Golden GATE of ASIA

19/10/2025

24/04/2017

Australian Citizenship Reforms Announced
As if the Government’s 457 visa reform bombshell wasn’t enough for one week, changes to Australian citizenship have also been announced.
The Turnbull Government say their planned reforms will “strengthen the integrity” of the citizenship application process.
In a nutshell, they’re making it harder for migrants to satisfy citizenship requirements.
At present, more than 130,000 people from 210 countries become Australian citizens every year. For many migrants, it’s an important final step in the migration process.
Regarding how soon the changes will take effect, the Government said the legislation relating to the reforms will be introduced into Parliament before the end of the year. However, it added that the changes will apply to any applications received on or after April 20th 2017.
The Government has published a guide to the reforms called Strengthening the Test for Australian Citizenship.
Key changes:
• Applicants must sit a stand-alone English test with reading, writing, listening and speaking components
• Applicants must have held a PR visa for over four years
• Applicants must show how they have integrated into the Australian community
• Applicants can only attempt the citizenship test three times
• An automatic fail will be imposed for anyone found cheating in the citizenship test
Since 1949, five million people have taken the pledge to become Australian citizens. Figures published last year by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 28% of the country’s population was born overseas. This percentage has been growing consistently for the last 15 years, with the majority of people coming from the UK and New Zealand.
In a joint statement concerning the changes, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said: “English language proficiency is essential for economic participation. It promotes integration into the Australian community and social cohesion. Relevant exemptions will apply, such as for permanent or enduring incapacity and for those under 16 years of age.
“Any conduct that is inconsistent with Australian values will be considered as part of this process. For example, criminal activity, including violence against women and children, involvement in gangs or organized crime, is thoroughly inconsistent with Australian values.”
For many visa holders and potential migrants, it’s been a tough week.
This latest news comes off the back of the Government’s announcement on Tuesday (April 18th) that it would be scrapping the popular 457 visa scheme and replacing it with a new Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Program

24/04/2017

How to apply for an Entrepreneur visa
Australia’s new Entrepreneur visa was launched on 10 September 2016 as a new stream of the Business Innovation and Investment visa.
Portrait of smiling young Vietnamese software engineer
Here’s how to apply:
1. Submitting an EOI
• The first step towards applying for an Entrepreneur visa is lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
• To lodge an EOI, you will need to have a funding agreement in place or in negotiation with an approved funding body to develop an innovative venture in Australia. The agreement must be for a minimum of $200,000. You will also need to have a business plan that explains how you will develop your innovative venture in Australia.

If you demonstrate a record of successful entrepreneurial activities while holding a provisional Entrepreneur visa, after four years you may be eligible for a Subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa in the Entrepreneur stream. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the criteria for success for the permanent Entrepreneur visa.
2. Nomination from a state or territory government
• Once you submit an EOI, you can be nominated by a state or territory government to be invited to apply for an Entrepreneur visa. Each state and territory has different nomination criteria.

3. Lodging an application

• If you are nominated by a state or territory government, you will receive an invitation from us to apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188).

You will need to provide documents about your identity, relationships, children, health, character and English language ability as part of your application. You will also need to provide evidence of your funding agreement and the business plan for your entrepreneurial venture in Australia.

You only have 60 days to lodge your application after receiving an invitation to apply, so it’s a good idea to get your documents ready in advance.

04/03/2016

The Australian Government announced the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) on 7 December 2015. NISA includes a range of initiatives to drive prosperity in Australia through innovation and science.

As part of NISA, we are establishing a new Entrepreneur visa for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and financial backing from a third party. The new Entrepreneur visa will be introduced in November 2016 as part of our Business Innovation and Investment Programme.

We are seeking your feedback on our proposed policy for the new Entrepreneur visa. To have your say, read our discussion paper.

20/02/2016

Continuing your studies in Australia
If you are looking to continue studying in Australia, compile all the necessary documents and lodge your application early. This means we can process your application faster, however, each application presents with unique circumstances and some applications will take longer than average to finalize.
Some of the documents you may need are evidence of Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC), your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE or eCoE) from your Australian educational institution, evidence of your financial capacity and English language proficiency. For information on what documents you are required to provide, check out our document checklist to be sure you have everything ready for your application before lodging it.
You may not need to provide all of these documents depending on your nationality and intended course of study. However, it is still a good idea to have these documents prepared as they may be requested by your education provider.
If we do ask for further information or documents from you, provide these quickly, and provide them online through your ImmiAccount rather than by email.
Studying in Australia
If you are in Australia, make sure you apply for your further student visa before your current visa ends, and before you start studying.
There are a large number of applications from prospective students looking to start studying in 2016 are expected, so lodge your application early as it can take some time for your application to be decided.

02/08/2015

Are you a skilled worker interested in migrating to Australia? – visit SkillSelect today
Posted on July 29, 2015 by kristen
Are you a skilled worker interested in migrating to Australia? SkillSelect is an online system that allows you to quickly and easily enter your details to be considered for an invitation to apply for a skilled visa.

SkillSelect identifies overseas workers with the skills that are most in need in Australia. To find out if you have a skill that Australia needs, have a look at the Skilled Occupation lists on our website. State or territory governments will use SkillSelect to identify and select skilled workers that they wish to nominate for a skilled visa. If you are nominated by a state or territory government, this will increase your opportunity to receive an invitation.

