Pathways to residence for skilled migrants and their parents have been restarted, the immigration minister has announced.
The points-based Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) visa has not accepted applications since the start of the pandemic and the Parent Category visa has not accepted applications since 2016.
The minister said that the Skilled Migrant Category visa would reopen under current settings, while a new system is being planned. The first selection will take place on 9 November for migrants with 160 points, and the points requirement will rise to 180 after this date.
Some occupations that are usually accepted under the skilled migrant category have been moved to the Green List (a residence pathway for specialised and hard-to-fill occupations), which opened for applications last month.
The Parent Category Visa will reopen on 14 November for people who already have expressions of interest in the queue.
A ballot for new expressions of interest will begin on 12 October, with the first selection taking place in August 2023.
The number of Parent Category visas granted each year will increase from 1000 to 2500, and a lower income threshold of 1.5x the median wage for one sponsor supporting one parent, or 2x the median wage for joint sponsors, will be adopted (the previous threshold was 2x the median wage for a single sponsor or 3x the median wage for joint sponsors).
Siblings will also be able to co-sponsor applications.
The minister said that a new “simplified” system for skilled migrant visas is being planned and will begin next year.
Although the new system is still under consultation, he said that there would be no cap on numbers and that it would require migrants to reach a total of six points, which could come from a mix of training and experience, qualifications, and income.
