Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Changes to Australia’s Business Skills Migration programme

Australia has announced changes to its Business Skills Migration programme, which will take effect on July 1 this year.

The programme will be renamed the Business Innovation and Investment Programme and has a stronger focus on entrepreneurs and people with a track record of innovation in business.

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship MP Chris Bowen made the announcement on May 25 regarding changes to the Business Skills Migration services programme.

There is also a new visa category called the ‘Significant Investor Visa’ which will allow eligible applicants to achieve permanent residency through making investment in an Australian company, government bonds or approved managed funds.

This offers more choice than the current Investor visa, which only allows for investment in government bonds.

A points test called the ‘Innovation Points Test’ will be introduced for certain visas under the Business Innovation and Investment Programme.

Points will be granted based on age, English language ability, business experience, innovation, turnover and assets.

“These changes have been discussed by the Australian government for a long time,” said GALC Professional Services managing director Grant Colbron.

Colbron is the former First Secretary (Immigration) of the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and is now based in Kota Kinabalu with representatives in Sarawak covering Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
“A review of the current Business Skills programme was conducted in 2011 and recommendations were made about where changes should be made. This was the first major review of Business Skills in many years,” he said.

He is a registered migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority of Australia.
For further information, call Clara at 019-8564418.

The Business Innovation and Investment Programme will come into effect on July 1.

No comments:

Post a Comment