Migration Centre of Australia

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CPA Australia Skills Assessment Update: New Products & Fee Structure

From 1 May 2025, CPA Australia has revised product names for skills assessments and implemented a new fee structure based on applicant location — Onshore, Offshore, or Singapore. Several combined services and appeal options have also been discontinued. Agents must now use updated product names and refer to the new pricing when lodging applications. Product Name Changes Previous Product Name New Product Name (from 1 May 2025) Skills assessment application Qualification assessment Fast Track skills assessment application Fast Track – Qualification assessment Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment application Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment Skills assessment (Additional ANZSCO code) Qualification assessment – Additional ANZSCO Fast Track skills assessment (Additional ANZSCO code) Fast Track – Qualification assessment Additional ANZSCO Skilled employment assessment Skilled employment assessment Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment (Additional ANZSCO) Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment – Additional ANZSCO Skills assessment update Qualification assessment – Update Skilled employment assessment update Skilled employment assessment – Update Skills assessment update and skilled employment assessment No longer offered Skills assessment appeal Review Skilled employment assessment appeal No longer offered Skills assessment appeal and skilled employment assessment No longer offered Administration fee (withdrawal or reissue) Administration fee Updated Fees by Applicant Location (AUD) Service Onshore Offshore Singapore Qualification assessment $565 $514 $560 Fast Track – Qualification assessment $675 $614 $669 Combined assessment – Qualification and skilled employment $620 $564 $615 Qualification assessment – Additional ANZSCO $260 $236 $257 Fast Track – Qualification assessment Additional ANZSCO $310 $282 $307 Skilled employment assessment $260 $236 $257 Combined assessment – Additional ANZSCO $350 $318 $347 Qualification assessment – Update $185 $168 $183 Skilled employment assessment – Update $185 $168 $183 Review (appeal) $185 $168 $183 Administration fee $85 $77 $84 Important Points to Remember Use updated product names for all applications submitted after 1 May 2025. The following services are no longer offered: Skills assessment update and skilled employment assessment Skilled employment assessment appeal Skills assessment appeal and skilled employment assessment Fees are now based on applicant location (onshore, offshore, or Singapore). Click here- CPA Australia official Website
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How can you migrate to Australia from India?

Australia is one of the most popular destinations in world for migrants to pursue higher studies and a peaceful lifestyle. Indians, especially skilled workers, find Australia a perfect destination to move because of higher employment rate, higher wages, and assurance of better quality of life. There are many different pathways to move to Australia from India. Read on find out which pathway is well suitable for you. Skilled Migrant Under the Permanent Visa category, you can apply directly under the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream.  You will have to select your occupation from SOL (Skilled Occupation List) and have 65 points in order to be eligible for the Visa. These points are calculated on the basis of your age, education, English proficiency, work experience and multiple other factors. The minimum score is 65 points. The more you score, the better your chance to migrate to Australia. You then have to submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect.   After you have submitted, you require for the occupation. Moving to Australia on Temporary Work Visa Visa allows you to live and work in Australia for nearly 4 years. It comes under the category of sponsored Visas which have two subclasses. Temporary work visa (subclass 457) Skilled Regional visa (subclass 489) The good news is that these visas can convert into permanent visas later on after fulfilling certain conditions. It is necessary to get sponsorship from the state/territory government in Australia or an eligible employer. Moving to Australia as a businessman If you want to switch to Australia to start a new business or expand your existing business, all you need to apply for an appropriate visa. Moreover, you need an appropriate amount to invest in your new business plan.  Under the Business and Investment category visas, candidates are able to apply for permanent residency in Australia within subclasses 132 and 188/888. Moving Australia with spouse or relatives If your spouse or any relative is a permanent resident of Australia, your migration to the country or getting PR can be possible. You can be sponsored by an Australian citizen, permanent residents or any New Zealand citizen who is related to you in the form of partner/parent/relative. Moving Australia as a student Australia has long been considered one of the best destinations for higher studies. Many Indian students want to enrol in the world-class Australian universities. The Student Visa (subclass 500) is a comprehensive visa which covers all kinds of studies in Australia, including schooling, undergraduate and post-graduate. There are many ways in which you can migrate from India to Australia. If you want the best advice in deciding which one is right for you, contact Migration Centre of Australia. At Migration Centre of Australia, we are well-trained to handle highly complex matters. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au. We also speak fluent Hindi, Nepali and Turkish. If one of these isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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Labour Market Testing – Changes & Updates August 2018

