Namaste Melbourne

​​myVEVO provides a fast and convenient way for visa holders to check their Australian visa details. This includes visa expiry date, work and study rights, and travel conditions.

From late June 2024 users will see some changes to the look and feel of the myVEVO app including the following enhancements:

enhanced design and flow​​ making it easier to use
improved cyber ​security to further protect user accounts
increased readability and accessibility features for both Android and iOS devices.

You can download the myVEVO app free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

​​​From 1 July 2024, visa conditions 8107, 8607 and 8608 are changing in response to the Australian Governments
Migration Strategy. These changes address the commitment to help tackle worker exploitation and drive productivity.We have made improvements to support the labour market mobility of temporary migrants who have the following visas:Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).Holders of these visas who stop working with their sponsoring employer will have more time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa or arrange to depart Australia. These visa holders will have up to:180 days at a time, ora maximum of 365 days in total across the entire visa grant period.During this time, visa holders can work for other employers. This includes work in occupations not listed in their most recently approved sponsorship nomination. This will ensure that visa holders can support themselves while they look for a new sponsor.Unless exempt, a visa holder cannot work for another employer unless they have ceased work with their sponsoring employer. Visa holders must remain in their nominated occupation while working for their existing sponsor.Sponsors must still let the department know if there is any change in situation within 28 days. This includes ceasing sponsorship or if a visa holder resigns. You can find more information at
Sponsorship obligations for Standard business sponsors.Visa holders must not do any work that is inconsistent with any licence or registration needed for their nominated occupation. This includes any conditions or requirements they are subject to.The changes apply to existing visa holders, as well as those granted a visa on or after 1 July 2024. Any periods a visa holder stopped working for their sponsor before 1 July 2024 will not count towards the new time periods outlined above.For more information on visa conditions, see
Check visa details and conditions.​​

​​​​​Raising the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold

From 1 July 2024, the TSMIT will increase from $70,000 to $73,150. New nomination applications from this date will need to meet the new TSMIT of $73,150 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.

This change will not affect existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2024.

These changes are in line with the Government’s commitment at the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022.

More information

More information will be made available on future income thresholds and indexation methodology, including for the new Skills in Demand Visa, once finally determined later in 2024.

Updates regarding these changes will be published on the Department of Home Affairs website. Check the website regularly for more information.

​As part of the Migration Strategy, the Government announced that it would not provide any new allocations for the BIIP while a new talent and innovation visa was considered. The new National Innovation visa will be available at the end of 2024.We will close the BIIP permanently from July 2024. We will not accept any new applications for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa. The Migration Review found that the BIIP is delivering poor economic results for Australia. Studies including work by the Treasury and the Productivity Commission support this finding.We will process current Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa applications in line with Government priorities and Migration Program planning levels. We will also tighten BIIP policy guidance so that all business migrants coming to Australia must have had a successful business career and will bring an economic benefit to Australia.If you hold a subclass 188 visa and meet the criteria for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) visa you can continue on this pathway after July 2024.If you hold a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream or the Significant Investor stream you can still apply for the extension stream of the visa. This will give you more time to meet the requirements of the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) visa.Refunds for the subclass 188 Visa Application Charge (VAC) will be available from September 2024 if you want to withdraw your application. The department will give more information on when to withdraw and how to ask for a refund when they are available.

​The Department of Home Affairs publishes a Discussion Paper each year to provide an overview of Australia’s Humanitarian Program and seek public feedback on the management and composition of the Program.

The Humanitarian Program 2024-25 Discussion Paper is now available.

The Discussion Paper provides background information of the 2024-25 Program to inform public submissions by the community. Written submissions are now open and will close at 5pm on 7 June.

The Government is committed to generous and flexible Humanitarian and Settlement Programs that meet Australia’s international protection obligations, and position Australia as a global leader in international resettlement efforts.

For more information, visit Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2024-25.

​​The Australian Government has made changes to English Language Requirements for Student and Temporary Graduate visas. 

This change was announced as part of the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023 and applies to all Student and Temporary Graduate visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.

The Migration Strategy outlined how the English language reforms for student visas will support international students to have a positive educational experience in Australia, and prepare them for the skilled workforce should they wish to apply for a graduate visa post study. 

Temporary Graduate visa (TGV)

The minimum score required for a TGV from IELTS test score increases from 6.0 to 6.5 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.5 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
The test validity window for a TGV decreases from 3 years to 1 year. TGV applicants now need to provide evidence that they have completed an English Language test within 1 year immediately before the date of the visa application.

Student visa

The minimum score required for a Student visa from an IELTS test score increases from 5.5 to 6 (or its equivalent).
The minimum score required to undertake a packaged ELICOS from IELTS increases from 4.5 to 5.0.
For students studying English only through ELICOS, there will be no change.
The test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training will be IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent).

Increasing English language requirements for students undertaking VET and higher education courses requires a similar increase in score for those taking packaged ELICOS courses.

This ensures that students can transition successfully into their main course, with the appropriate level of English.

For more information on changes to the English Language requirements for a student, see Meet English language requirements.

​From 23 March 2024, the Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaces the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for Student visas.

This change was announced as part of the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023 and applies to all Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the assessment of a student’s intention to genuinely study in Australia and to remove the confusion about whether the student can express a desire to migrate to Australia.

