India seeks easier visa, faster mobility of its skilled professionals to Australia
India has sought relaxation in certain visa requirements, reduction in the number of documents and fast tracking of the application processing time to allow easier and quicker mobility of its skilled professionals to Australia.
The move is aimed at allowing direct entry of Indian workers into Australia instead of the current practice under which skilled workers are often routed through GCC nations or the UK, Ireland or New Zealand before they land up in Australia.
Skills development minister Dharmendra Pradhan raised these issues in his meeting with the Australian healthcare and aged care minister Mark Butler recently as the two countries prepare to hold the seventh round of Australia-India Education and Skills Council meeting next month, people familiar with the deliberations told ET.
Since India and Australia have already signed the mutual recognition of qualifications for education and skills, certain visa application requirements could also be looked into for more relaxation, India conveyed to Australia, citing the mandatory requirement to obtain a positive skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council or the Australian Community Workers Association if the candidate obtains the qualifications overseas.
According to a senior official, India has also flagged the issue of cost of examination, saying it is very high and can affect the mobility of qualified workers at the round table with the Australian minister.
«Reducing the cost would contribute to easing the process,» it has suggested.
Internal estimates show that a candidate aspiring to work in Australia has to spend up to ₹5.5 lakh as testing cost and significant amount of time.
