The Federal budget reveals that the nation’s borders are likely to remain shut until the second half of next year.
Handing down his third budget as Treasurer on Tuesday, Josh Frydenberg revealed a gradual return of permanent and temporary migrants is expected to occur from mid-2022 – about six months later than the assumption relied upon in previous federal budget.
The cap on people migrating to Australia will remain at 160,000 in 2021-22 as the government continues to focus on onshore applications and reducing the partner visa backlog at a cost of almost $300 million over four years.
Family and skilled stream places will remain at 2020-21 levels, while the humanitarian program will also remain capped at 13,750 places per year.
The government also used the budget to flag plans for a phased return of some international students to Australia from late 2021.
Below is the 2020-21 migration program planning levels
| 2020-21 Migration Program planning levels | |
| Stream and Category | 2020-21 |
| Skill stream | |
| Employer-Sponsored | 22,000 |
| Skilled Independent | 6,500 |
| Regional | 11,200 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 11,200 |
| Business Innovation & Investment program | 13,500 |
| Global Talent | 15,000 |
| Distinguished Talent | 200 |
| Skill Total | 79,600 |
| Family Stream | |
| Partner | 72,300 |
| Parent | 4,500 |
| Other Family | 500 |
| Family Total | 77,300 |
| Special Eligibility | 100 |
| Child (estimate; not subject to a ceiling) | 3,000 |
| Total | 160,000 |
State and Territory nominated visa categories –
2020-21 nomination allocations
Under the 2020-21 Migration Program settings, nomination allocations are made available to States and Territories in the following visa categories:
- Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)
- Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)
States and Territories each assess eligible applicants against criteria unique to their jurisdiction.
Following consultation with States and Territories, the following nomination levels have been allocated for 2020-21:
| State and Territory nominated visa allocations | |||
| State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa | Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) |
| ACT | 802 | 598 | 30 |
| NSW | 3,550 | 2,800 | 2,200 |
| VIC | 2,500 | 1,043 | 1,750 |
| QLD | 1,000 | 1,250 | 1,400 |
| NT | 500 | 500 | 75 |
| WA | 1,100 | 340 | 360 |
| SA | 2,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| TAS | 1,000 | 1,750 | 45 |
| Total | 12,452 | 10,281 | 6,860 |
