Australia to implement a new points-based visa system from July 2016

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) is approaching the final development stage of a revised points system for skilled migration. It is expected that the final version of the system will go live from 1st July 2016. Regarding applications currently with the Department when the new system goes live, DIBP says ‘If you have already been granted a skilled migration or temporary activity visa, there is no change to your existing visa grant arrangements, conditions and/or obligations. All undecided visa applications for a skilled migration or temporary activity visa will be processed under existing processing arrangements’. The draft proposal paper can be accessed here.