The federal budget 2022-2023, has set a ceiling of 160,000 for its permanent migration program, with an expectation to return the Australian migration to pre-pandemic levels.
Federal Budget 2022-2023 contains the following migration-related announcements.
Skilled Visa Streams
Skilled stream visas will constitute 70% of the program with a total of 109,900 places, comprising employer-sponsored (30,000 places), skilled independent (16,652 places), state and territory nominated (20,000 places), and regional visas (25,000 places).
Family Visa Streams
The remaining 30% will be allocated to Family stream visas. Of the 50,000 family stream places, the partner and child visa categories are estimated to deliver 40,500 and 3,000 visas respectively, while 6000 places will be available for parent visas.
Family Stream Planning Levels
| Visa Stream | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Partner | 40,500 | 72,300 |
| Parent | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Other Family | 500 | 500 |
| Family Total | 47,000 | 77,300 |
| Special Eligibility | 100 | 100 |
| Child (estimate, not subject to ceiling) | 3,000 | 3000 |
Humanitarian Visa Programs
The Humanitarian Program will be maintained at 13,750 places in 2022-23.
- Ukraine: Temporary visas will be available to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. 4,000 three-year Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas (Subclass 786) to Ukrainians across 2021-22 and 2022-23, will be made available.
- Afghanistan: An extra 16,500 humanitarian places will be available for Afghan nationals over four years.
- Youth Transition Support: $9.2 million will be provided to extend existing Youth Transition Support services for 12 months to 30 June 2023.
- Human Rights Advocacy:$1 million will be available over 5 years from 2022-23 to establish a Human Rights Advocacy Program to provide grants of up to $100,000 to human-rights-focused organisations.
- Reform of Settlement Strategies and Services: From 1 July 2022, the Government will reduce the visa application charge to 40% of the current rate for primary applicants to the Community Support Program and remove it entirely for secondary applicants. The number of places available in the program will also increase from 750 to 1,900 places by 2024-25.
Specific Visa Programs
- Funds allocated to the specific visa programs and streams in the Federal Budget of 2022-2023:
- Global Talent Attraction:
$19.5 million over 2 years from 2022-23 to attract talented individuals and international investment.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Allocation:
$127 million for training for occupations in high demand.
- Australian Agricultural Visas:
$15 million to the Department of Regional Development for operational staff over four years through to 2024-25.
- Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot: $20.3 million for supporting women on temporary visas experiencing violence.
- Work and Holiday visas: WHM places will increase by 11,000 (30%) in 2022-23. WHM visa holders who arrive in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022 will be eligible for a refunded VAC.
Net Overseas Migration is expected to increase from -89,000 in 2020-21 to 41,000 in 2021-22, before increasing to 213,000 people in 2024-25.
To know more about the Federal Budget 2022-2023, click here.
