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Visa news

Australian visa news & updates

Migration rules change often. We translate the important updates into plain English so you know what they mean for you.

Skilled migration19 September 2026

Directions 121 and 122 replace Direction 119, splitting the skilled visa processing order in two

Direction 121 formally revoked Direction 119 on 19 September 2026, after just eight weeks in force. The single processing order under Direction 119 is now split in two: Direction 121 for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, and Direction 122 for the provisional and permanent skilled visas (subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888). The priority sectors now include agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources alongside construction, healthcare, teaching, law enforcement and defence, and no longer require an onshore location to reach the top tier. The Skills in Demand visa's Specialist Skills stream gets a dedicated second tier. Both new Directions apply to every application already on hand, not just those lodged from 19 September. A processing order changes when a case is looked at, not whether it succeeds.

Skilled Migration guideOfficial notice
Skills assessment9 September 2026

VETASSESS professional skills assessment fees rose from 9 September 2026

VETASSESS lifted its fees for professional (non-trade) skills assessments in line with the Consumer Price Index. The increase also covers priority processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualification Verification, non-migration assessments and administration fees. Assessments for trade occupations are not affected. Applications received before 9 September 2026 were charged at the previous, lower rates.

Skilled Migration guideOfficial notice
Skilled migration25 July 2026

Ministerial Direction 119 sets a new processing order for skilled visas

Direction 119 replaced Direction 105 in full on 25 July 2026 and, for the first time, brings the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) program into the skilled processing order. Applications are now ranked on two things: the nominated occupation, and whether the applicant was in Australia when they applied. Occupations supporting law enforcement or defence sit at the top, followed by construction, healthcare and teaching, and within each band onshore applicants come before offshore ones. It applies to every application already on hand, not just those lodged from 25 July, and it covers subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 482, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888. A processing order changes when a case is looked at, not whether it succeeds.

Skilled Migration guideOfficial notice
Partner & family visas25 July 2026

Family visa applications reordered under Ministerial Direction 117

Direction 117 replaced Direction 102 for family migration on 25 July 2026. Highest priority now goes to applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia, for a visa that can be granted onshore. Lower priority applies where the applicant was outside Australia at the time of application or must be outside Australia at grant. Within each of those groups the order runs: cases subject to ministerial intervention, then partner and dependent child, orphan relative, contributory parent and contributory aged parent, carer, and finally parent, aged parent, remaining relative and aged dependant relative. Capped and queued family applications continue to be released in queue date order under Direction 103, and a case can still be brought forward where there are special circumstances of a compassionate nature.

Partner Visas guideOfficial notice
Business & investment25 July 2026

National Innovation visa priorities reset under Ministerial Direction 120

Direction 120 took effect on 25 July 2026 and sets both the processing order and the indicators of exceptional achievement for the subclass 858 visa, including former Global Talent and Distinguished Talent applications. Invitations and processing run in four bands: global experts holding international top-of-field awards; candidates nominated on an approved Form 1000 by a Commonwealth, state or territory agency; candidates in a Tier One sector (critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies, health industries); and candidates in a Tier Two sector (agri-food and AgTech, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and FinTech, infrastructure and transport, resources). The Talent and Innovation planning level was separately cut from 5,300 places to 3,500 for 2026-27.

Business & Investor Visas guideOfficial notice
Parent visas9 July 2026

Parent visa queue release dates and processing estimates updated

As at 31 May 2026, the Department was releasing Contributory Parent applications with a queue date up to November 2018 for final processing, and Parent and Aged Parent applications up to February 2014. For brand new applications it estimates around 15 years for Contributory Parent visas and around 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas.

Parent Visas guideOfficial notice
Student visas3 July 2026

International student planning level held at 295,000 for 2027

The Australian Government has set the National Planning Level for new international student commencements at 295,000 for 2027, the same figure as 2026. No active provider will receive a lower allocation in 2027 than it had in 2026, and TAFE students are exempt from the planning level in 2027. A Ministerial Direction continues to be used across both higher education and vocational education to manage student visa processing. The planning level is not a visa cap and does not change the criteria for granting a student visa, but a provider's position against its allocation still decides which processing priority a student visa application is given on the day it is lodged.

Student and Guardian Visas guideOfficial notice
Fees & charges1 July 2026

Visa application charges increased across most subclasses on 1 July 2026

The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, made on 30 June 2026, lifted the first instalment of the visa application charge for most subclasses by well more than the usual annual adjustment, and also reset citizenship application fees. Prices currently published by the Department include AUD2,500 for a Student visa (subclass 500), AUD5,750 for the main Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) work streams, AUD4,015 for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and AUD11,710 for most onshore Partner (subclass 820) applicants. The charge that applies is the one in force on the day the application is lodged, so timing matters when a lodgement falls near a price change.

