The Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) has made amendments to various Australian temporary and permanent visa categories, effective from 1 July 2006.
Interdependent partner inclusion
The temporary business (Subclass 457) visa category was amended to allow applicants to include their interdependent (otherwise referred to as a same-sex de facto spouse) partner and dependant children of their interdependent partner as secondary applicants.
Regional minimum salary
New minimum salary requirements have been imposed for employers located in regional or low population growth areas in Australia, under the temporary business (Subclass 457) category. The new minimum salary levels under the regional arrangement are:
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AU$51,570 for Information Communication Technology (ICT) occupations
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AU$37,665 for all other occupations.
Minimum salary levels and hours of work
The minimum salary levels are now assessed on a standard 38 hour week for all temporary business (Subclass 457) applications.
Working holiday (Subclass 417) and work and holiday (Subclass 462) visas
For all applications lodged on or after 1 July 2006:
- the work limitation for each employer has been increased from three to six months
- the study or training limitation has been extended from three to four months.
While these amendments do not apply to applications lodged prior to 1 July 2006, it may still be possible for certain visa holders to apply for an extension of the work limitation.
Other changes
There have been other minor amendments to the temporary and permanent visa categories.