What You Must Know About The Revised Permanent Residence Programs In Australia

By Author: martin well
Total Articles: 364
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Australia is restructuring two of its important permanent residence programs - the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) to create a streamlined channel for foreign workers to get permanent residence.

The eligibility criteria for the new permanent residence program are as follows:

• Foreign workers in Australia with subclass 457 visa (the main temporary work visa) holders transitioning to permanent status
• Workers seeking permanent resident directly and
• Company-sponsored applicants where the company has signed a labor agreement with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)

Under the new legislation, maximum age limit for applicants will increase to 49 years, and eligible occupations list for subclass 457 visa and the ENS will be merged into a single list.

Eligibility Criteria for a Permanent Residence in Australia for Subclass 457 Visa Holders:

• The Subclass 457 visa holders must continue to work for at least two years consistently with their current occupation
• Foreign workers overseas ...
... or those applying without finishing two years of service on a subclass 457 visa will be subject to rigorous requirements
• Company-sponsored employees need to have competent English language skills- IELTS Level5 or 6.

Stricter Rules for Foreign Nationals Applying for Permanent Residence Directly

• Foreign employees being sponsored under the ENS must have their position listed on the new consolidated sponsored occupation list, and worker training requirements of the 457 visa program must be met by the employer.
• A minimum of three years’ work experience will be required of the employee with a formal skills assessment process (with exemptions for certain occupations)
• For an RSMS sponsored foreign employee, the job position must be certified by a local certification body.
• The worker must also possess Australian or other equivalent qualifications relevant to the position.
• Trade workers will require a formal skills assessment.

Making it easy with professional assistance

In an international business expansion, the process of foreign workers getting a permanent resident status is a lengthy process, and there is a probability of your business being adversely affected by hefty severance liabilities if HR professionals don’t plan ahead. To ensure that international expansion operations are devoid of any impediments, organizations need to acknowledge and understand the fine print of a country’s permanent resident program policies. Knowing the complexities around the disparate laws can be confusing and cumbersome. It is advisable to take the help of a business consultant who can simplify the entire process in almost all the areas of your business like HR, legalinternational financial accounting, sas compliance, etc.

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