Category: Brochure

On 5 October 2026, Opposition spokesperson Angus Taylor announced the Coalition’s proposed migration policy. The headline figure is approximately 100,000 net overseas migration in the first year, if the Coalition wins the next election. The proposal would then allow the figure to rise towards roughly 170,000, linked to housing completions. The crucial point is simple. This is an opposition announcement. It is not law. There is no election date set. No legislation has been introduced. No current visa rule has changed. Nothing changes today for current visa holders, applicants or employers. What does the 100,000 figure mean? The proposal refers to net overseas migration, often shortened to NOM. NOM is a net population measure. It is not the number of visas granted. It broadly reflects: People arriving in Australia for long-term or permanent stays. People leaving Australia after long-term or permanent stays. The difference between arrivals and departures. Temporary visa holders can be included in population statistics. Departures reduce the net figure. So, a NOM target of 100,000 would not necessarily mean only 100,000...

A South Australian employer may have a genuine vacancy but still struggle to find local workers. A Designated Area Migration Agreement, or DAMA, may provide another option. A DAMA is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. It can give eligible employers access to occupations outside the standard skilled migration programs. It may also provide possible concessions for some visa requirements. The key point is simple: A DAMA is employer-led. An individual worker cannot apply for a DAMA independently. The employer must be eligible, endorsed and able to nominate the position under the relevant agreement. What Is the SA DAMA Visa? “SA DAMA visa” is a common search term. However, there is no separate standalone visa called the SA DAMA visa. Instead, the South Australian Designated Area Migration Agreement supports employer-sponsored visa pathways under specific labour agreement streams. The employer must first establish access to the agreement. The worker then applies for the relevant visa after the employer completes the required stages. The available...

The key point: the changes are prospective The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 apply only to Subclass 500 Student visa applications made on or after 2 October 2026. This is stated in the transitional provision at Schedule 13, Part 166, item 16601. Applications made before commencement are not subject to these amendments. The instrument was registered on 1 October 2026. It commenced on 2 October 2026. It amends the Migration Regulations 1994 under the Migration Act 1958. Read the full instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation. The Government has described the reforms as measures to strengthen program integrity and reduce “visa hopping”. That is the Government’s stated objective. This article does not predict the reforms’ eventual impact. 1. Further Student visa applications will generally be offshore New paragraph 1222(3)(aa) requires an applicant to be outside Australia where the applicant: seeks to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 500 visa; already holds a Subclass 500 visa, whether as a primary or secondary visa holder; and where holding the...

Picked the wrong assessing authority? That can mean delays, extra costs and a visa strategy that needs rebuilding. The fix starts with three checks: Identify your nominated occupation. Confirm the correct assessing authority. Review the current evidence rules before applying. This guide explains the main authorities used for skills assessment Australia applications. What is a skills assessment for migration? A migration skills assessment checks whether your qualifications, employment history and technical background match the requirements of your nominated occupation. The assessment is not a general review of your career. The authority may examine: Your qualification level. Academic transcripts. Course content. Employment duties. Work experience. Registration or licensing. The connection between your evidence and the selected ANZSCO occupation. A positive outcome may be required for: Subclass 189. Subclass 190. Subclass 491. Subclass 494. Some subclass 186 applications. Some subclass 482 applications. Some subclass 485 Post-Vocational Education Work applications. The exact requirement depends on the visa stream, occupation, applicant and current legislation. For points-tested visas, a suitable positive assessment is usually...

You have a care-sector job offer. Great news. Then the visa pathway appears. Australia and New Zealand treat aged care and disability support work differently. Your current visa, job classification, location and employer all matter. This guide compares the main options. It is especially relevant if you are in Australia on a temporary visa, such as a student dependent visa, and have received an offer from a New Zealand aged care employer. The short answer New Zealand: Care workers may use a work-to-residence pathway after completing qualifying work in New Zealand. Australia: Aged care and healthcare roles may benefit from skilled and employer-sponsored pathways. Australian work does not count towards New Zealand’s 24-month care workforce requirement. Leaving Australia may affect your current visa strategy and processing position. Do not resign, travel or accept an offer before checking the full pathway. New Zealand care workforce pathway The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa is the main residence pathway for eligible care workers. You generally need: A qualifying care workforce role. ...

