Australia to Invite 185,000 Candidates for Permanent Migration in 2024-25
This program year 2024-2025 is going to be high time for skilled professionals across the world to apply for the Australian Permanent Residency (PR) with such high target for skills immigration stream.
On May 14, 2024, the Australian Government announced the planning levels for the 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program, setting a cap of 185,000 places. This program aims to address skill shortages in priority sectors and expedite visa processing for regional Australia, supporting efforts to build a domestic pipeline of highly skilled workers.
The 2024–25 Migration Program also recognizes the significant contributions of all migrants to social cohesion, emphasizing the strengthening of family and community bonds in Australia. By targeting skilled individuals, the program aims to enhance the working-age population, boost participation rates, and expand the labour force.
Skill Stream Receives the huge Share
The composition of the 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program is as follows:
· Skill Stream (132,200 places, nearly 71% of the program): Designed by the DHA to enhance the productive capacity of the economy and address skill shortages in the labor market, especially in regional Australia.
· Family Stream (52,500 places, nearly 28% of the program): Primarily consists of Partner visas, allowing Australians to reunite with family members from overseas and providing pathways to citizenship. Within this stream:
- An estimated 40,500 Partner visas are planned for 2024–25, with the category being demand-driven.
- An estimated 3,000 Child visas are planned for 2024–25, with the category being demand-driven.
· Special Eligibility Stream (300 places): Comprising visas for individuals in special circumstances, including permanent residents returning to Australia after a period overseas.
|
Visa Stream |
Visa Category |
2023–24 Planning levels |
2024–25 Planning levels |
|
Skill |
Employer Sponsored |
36,825 |
44,000 |
|
Skilled Independent |
30,375 |
16,900 |
|
|
Regional |
32,300 |
33,000 |
|
|
State/Territory Nominated |
30,400 |
33,000 |
|
|
Business Innovation & Investment |
1,900 |
1,000 |
|
|
Global Talent (Independent) |
5,000 |
4,000 |
|
|
Distinguished Talent |
300 |
300 |
|
|
Skill Total |
137,100 |
132,200 |
|
|
Family |
Partner1 |
40,500 |
40,500 |
|
Parent |
8,500 |
8,500 |
|
|
Child1 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
|
Other Family |
500 |
500 |
|
|
Family Total |
52,500 |
52,500 |
|
|
Special Eligibility |
400 |
300 |
|
|
Total Migration Program |
190,000 |
185,000 |
2024–25 Permanent Migration Program Planning Levels
The 2024–25 Permanent Migration Program is set at 185,000 places, divided approximately 70:30 between Skill and Family streams.
· Skilled Independent Visa: 16,900 places allocated, down from 30,375 in 2023–24 but higher than the COVID-era levels.
· State/Territory Nominated Visa: Increased to 33,000 places, with an additional 33,000 for the Regional category. These categories represent 36% of the overall planning level and 50% of the Skill stream, aiding jurisdictions in addressing economic and labor challenges and supporting regional Australia.
· Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP): Reduced from 1,900 visas to 1,000 for 2024–25. The government is considering a new National Innovation Visa, expected by the end of 2024.
· Employer Sponsored Visa: Increased from 36,825 to 44,000 places, expanding pathways to permanent residence for temporary migrants through the Temporary Residence Transition Stream.
