The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the 2020/2021 Reopening date

The Federal Budget has been deferred until 4 October 2020 due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. This has implications for all government departments dependent on the financial allocations made as part of the Budget decisions.

It is expected that the Department will consider changes to the Migration Program Planning Levels for 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 situation and higher levels of unemployment within the Australian workforce.

Migration numbers and state/territory nomination places have also been impacted, as well as the announcement of any changes to the occupation lists. In the interim, the Department has indicated that the 2019-20 Migration Program settings will remain in place until further notice and will also shortly announce how state/territory nominations will be managed in the lead up to the October Budget.