Fee GuideOfficial notice
Employer sponsorship1 July 2026

Skilled visa income thresholds indexed from 1 July 2026

Skilled visa income thresholds rose by 3.8%, in line with Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings. The Core Skills Income Threshold and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold both increased from $76,515 to $79,423, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold from $141,210 to $146,576. These thresholds apply only to employer-sponsored nominations: the CSIT to the subclass 482 Core Skills stream and subclass 186, the SSIT to the subclass 482 Specialist Skills stream, and the TSMIT to subclasses 494 and 187. They do not apply to the temporary work and activity visas (subclasses 400, 407 and 408), which have no income threshold. The new figures apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, not to existing visa holders or earlier nominations.

Employer Sponsored Visa guideOfficial notice
Appeals & reviews1 July 2026

Administrative Review Tribunal application fees increased on 1 July 2026

The fee for review of a reviewable migration decision rose to AUD3,727, and the fee for review of a reviewable protection decision to AUD2,293. The standard application fee and the Guidance and Appeals Panel fee are both AUD1,195, while the concessional fee stays at AUD100. A 50 per cent reduction may be granted on financial hardship grounds. The detail that catches people out: the new amounts apply to any application fee paid on or after 1 July 2026, even where the application itself was lodged before that date. Tribunal fees rise every year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Appeals & Reviews guideOfficial notice
Skilled migration12 May 2026

2026-27 Migration Program keeps 185,000 places but changes their shape

The overall planning level and the roughly 70:30 skilled to family split are unchanged, but the composition inside them moved a long way. Employer Sponsored places rose from 44,000 to 58,040 and Skilled Independent from 16,900 to 21,090, while the Regional category (subclasses 491 and 191) fell from 33,000 to 14,110 and State and Territory Nominated rose from 33,000 to 35,500. Talent and Innovation dropped from 5,300 to 3,500. In the family program, Partner rose to 41,500 and Child to 3,500, while Parent fell from 8,500 to 7,060 and Other Family from 500 to 400. Across both programs, 129,590 places are allocated to people already living in Australia.

Skilled Migration guideOfficial notice
Visitor visas13 March 2026

New law allows arrivals by holders of valid temporary visas to be paused

The Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026 received assent on 13 March 2026 and inserted an arrival control power into the Migration Act 1958. It allows the Minister to make a determination temporarily preventing a specified group of people outside Australia from entering, even where they hold a valid temporary visa. The first determination applied to holders of a Visitor (subclass 600) visa linked to an Iranian passport. The general point for any temporary visa holder is worth remembering: a granted visa authorises travel, but it has never by itself guaranteed entry, and there is now an additional way that entry can be suspended. Check current travel advice before committing to non-refundable flights.

Visitor & Medical Treatment Visas guideOfficial notice
Temporary work visas10 March 2026

Training visa (subclass 407) now needs the sponsor and nomination approved first

From 11 March 2026, a Training visa application is only valid once the sponsor has been approved as a temporary activities sponsor and has an approved Training visa nomination for the applicant, unless the sponsor is a Commonwealth agency. Applications lodged before those approvals are in place are treated as invalid and the visa application charge is refunded, so sponsors should start well before the training is due to begin.

Temporary Work Visas guideOfficial notice
Employer sponsorship7 December 2024

Temporary Skill Shortage visa replaced by Skills in Demand visa

The subclass 482 visa is now the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, with three new streams - Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement - and a new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).

Employer Sponsored Visa guideOfficial notice
Appeals & reviews14 October 2024

Administrative Review Tribunal replaces the AAT

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) now conducts merits review of migration decisions, replacing the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Review deadlines are strict and can't be extended.

Appeals & Reviews guideOfficial notice
Business & investment31 July 2024

Business Innovation and Investment Program closed to new applicants

The BIIP (subclasses 188/888) no longer accepts new applications. The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is now the main pathway for exceptional talent, founders and investors.

Business & Investor Visas guideOfficial notice
Student visas23 March 2024

Genuine Student requirement replaces the Genuine Temporary Entrant test

Student visa applicants must now meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement instead of the former Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test - including that studying in Australia may lead to future skilled pathways.

Student and Guardian Visas guideOfficial notice

This is general information, not legal advice, and policy details continue to evolve. For how a change affects your specific situation, book a consultation.

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