Employer sponsored visa changes and increase of TSMIT

In line with the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy announced last year to reshape all current programs, there has been a lot of stakeholder involvement in the design of a new employer sponsored program and a new consolidated skilled occupations list all due to unfold post 1 July 2024.

The proposal for a three thier new Skills in Demand visa in the place of the existing Temporary Skills Shortage visa program is expected to be implemented by the end of the year, introducing the following options:

• Tier 1 Specialist Skills Pathway for highly paid professionals with base salary above $130,000.

• Tier 2 Core Skills Pathway covering wide range of skilled professionals who are paid above $70,000 but under $130,000 and are in demand.

• Tier 3 Essential Skills Pathway for areas of crucial shortages such as aged care and for professionals paid under $70,000.

In line with the Migration Strategy the Government announced that the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) will increase from $70,000 to $73,150 effective from 1 July 2024. 

All new employer nominations in the existing Temporary Skills Shortage program and the Employer Nomination Scheme that are lodged after 1 July 2024 will need to be at or above the new TSMIT and be in line with at the annual market salary rate for the nominated occupation. If the market salary rate for an occupation is less than TSMIT, an application would not be successful for that position. Nominations lodged prior to 1 July 2024 and existing visa holders will not be affected.

Further information regarding future income thresholds for the new Skills in Demand visa and the indexation methodology will become available later in the year.