The Department has changed the policy interpretation of the 48 months requirement for Professional Year points.
Today the MIA has clarified with the Department that the Professional Year requirement to ‘complete’ the year within the last 48 months immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa relates only to the date on which the professional year ended.
The Professional Year is not required to be commenced within the 48 months immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa, as was previously advised to the MIA by the Department.
The MIA believes this change in policy first in October 2022 and again yesterday has the potential to have affected visa applicants who have received invitations in the December 2022 invitation round.