Student visa applicants no longer need to satisfy the GTE requirement that they genuinely intend to only stay in Australia temporarily.

The GS requirement acknowledges that post-study pathways to permanent residence are available to those eligible graduates. International students with studies and qualifications obtained in Australia may provide a qualified skilled workforce ready to fill skill shortages in Australia.

The change is also intended to help the Department to identify non-genuine students who are seeking to enter Australia for purposes other than to study.

The GS requirement focuses on the assessment of the student’s genuine intention to study in Australia, having regard to a number of factors, including the applicant’s circumstances, evidence of course progression, immigration history, compliance with visa conditions and other relevant matter.

The GTE requirement will be retained for Student Guardian visa applicants.

For more information see Genuine Student requirement.

​​​From 10 May 2024, the amount of money that Student and Student Guardian visa applicants need to have to be eligible for the visa is increasing.The financial capacity requirement has been updated to align with a proportion (75 per cent) of the national minimum wage. This will better indicate the amount of money considered reasonable to provide a minimum standard of living while studying in Australia. This proportion considers that students are out of course session for 25 per cent of the year. During this time they may return home or have access to unrestricted work.International students who can show they meet this new financial capacity requirement are better able to make informed decisions about their future.Students are less likely to:be in financial distress once in Australiabreach their visa conditions by working more hours than their visa conditions allowbe vulnerable to worker exploitation.The below table outlines the funds you need to show to meet the minimum financial capacity requirement, which will be changed from 10 May 2024.Minimum required funds to meet financial capacity requirements 
Financial capacity requirement before 10 May 2024Financial capacity requirement after 10​​ May 2024
primary applicantAUD24,505AUD29,710spouse or de facto partner of the Student primary applicant (not applicable to Student Guardian applicant)AUD8,574AUD10,394dependent childAUD3,670AUD4,449annual school costsAUD9,661AUD13,502personal annual income if there is no member of the familyAUD72,465AUD87,856personal annual income where there is a member of the family unitAUD84,543AUD102,500 We will assess applications lodged before 10 ​May 2024 under the financial capacity requirements in effect at the time of application.For more information, see
Subclass 500 Student visa and
Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa.​
​​

​​​​We will be doing systems maintenance on some of our online systems from 8.30 pm (AEDT) Friday 22 March 2024 to 9 am (AEDT) Saturday 23 March 2024.

While we are making these changes, the following online services may not be available:

ImmiAccount
eLodgement (online visa and citizenship applications)
My Health Declarations (MHD) service
eMedical
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
LEGENDcom
Australian Trusted Trader
Employment Suitability Clearances
Detention Visitor Application
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
Humanitarian Entrants Management System (HEMS)
Adult Migrant English Program Reporting and Management System (ARMS)
Education Provider Report (eBIT)
Visa Pricing Estimator
MSI Register
Australian Migration Status (AMS) Training Portal
Online Payment Portal
Registration Gateway.

If you receive a ‘Service Temporarily Unavailable’ error message during this time, try again after the outage period.

If your current visa is due to expire on 22 March 2024 and you intend to stay in Australia, ensure you lodge your next visa application before 8.30 pm on Friday 22 March 2024. 

We apologise for any inconvenience.

​​​​​The second addendum to the 11th edition of
The Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs paper is now available. The second addendum is complementary to the 11th edition and first addendum publications. It provides updated figures and information on the management of Australia’s immigration program, with data updated to the end of Quarter 2 of the 2023-24 program year (31 December 2023). Key highlights from the paper
Migration Strategy
The Australian Government has taken significant steps forward in reforming Australia’s migration system as outlined in the Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023.To achieve the objectives set out in the Migration Strategy, the Government is delivering on 8 key actions, supported by 25 new policy initiatives in addition to existing commitments made by the Government. These reforms will ensure Australia’s migration system is better targeted to build on our economic prosperity and security. 75 years of Australian Citizenship
Over 6 million people from 200 countries welcomed as Australian citizens since 1949, marking 75th anniversary.From 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023, a 13% increase in citizenship by conferral applications finalised compared to the same period in 2022.​
In December 2023, a 14% improvement in average processing time for citizenship application decisions compared to December 2022.Of the 42,447 applications submitted between 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023, 15,937 applications have been approved under the new direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens.
Stronger Humanitarian Program
2022-2023 Refugee and Humanitarian program delivered in full with 17,875 visas granted. The 2023-2024 program has been increased to 20​,000 places.12,937 Subclass 851 Resolution of Status (RoS) visas granted as at 31 December 2023, providing a permanent visa pathway for Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) visa holders. Addressing skill and labour shortages
Over 26,000 new applications for temporary skilled visa applications since 1 July 2023.34 Aged Care Industry Labour Agreements in effect as at 5 January 2024.Designated Area Migration Agreements in effect increased by over 90% as at 31 December 2023, compared to 2022.13,073 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) visas granted as at 31 December 2023.From 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023, 122,388 Working Holiday Maker visas granted.
Visitor visas supporting tourism​
1​3.3% increase in Visitor visa holders compared to 2022.From 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023, a 40% increase in Visitor visa application lodgements and 28% increase in finalisations, compared to the same period in 2022. The Department’s management of Australia’s immigration program anticipates and responds to changes in the international environment, in a way that delivers for workers, businesses and all Australians.​​
For a copy of the paper and previous editions, visit The Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs Paper.