Rush to return for beginning of first semester of university presents challenges for visa approvals, flights and accommodation More than 40,000 university students have been left scrambling to make it to Australia in time for the new semester after the Chinese government announced a snap ban on recognising online degrees obtained from foreign institutions. Under…
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The Australian authorities have said that they are planning to switch the skills-based visa program to a demand-driven immigration system, which would allow businesses to have a role in deciding what job positions should be filled. Commenting on the idea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Clare O’Neil said that despite the country dealing…
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Amid growing calls to boost regional Australia’s population, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced increased processing times for the 489, 491 and 887 regional visa categories, which combined have over 52,400 applications awaiting approval. HIGHLIGHTS Subclass 887 (Skilled Regional visa) is a visa for people who have lived and worked in specified areas…
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Like many developed nations, Australia too faces the problems brought forth by an ageing population and is dependent on overseas migrants to contribute to its population growth since 2005-06. At the start of 2023, Australia announced that it would be reviewing its visa and immigration policies to address the growing shortage of workers, especially in…
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India has emerged as the largest group applying for student visas to Australia, leapfrogging China for the first time, on the back of faster visa processing, uncapped work hours and ample work opportunities for student visa holders. HIGHLIGHTS Indian international students are now the largest group applying for Australian student visas. Around 43,925 student visas…
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Australian universities have been “inundated” with applications from international students as demand exceeds pre-covid levels at some institutions, with Indian students driving the rebound. Applications from international students were 40% higher than in 2019 at the University of Wollongong and 27% higher at the University of Queensland, according to Australian press. Much of the demand…
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called for Australia’s skilled migration cap to be lifted and advocated for free and universal access to early childhood learning to plug critical workforce gaps in a post-pandemic population boom. In a 1½-hour candid interview with the Socially Democratic podcast, the premier reflected on the “nasty” 2022 state election campaign,…
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The Australian passport is one of the world’s most desirable when it comes to visa-free travel. Australian passport holders can travel to 185 international destinations without needing to first apply for a visa, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. KEY POINTS Japan has again topped the Henley Passport Index, with its citizens having visa-free…
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Australia’s lucrative international student sector appears set for a huge boost due to improving relations with China. Government data shows Chinese student visa holders more than halved between 2019 and 2022, falling from 165,149 to 78,234 during the pandemic period. China’s ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said on Tuesday “bad political relations” had contributed to…
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Immigration expert says the policy amounts to selling a visa ‘very cheaply’ without a good return on investment The Australia China Business Council has urged Labor to retain the “golden ticket” significant investor visa after the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, signalled it could be axed. The council made the call in a submission to…
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