In 2024, Australia and New Zealand made a number of important changes to their visa and migration policies. Find out what these changes are, which categories of permits are affected by the innovation and which countries' citizens should expect new rules

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Australia can rightly be proud of its status as the most cosmopolitan country in the world. According to statistics, about 30% of its permanent residents were born abroad, and almost 48% of citizens have one of their parents who moved here from another country. The reason for this is the developed economy and social sphere, employment prospects, as well as favorable migration legislation, which the country's government is constantly working on. New Zealand also attracts expats from different parts of the world with its high level of development and fantastic nature.

In 2024, the leadership of the countries approved many changes to the visa and migration policies of the states. Foreigners planning to travel or move to Australia and New Zealand this year should be careful and take these changes into account. We talk about the main ones in our new material.

Changes to Australia's visa and migration policy

- The validity period of the business visa was extended

In June 2024, the Australian government announced the extension of business visas for citizens of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Timor-Leste.

According to the approved changes, citizens of the following 11 countries who applied for a business visa after April 1, 2024 will be able to obtain a multiple-entry permit with a longer period (instead of the previous 3 years for 5 years).

Which countries are eligible for a long-term business visa to Australia?

Citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and East Timor.

- Conditions for extending work visas for certain categories of migrants have been simplified

The grace period during which holders of certain visa subclasses can find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or leave Australia has been increased from the previous 60 days to 180 days or a maximum of 365 days.

The innovation applies to expats who are in Australia on the basis of one of the following visas:

1. Subclass 482 – visa for temporary lack of qualifications.

2. Subclass 457 visa – temporary skilled work.

3. Subclass 494 - regional sponsored by a qualified employer (temporary).

- The fee for applying for citizenship has been increased

From now on, obtaining Australian citizenship will become more expensive, the country's government has announced that the amount of fees for submitting the following applications has been increased in the state:

1. Obtaining permanent resident status for persons aged 18 to 59 will now cost $560, instead of $540.

2. Registration of citizenship through adoption will increase from $345 to $360 for the first child and from $145 to $150 for all subsequent children.

However, the Australian government stressed that the application fee for Australian citizenship depends on several factors, including the type of application, age and individual circumstances.

- Citizens of the Philippines have been granted the right to participate in the Australian Work & Holiday Visa program

As of July 1, Philippine citizens are eligible to participate in the Work and Holiday visa program (subclass 462). The corresponding decision was confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Australia. The department said that the new changes were made in order to further expand the program.

  The Work and Holiday permit applies to foreigners aged 18 to 30 and with the appropriate level of education.

With a 462 visa, you can do any kind of work, whether paid or volunteer, travel around the country and, in certain cases, get an education. Also, the permission is reusable.

We talked about the Work & Holiday Visa lottery earlier.

- The work visa program for citizens of three countries has been suspended

In May this year, Australia suspended the work visa program for Chinese citizens. Similar rules also worked earlier for citizens of India and Vietnam. From now on, representatives of these countries must participate in the draw for a work visa.

Basic requirements, necessary documents and other important details of the procedure for obtaining a work visa to Australia in this article.

- The mandatory income level for obtaining a temporary skilled worker visa has been increased

Australia has increased the income requirements for the Temporary Skilled Worker Visa (TSMIT) from $70,000 to $73,150 per year.

This innovation means that from 1 July 2024, all expats applying for a permit must confirm that their contract salary will be $73,150 or the annual market salary, whichever is higher.

- New national visa introduced, expected to replace business and global talent visas

In July 2024, two categories of Australian visas were closed – the Business Innovation and Investment (Temporary) visa (subclass 188). This decision was made given the poor economic results for Australia that were associated with these permits. As a replacement, the authorities announced the introduction of a new national innovation visa.

Australia's leadership says that the new permit will be issued to exceptionally talented migrants, taking into account also highly effective entrepreneurs and global researchers. More detailed conditions are planned to be presented in September 2024.

- The requirements for obtaining a student visa have been increased

Australia has announced that minimum savings requirements for student and carer visas have been increased.

Under the changes from 10 May 2024, international students planning to apply for a student visa must demonstrate savings of a minimum of A$29,710 ($19,641) instead of the previous requirement of A$24,505 ($16,200 USA).

We spoke in more detail about the new conditions for students in Australia in this article.

- The results of the TOEFL exam will be relevant for all visa categories

The results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be accepted as valid evidence for obtaining any Australian visa. And although it was previously reported that the Australian Department of Home Affairs planned to temporarily not accept TOEFL scores for Australian visa applications, TOEFL continues to be accepted by 100% of Australian universities and most institutions.

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Changes to New Zealand's visa and migration policy

- Changes in the cost of visa fees

The New Zealand government has announced a significant increase in visa fees and fees, which will come into force on 1 October 2024. This adjustment will affect almost all visa categories, as the government seeks to more closely align tariffs with actual visa processing costs.

1. The cost of a student visa will increase from NZ$300 (US$180) to NZ$485 (US$290). The fee for student visas will also increase from NZ$95 ($57) to NZ$265.

2. The post-study work visa fee will be reduced from NZ$490 ($295) to NZ$320 ($195). However, this reduction is combined with a significant increase in the immigration fee from NZ$210 (US$126) to NZ$1,350 (US$820).

3. The cost of obtaining an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will be slightly reduced from NZ$540 to NZ$480. However, in this case, the immigration fee will also increase significantly from NZ$210 to NZ$1060.

- Stricter rules for low-skilled migrant workers

To further regulate the employment of migrant workers, the government introduced new requirements for the permit procedure. A notable change is the mandatory English language test for migrants applying for low-skilled jobs (ANZSCO Levels 4 and 5).

In addition, there will be a minimum skill and experience threshold for most AEWV positions.

- The maximum term of stay for low-skilled positions has been reduced

Another important update is the reduction of the maximum continuous tenure for most ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 positions. Previously, migrants could stay in these positions for up to five years; however, under the new rules, this period will be reduced to three years.

Consequently, in 2024, the Australian authorities simplified visa requirements for some categories of applicants, but increased the application fee for citizenship, closed certain programs and plans to approve new visas. Most of the changes came into effect on July 1, 2024.

From October 2024, the New Zealand government intends to introduce a significant increase in visa fees, which will affect almost all visa categories. Along with the pay changes, there will also be new requirements for migrant workers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, including English language proficiency and a reduced maximum length of stay for lower-skilled jobs.

Read the latest news from the world of travel and migration on the Visit World portal.

We will remind you! Australia receives thousands of migrants every year, which is why it is often considered one of the best immigration destinations in the world. The state's high level of development and large territory offer numerous opportunities for relocation. Find out here which cities in Australia are recognized as the best for expats to live and work in 2024.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Travel guide for 200 countries;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues;

Travel insurance around the world (please select the country of interest and citizenship to receive services);

Medical insurance all over the world.