What is Labour Market Testing? Testing the Labour Market means determining whether the employer has tried to fill the vacant position with an Australian before offering the position to an overseas employee. LMT plays a crucial role when it comes to applying for the TSS Visa (subclass 482) and you need to provide evidence when you apply for the visa. As of the 12th of August 2018, LMT requirements vary depending on whether the nomination is for a “select position” or not. There have also been changes made to advertising requirements and time period. Are there any alternatives? For the positions below, alternative requirements apply. It is necessary, however, to provide a submission from the employer explaining why the position couldn’t be filled with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible temporary visa holder. Alternative Requirements are: A position that needs to be filled by a person with internationally recognised records/ achievements in: Sport Academia and Research Top talent Chef A position that needs to be filled by an individual who is employed by a company/organisation that is operating an already established business outside Australia and the sponsor is an associated entity of that company that is operating in Australia. A Position that is currently held by a TSS 482 visa holder, and a new nomination has been lodged because there have been changes in the annual earnings of the visa holders or changes in the business structure A position in the ANZSCO group of [253] Medical practitioners that is not [2531111] General Medical Practitioner or [253999] Medical Practitioners nec and [4111] Ambulance Officers and Paramedics How to advertise? Unless the above condition of “select position” applies, evidence must be provided to show that the position has been advertised for as follows: The position has been advertised in Australia in English and included: Job Title/ Job Description Skills/ or Experience required for this position Name of approved sponsor or recruitment agency Annual earnings (unless higher than High Income Threshold of $AUD 96,4000 At least 2 advertisements were published in ANY of the following: On a prominent and national recruitment website (e.g. jobactive.gov.au) In nation-wide print media (published at least month throughout Australia) On national radio On the business’s website if the sponsor is an accredited sponsor Advertisements will have to have been published for at least 4 weeks. Applications must have also been accepted for at least 4 weeks. The Evidence of LMT must be provided when lodging the application (unless international trade obligations apply). International Trade Obligations LMT is not required if: The employee is a citizen/national of China, Japan or Thailand or citizen/national/permanent resident of Chile, South Korea, New Zealand or Singapore The employee is currently working for a business that is an associated entity of the sponsoring business and is in located in Association of South-East Asian Nations The nominated applicant is currently working for an associated entity of the sponsoring business which is operating in a country that is a member of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) with the nominated occupation being Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of international trade obligations and the nominee will be accountable for either the entire or a substantial part of the company’s operations in Australia The sponsoring business operates in a WTO member country or territory and wishes to set up a business in Australia and the nominated occupation would be Executive or Senior Manager occupation for the purposes of international trade obligations The nominated employee is a citizen of a WTO member country or territory and he/she has worked for the sponsor in the nominated position in Australia on a full-time basis for the last 2 years. More Information: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work/empl/tss-labour-market-testing
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Temporary Visa before Permanent Residency – Do we need it?

“Should a prospective migrant spend a period of time in Australia before becoming eligible for permanent residence?” The Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge expressed his concern saying it was “less than ideal” letting migrants come to Australia as permanent residents immediately. Rather, the Government is considering introducing mandatory provisional visas before granting permanent residency as discussed already in Nov 2017. While Tudge spoke about the need for changing the process in London, the Federal Opposition and migration experts do not necessarily agree with him. They explain that migrants are already undergoing exams and tests and being vetted for their character. The discussion paper mentions that about 50% of all permanent migrants, had lived in Australia on a temporary visa already, which the Minister sees as an indicator that temporary residency is already becoming the first step to living in Australia. The FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia), however, says that there is no evidence to prove that staying in Australia initially as a temporary resident would enhance integration. In fact, it would make it harder for people to obtain employment and it would “delay (…) the integration process”. Migration Expert, Michael arch from Concordia Law, also agrees with FECCA that there is no proof that stricter rules would “protect the Australian community as existing provision already require that visa applicants demonstrate they are of good character by producing police clearances”. If anything, those moves could lead to migrations seeking alternative migration destinations rather than coming to Australia.  
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Government issues “boutique” visas in areas with skills shortage

