THE federal government has signalled its intention to exclude certain offshore resources activities from Australia’s migration zone, with updated requirements for skilled visas issued this week.

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, has published the new regulation specifying the visa types required for foreign nationals working on ‘resources installations‘. The department’s website has also been updated to reflect the new offshore migration requirements that will take effect from 14 December 2015.

While further instruments are expected to be issued to give effect to the indicated changes, the published information confirms that for foreign nationals (ie. skilled non-citizens) undertaking activities on offshore ‘resources installations’ (eg. installations attached to the Australian seabed), the current migration / visa requirements will not change.

However, for foreign nationals undertaking activities on non-resources installations offshore, such as specialist vessels, it will have important implications.

Full details on this matter can be found in this five-page AREEA briefing document.

Further information:

For migration advice in relation to these matters, please contact AREEA’s Manager of Migration Services, Jules Pedrosa, on (02) 9231 4043 or at [email protected].

For a more detailed policy briefing on these matters, please contact AREEA’s Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Scott Barklamb, on (03) 9614 4777 or at [email protected].

For other operational support, please contact Simon White, Principal Employee Relations Consultant, in AREEA’s Perth office on (08) 6381 0378 or at [email protected].