 months during the pandemic from 1 February 2020 to 14 December 2021 will apply for ENS visa applications lodged before 1 July 2024.

Temporary Graduate visa

• From 25 November 2023 all applications for any stream of the Temporary Graduate visa must be lodged in Australia. 
• Subsequent entrant applications can be lodged in or outside of Australia. 
• The ability to grant applications to applicants who are either in or outside of Australia (but not in immigration clearance) will continue. 

Skilled Regional Visa subclass 887

• Applicants can only access the employment requirement concession if they:
  1.  held an eligible skilled provisional visa during the concession period, and
  2. make a valid application within 3 months of Monday 26 February 2024.

• The ending of the concession period will end any other concessions for the subclass 887 visa.
• After 25 November 2023 eligible skilled provisional visa holders applying for a subclass 887 visa must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying. 

[Source: Department of Home Affairs & Federal Register of Legislation]