Visa factory nation: How reliance on cheap migrant labour is backfiring

(AUSTRALIA) Australia is moving to shed its “visa factory nation” image by steering away from cheap temporary labor and toward higher-skill pathways linked to real jobs and regional growth. From July 2025, the government expands the Skilled Migration program to 142,400 places for the 2025–26 year, raises income thresholds by 4.6%, and rewrites points rules to favor Australian work experience, qualifications, and jobs in shortage fields such as nursing and data analysis. Officials say the goal is simple: target skills, protect wages, and ease pressure on big-city housing and services.

Policy changes: headline shifts and objectives

The overhaul centers on aligning migration more tightly with current labor market needs and regional development.

• New Occupation Shortage List (OSL) replaces older, slower lists and can be updated faster and tailored by state and territory.
• Points rules are reweighted to favor:
  • Australian work experience
  • Recognized qualifications
  • Jobs in shortage fields (e.g., nursing, data analysis)
• Income thresholds for skilled visas increase on July 1, 2025 to prevent underpayment and better reflect market wages.
• Regional incentives strengthened to encourage settlement outside major cities.

The stated aim: focus migration on genuine skills and job matches, protect local wages, and relieve pressure on major-city housing and services.

Key details of the reforms

Points and work/qualification recognition

• 20 points for 5+ years of Australian work experience.
• +5 points for recognized qualifications.
• Further boosts available for high-demand roles.

Regional incentives

• Points for regional study, work, and residence increase from 10 to 15.
• The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme remains to help employers fill roles regionally.

Allocation mix and quotas

• Employer-sponsored places increase to 44,000.
• Skilled Independent visas fall to 16,900.
• Skilled Migration program totals 142,400 places for 2025–26.

Student visa and education settings

• Two-tier student visa processing introduced in 2024 (no hard cap) to better manage inflows.
• Student visa application fee rose to $1,600 (from $710).
• Financial capacity rules require 75% of the national minimum wage.
• Stricter English and eligibility requirements for temporary visa holders.

Permanent migration and innovation/business settings

• Permanent migration program for 2024–25 set at 185,000 (down from 190,000).
• 132,200 places (about 71%) reserved for the skill stream.
• Global Talent visa replaced by a National Innovation Visa aimed at top founders and specialists.
• Visa application charges increase from July 1, 2025.
• COVID-19 concession periods ending; many rules revert to pre-pandemic settings.

For authoritative guidance, the Australian Department of Home Affairs provides policy updates and application details on its official website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Impact on applicants

The reforms favor migrants with in-demand skills and stronger Australian ties.

• Benefits for skilled applicants:
  • Local work experience and qualifications carry significant weight (20 points for 5+ years).
  • Regional study/work/residence now worth 15 points, improving chances for applicants outside capital cities.
  • Employer-sponsored routes become more central when applicants have job offers.
• Practical points to note:
  • The OSL can change more often; occupation status may shift during the year.
  • Points for Australian experience and regional ties can be decisive.
  • Visa application charges rose on July 1, 2025.
  • COVID-19 concessions no longer apply.

Examples:
1. Maria, a Filipino nurse in Perth with five years of Australian hospital experience and aged-care specialty: her points increase substantially and she may obtain regional sponsorship from a hospital.
2. Arun, a software engineer in renewable energy: if his occupation appears on a state’s OSL, he can gain points and find state or employer nomination more accessible.

Impact on employers and sectors

Employers face mixed outcomes—greater access to sponsored talent but higher costs and tighter compliance.

• Employer implications:
  • 44,000 employer-sponsored places increase capacity to hire overseas where local recruitment fails.
  • Higher income thresholds and firmer compliance raise hiring costs and administrative burdens.
  • Sectors that relied on cheap temporary labor (hospitality, agriculture) will feel pressure to raise wages, invest in training, or shift roles to regional sponsorship.
• Wider economic implications:
  • Potential for higher wages and fewer underpayment cases.
  • Short-term adjustments expected for businesses used to lower labor costs.
  • Intended long-term benefit: stronger job matches and reduced exploitation risks (as noted by VisaVerge.com).

Regional and state responses

State and territory governments support the regional push to revive local economies and spread population growth.

• Expect:
  • More regional information campaigns and incentives.
  • Support around housing, skills recognition, and family settlement.
  • Quarterly OSL updates and closer monitoring of processing times.

Administration, fees, and future signals

• Visa application charges rise from July 1, 2025 to reflect higher administrative costs.
• The government will:
  • Review fee settings to balance demand with service costs.
  • Address family reunion backlogs.
  • Refine the OSL quarterly.
  • Monitor the National Innovation Visa to ensure it attracts founders who create jobs and mentor local teams.

Key takeaway: strong skills, real job offers, and ties to regional Australia matter more than ever. The system rewards genuine employer need and fair pay, aiming to replace a “visa factory nation” model with targeted Skilled Migration that supports wages and matches people to places that need them.