The Australian government is offering “boutique” visa deals in regions with niche skills shortages as revealed by an SBS report. The areas of Northern Queensland and Goldfields in Western Australia’s southeast are two regions that will benefit the most in the upcoming months. According to the report there have already been 322 special labour agreements in place with certain businesses and industries across the country, but the Minister for Citizenship Alan Tudge wants to go further and do arrangements on the basis of geographical locations. “In the Goldfields, they’ve got a shortage of drillers. They’ve got a shortage of people who can work on some of the nearby farms and we want to be able to ensure that those skills gaps can be met so that those businesses can continue to grow.” “In North Queensland, they’ve got a thriving tourism industry and they’ve got requirements for things like Chinese-speaking scuba diving instructors,” Mr Tudge told SBS News. What exactly is a boutique visa?   Boutique visas are arrangements that are granted at the government’s discretion when there are vacancies for certain positions that cannot be filled locally or by Australian citizens and the job isn’t within the Skills Shortage List of more than 600 occupations eligible for skilled visa categories. It is necessary for companies to demonstrate that they are unable to acquire local workers for the positions by publicizing nationally first. In the majority of the cases, visa holders are given a pathway to permanent residency. “The good thing about the arrangements of the boutique visas is that it allows to have a personalised arrangement with each company but helps keep the structure same as we are prioritising Australians first as the company needs to show that there is no Australian available to fill the position and it still needs to satisfy the criteria set out in the agreement,” said Mr Tudge. The visa deals are expected to be in place by the end of this year. One of the centres out of the dozen that have been granted visas, is the Melbourne aged care centre Fronditha Care to boost staff numbers. 22 Greek aged care workers have been employed by the centre so far and the centre has also been granted an extra 60 visas known as the TSS (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa – to hire more bilingual staff. According to the centre’s CEO George Lekakis, “They’re able to relate to our residents. They also help with the transfer of information to other colleagues who don’t speak Greek.” According to Mr Tudge there is going to be a significant demand for Greek-speaking personal carers because there are about 27,000 people in Australia of Greek heritage who do not speak English and they are typically all above the age of 60. Dozens of elderly Greek migrants call Fronditha care centre their home. These residents have reverted to their first language as they have aged and so having staff that speaks the language helps in the communication. “The Greek language builds trust with the residents.” “If someone is irritated, agitated or in extreme cases, aggressive, the language can calm them down,” Greek care worker Dimitra Xexaki said. Contact Us if you wish to find out more   Guest blog by Mckkrs
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Australian Migration Numbers Falling

‘Australia’s migration numbers are falling further and further’ At least this is what the Senate Estimates heard on Tuesday the 22nd of May from a Home Affairs official regarding past and future migration. The Home Affairs official has further pointed out that the Immigration Government is far from the 190,000 annual ceiling of migration intakes that were estimated for 2017-2018. It looks like Australia will be falling about 20,000 short…a significant amount for the Australian Government to consider. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has also confirmed that the numbers would be lower for this year’s ceiling as the approval process has become stricter, but the call made in 2015 to change the definition of 190,000 ‘target’ renamed to 190,000 ‘ceiling’ gives the impression of the migration numbers being more of an ‘option’ than an aim for the Immigration Government in the past few years. Department of Home Affairs head Michael Pezzullo, blames the decreased numbers on the governments stricter checks for migrants via security databases. “As we connect what were formerly standalone, isolated immigration integrity risk systems to intelligence databases … as you couple more databases onto your checking mechanism, you get more what are known as ‘hits’ in our trade. They have to be resolved.”  So what does this mean for migrants and Australia in the future? Until the Government responds, we are assuming that the limitations on immigration – though unofficial – are being slowly capped again. This action will therefore require the migration budget to change since less migrants are being approved, which will in turn mean that even less migrant applications will be approved. Stay updated on the outcome of these interesting events by subscribing to our newsletter!
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