Extensions and changes to Visas to help combat skills and labour shortages

With Australia still facing skills and labour shortages, the Australian Government has extended or made changes to a number of visas to help combat these challenges.

Employers should ensure that all relevant staff, including managers and supervisors, or those responsible for rostering, are aware of these changes.

Here’s what you need to know about the Visa changes:

• Working Holiday Makers

The 6-month work limitation for Working Holiday Makers (WHM), that was initially relaxed until 31 December 2022, will continue and has been extended until 30 June 2023. Effectively, this means that Working Holiday Makers can work with any one employer for the duration of their visa without requesting permission. This applies to anyone in Australia who either holds any kind of WHM visa, regardless of when they arrive, or holds a bridging visa with condition 8547 imposed. 

• Student Visa

The 20 work hour restrictions for Student visa holders will continue 30 June 2023. This allows student visa holders to work over the usual 40 hours per fortnight.

• Faster processing of Partner and Child visas

For 2022/23, Partner and Child visas will be granted on a demand-driven basis to facilitate family reunification. This means that there is no limit to the number of these visas issued. The Department of Home Affairs is estimating that it will issue around 40,500 partner visas and 3,000 child visas this financial year.

• New visa for Pacific countries and Timor-Leste

A new visa, Pacific Engagement visa (PEV), will be introduced in July 2023 providing 3,000 places for eligible migrants from Pacific countries and Timor-Leste and will be allocated by a ballot process each year. These visas will be offered on top of the places available on Australia’s permanent migration program.

• Priority processing New Zealanders

New Zealanders living in Australia will benefit from priority processing of subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa applications in the New Zealand stream. Certain visa requirements have also been dropped.

What do the Visa changes mean to employers?

Horner clients can benefit from these changes with more candidates available or able to work for longer periods of time.

Our clients can rest assured that as part of Horner’s thorough recruitment process we not only check the work rights of candidates but also track their visa status.

Find out more

More information regarding the changes to visas is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you are unsure how these changes affect your organisation, contact your local Horner Recruitment team or email horner@horner.com.au.