Changes to Permanent Employer Sponsored & General Skilled Migration Visas

There have also been changes to the ENS (Subclass 186), RSMS (Subclass 187) and General Skilled Migration visas as follows:

• Raising English language requirements to “competent” level (IELTS 6), consistent with TRT and Direct Entry requirements;
• Upper age limit of 45 for Direct Entry applicants. ENS (Direct Entry) will also be affected by the skilled occupation lists amendments;
• Occupations will be limited to those on the relevant Skills Occupation List (grandfathering arrangements anticipated for applicants who held a 457 visa on April 18, 2017); and
• Upper age limit for General Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190 and 489) to decrease to 45.
• If legislated, payment of Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) Levy. Refer to the SAF Levy proposals.
• For RSMS, (Subclass 187) visa under the Direct Entry stream an important change in requirement is that a skills assessment will be required for all nominated occupations for all applications lodged on or after 1 July 2018. Currently, only a skills assessment is required for trade occupations.