Over 39,000 invitations for skilled visas were issued in the 2014-15 programme year.

skillselect

So if you have a skill that Australia needs and you meet the visa requirements, log into SkillSelect today and tell us about yourself and what you can bring to Australia’s workplace. You may be invited to lodge a skilled visa application sooner than you expect.

25/07/2015

25/07/2015

Immigration Program Changes Respond to Skills Shortage Crisis


Beginning July 1st, the Australian Government has enacted key changes to its Direct Entry Nomination, and Skilled Visa Programs. These reforms are intended to address Australia’s evolving workforce needs, and reflect an ongoing skills shortage in certain areas of the economy.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have released the new annual list of occupation ceilings for Skilled Visas, and the biggest benefactors are the Trade Industry.

Metal Fitter and Machinists will be receiving an additional 1254 places, representing an 18% increase. Panel-Beaters and Cabinet Makers have also been added for the first time, while Plumbers received a significant boost with 666 extra places added, representing a 15% increase from last year.

However white collar professions experienced a downturn, with the limit for Accountants dropping by 54%, resulting in 2953 fewer places. Accountants will also be subject to pro rata restrictions in response to higher demand, along with ICT Business and System Analysts, and Software and Application Programmers.

Registered Nurses lost 1170 places, though this only accounts for an 8% decrease, while Dentists were dropped completely from the occupation list.


The DIBP has also created a new occupation list specifically for Direct Entry Nominations as part of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). Applicants for an RSMS visa will have to nominate an approved occupation in order to qualify for the Direct Entry scheme.

Dates for invitation rounds and the list of RSMS Direct Entry Nominations are available on the Department’s website, The DIBP have also released revised versions of the Skilled Occupations List (SOL), and Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List. (CSOL).

Please check the Department of Immigration and Border protection :
www.border.gov.au

25/07/2015

New Australian visa charges from 1st July 2015

New visa pricing arrangements has been introduced on 1st July 2015. This changed visa application charges, a price increase in line with inflation on visas which face strong international competition or have been impacted by recent price increases. For many applicants, this will result in a large increase and sometimes double of their current visa fees.

As an example of what this may mean for you, we can provide the following scenario:

Currently a partner of an Australia citizen or permanent resident applying for a Partner visa (Subclass 309/100) the main applicant will pay a Base Application Charge of AUD $4,630 (£2,650). From 1st July, the amount for the Base Application Charge for Partner visa (Subclass 309/100) will be AUD $6,865 (£3,930).

More information can be found on the DIBP website here: VAC Increase 1st July 2015

25/07/2015

English Test Requirements for Australian Visas

The Department of Immigration has recently announced changes to the English language test requirements for some visas, including that:For 485 and 476 visas:English language requirements and the tests and the minimum scores required to achieve English language proficiency. IELTS – overall 6 (minimum 5 in each component) – single sitting?TOEFL iBT – overall 64 (minimum 4 in Listening & reading, minimum 14 in speaking and writing) – single sitting?PTE Academic – overall 50 (minimum 36 in each component) – single sitting? CAE – overall 169 (minimum 154 in each component) – single sitting – test taken on or after 1 January 2015?OET B – in each component The above tests must be undertaken for MR 476.13 (a)(ii) and MR 485.212(a)(ii) within the three years before the day on which the application was made.For 457 visas: IELTS – overall 5 (minimum 4.5 in each component) – single sitting?TOEFL iBT – overall 36 (minimum 3 in listening & reading, minimum 12 in speaking and writing) – single sitting?PTE Academic – overall 36 (minimum 30 in each component) – single sitting?CAE – overall 154 (minimum 147 in each component) – single sitting – test taken on or after 1 January 2015?OET B – in each component Tests must have been undertaken within the three years:- from the date of the visa application for MR 457.223(4)(eb)- from the date of nomination for 272(10)(g)(iv)The Instrument also specifies level of salary and other exemptions to the English language requirement for Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) (Subclass 457) visa applicants.
The Department of Immigration has recently announced changes to the English language test requirements for some visas, including that:

For 485 and 476 visas:

English language requirements and the tests and the minimum scores required to achieve English language proficiency.

IELTS : Overall 6 (minimum 5 in each component) – single sitting
TOEFL iBT: Overall 64 (minimum 4 in Listening & reading, minimum 14 in speaking and writing) – single sitting
PTE Academic : Overall 50 (minimum 36 in each component) – single sitting
CAE : Overall 169 (minimum 154 in each component) – single sitting – test taken on or after 1 January 2015
OET B : in each component

The above tests must be undertaken within the three years before the day on which the application was made.

For 457 visas:

IELTS – overall 5 (minimum 4.5 in each component) – single sitting
TOEFL iBT – overall 36 (minimum 3 in listening & reading, minimum 12 in speaking and writing) – single sitting
PTE Academic – overall 36 (minimum 30 in each component) – single sitting
CAE – overall 154 (minimum 147 in each component) – single sitting – test taken on or after 1 January 2015
OET B – in each component

Tests must have been undertaken within the three years:

- from the date of the visa application for MR 457.223(4)(eb)

- from the date of nomination for 272(10)(g)(iv)