The recent announcement by the Department of Home Affairs regarding new visa allocations for each Australian state has created ripples in the migration landscape. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW) have seen significant reductions in their nomination places for the upcoming financial year 2023-24, with ACT’s allocation being nearly halved.
ACT, known for its strong demand for skilled migration, has been granted only 1,200 places for the 491 and 190 visa subclasses, a decrease from previous years. Interestingly, the Business Investment and Innovation (Provisional) visa category has not been allocated any places. These reductions are part of the Australian Government’s broader efforts to address skills shortages and promote social cohesion through the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program, which plans to allocate a total of 190,000 places nationwide.
The heart of the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program lies in its careful composition tailored to specific needs. The Skill stream, constituting around 72% of the program, aims to enhance the country’s productivity while filling skill gaps across industries, including regional sectors. The department highlighted that categories within this stream, such as Employer Sponsored, Skilled Independent, Regional, State/Territory Nominated, and Global Talent, have been customized to accommodate diverse skill sets and demands.
NSW has also seen a decrease in its nomination places. The allocation includes 2,650 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 1,500 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa. This is a significant drop from the 8,800 places allocated to the state in the previous year (2022-23).
As these allocation changes resonate across the states, various industries are assessing the potential impact on their workforce needs and recruitment strategies. The reshaping of nomination places underscores the dynamic nature of Australia’s migration policy, where economic and demographic factors constantly interact.
Summary of 2023-24 State and Territory Nomination Allocations
The following table summarizes the visa allocations for the 2023-24 financial year across different Australian states and territories under the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa categories. Notably, no allocations have been made for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) during this period.
State and Territory Allocations:
- ACT: Australian Capital Territory has been allocated 600 places for both the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visas.
- NSW: New South Wales has received 2,650 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 1,500 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
- NT: Northern Territory’s allocation includes 250 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 400 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
- QLD: Queensland’s allocation comprises 900 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 650 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
- SA: South Australia has been granted 1,100 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 1,200 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
- TAS: Tasmania’s allocation consists of 600 places each for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visas.
- VIC: Victoria’s allocation covers 2,700 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 600 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
- WA: Western Australia’s allocation includes 1,500 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 850 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa.
Overall Allocations:
The total allocations across all states and territories for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa amount to 10,300 places, while the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa is allocated 6,400 places. Notably, no allocations have been made for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) for the specified period.