Australia has announced a major change to visitor visas. The Government will introduce a No Further Stay condition to visitor visas. The stated aim is to ensure that a visitor visa Australia pathway remains for genuine short-term visits. This matters to parents, partners, children and relatives planning a family visit Australia. A future visitor visa may no longer provide a practical route to apply for another visa while staying in Australia. The announcement was made on 17 September 2026. However, important implementation details are still pending. Important information: The Minister for Home Affairs confirmed the policy in a 17 September 2026 media release and National Press Club discussion. ABC News and The Guardian reported that the change is expected to apply to visitor visas granted after a commencement date that has not yet been announced. The reported position also states that existing visitor visa holders and people already in Australia are not intended to be affected, and that waiver and protection visa arrangements will remain...

Australia has announced a major change for international students. Most future international students will no longer be able to bring a partner or dependent child on their student visa. This is a significant emotional change. Many students planned to study in Australia with their family. Some have already paid deposits. Others are preparing applications. The key reassurance is clear. Families already in Australia will not be broken up because of this announcement. The changes are prospective. They are aimed at future applicants. They do not retrospectively cancel the arrangements of students and families already here. This article explains what was announced, who may be affected, and what students should do next. Important implementation note: This article is based on the Minister for Home Affairs’ 17 September 2026 announcement and National Press Club comments, along with reporting from ABC News and The Guardian. At the time of writing, the Department of Home Affairs’ Student visa subclass 500 page still describes existing family-inclusion settings. The exact commencement arrangements, legislative instruments,...

Australia has announced a redesign of its skilled migration points test. The proposed change would give housing construction trade qualifications the same recognition as university qualifications in the migration points system. This could matter for trades-qualified applicants seeking permanent residency Australia through the subclass 189 visa, subclass 190 visa or skilled work regional visa 491. The announcement is significant. The operating details are not yet final. What Was Announced On 17 September 2026, the Australian Government announced a redesign of the points test. The stated aim is to increase the economic value of skilled permanent migration. A central part of the announcement concerns housing construction trades. Under the proposed redesign, construction-related qualifications will receive the same recognition as university qualifications in the points system. This does not mean a trade certificate becomes an academic university degree. It means the qualification may receive equivalent treatment for migration points. That distinction is important. The points test is a migration assessment framework. It is not an academic equivalency system. The government has not yet published the complete...

Australia’s skilled visa processing framework changed on 19 September 2026. The change follows an announcement by the Minister for Home Affairs on 17 September. It gives greater processing focus to sectors facing significant workforce needs. The named sectors include healthcare, construction, education and teaching, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing. This affects many employer sponsored visa Australia pathways. It also affects several permanent and regional visa applications. One point comes first. A processing priority does not guarantee approval. It does not change visa eligibility. It only affects the order in which eligible applications may be considered. For current visa processing times Australia information, check the Department of Home Affairs website. What Is Ministerial Direction 119? A ministerial direction instructs Department of Home Affairs decision-makers about processing order. It helps the Department decide which eligible nomination and visa applications should be considered first. It does not: Create a new visa. Change the points test. Change English requirements. Remove health or character requirements. Replace occupation eligibility rules. Guarantee a visa grant. Guarantee a particular processing time. Meeting the...

Australia’s migration policy is entering a new phase. On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced changes covering net overseas migration, skilled visa processing, student visas, visitor visas and Working Holiday Maker arrangements. Some measures are policy changes. Some still require implementation. Two proposals require legislation. They are not law yet. This guide explains what was announced, what the 245,000 figure means, and what applicants, students and employers should do next. What Was Announced on 17 September 2026 The announcement focused on five broad areas: Meeting the Government’s net overseas migration forecasts. Prioritising skilled visa processing in key sectors. Tightening student visa and course-transfer rules. Introducing ballots for some second- and third-year Working Holiday stays. Increasing compliance activity against overstayers and non-meritorious applications. The announcement does not mean that every visa requirement has changed immediately. Implementation instructions, legislative changes and administrative updates may follow. Applicants should check the Department of Home Affairs before acting. Net Overseas Migration: What 245,000 Actually Means The most important clarification concerns the difference between net overseas migration and the permanent...