Jobs and Skills Australia has opened consultations on the 2025 Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL), inviting feedback from businesses, unions, governments, workers and other stakeholders until 26 September. The CSOL forms part of the Government’s skilled migration settings, guiding employer-sponsored visas under the Skills in Demand framework. Unlike previous lists, it does not prioritise or…
If you are looking at applying for the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858), you now have more options, with New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), and South Australia (SA) all opening their doors to nominations. What is the National Innovation Visa? The 858 visa is a permanent visa for individuals with an internationally recognised record…
If you hold a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) or a Partner (Temporary) visa (subclass 820), and it has been two years since you first lodged your visa application, you may now be eligible to move to the permanent stage of your Partner visa. This is an important milestone that can provide long-term certainty for…
English proficiency is an essential part of many Australian visa applications. From 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs introduced new rules that change the way English ability is assessed. These updates affect the tests you can take, the scores you need, and how long your results are valid. If you are preparing a…
If you are applying for an Australian visa, you may need to prove your English language proficiency. This requirement is set by the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) and applies to certain visa subclasses. The aim is twofold: Why Does the Department Require an English Test? The DOHA requires proof of English ability for some…
Australian employers who wish to nominate overseas workers for skilled visas in Australia must follow strict salary and market rate rules. These rules apply to the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visas. The purpose of these…
If your business is sponsoring an overseas worker for an Australian visa, you must show that you will pay them at least the same as an Australian in the same role and location. This is called the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR).