Skilled
Victoria introduces nomination fees and publishes its points test for 2026–27
From 2026–27 Victoria charges $60 for a Registration of Interest and $180 for a 190 or 491 nomination, and has published the points test it ranks applicants by.
Migration updates
What changed, and what it means.
Changes to Australian migration law and policy, dated, each one naming the legislative instrument or official source it comes from.
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Latest updates
Skilled
ANMAC announces a new skills assessment portal, new assessment names and revised fees for nurses and midwives
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) will move its skills assessments to a new online portal, rename its assessment types and revise its fees. ANMAC expects the changes to take effect later this year and has not yet announced a date.
Skilled
Next Skilled Independent (subclass 189) invitation round set for 15 October 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has announced that the next SkillSelect invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa will be held on 15 October 2026.
Students and visitors
Student visa reform from 2 October 2026: further student visas, family members and onshore applications
From 2 October 2026 a student visa holder applying for a further student visa must generally apply from outside Australia, family members can be included only in limited cases, and seventeen visas now stop a student visa application being made in Australia.
Students and visitors
Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) closed to new international students from 5 October 2026
From 5 October 2026, VET providers and education agents can no longer recruit or enrol new international students into the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning), after the Assistant Minister for International Education used the new course cancellation powers for the first time.
Refusal and review
Home Affairs releases four years of Ministerial intervention figures for sections 351 and 195A, and the repealed section 417
The Department has released the number of Ministerial intervention requests received and finalised, and visas granted, for 2022-23 to 2025-26.
Students and visitors
eVisitor form, ADS travel agents, health-referral countries and ESOS agencies remade
Four instruments commenced on 28 September 2026: the eVisitor application form and manner, the Approved Destination Status travel agent list, the countries used for health referrals, and the ESOS agencies for ELICOS and Foundation Programs.
Earlier updates
September 2026
- Home Affairs has published guidance on adequate health insurance, and it names a minimum benefit of AUD 1,000,000Students and visitors
- The list of visas that stop a student visa application being made in Australia has been remadeStudents and visitors
- Queensland’s 2026–27 nomination program has not opened yetSkilled
- Designated areas for condition 8549 remade, and a child visa postal address correctedSkilled
- South Australia’s two designated area migration agreements now run to 31 January 2027Employer sponsored
- Two new directions reset the processing order for skilled visasSkilled
- Direction 123 replaces Direction 110 on character from 31 October 2026Cancellation
- Announced, not law: a no further stay condition on future visitor visas, and a limit on course changesStudents and visitors
August 2026
- The Tribunal now has a practice direction on generative AI, and it applies to cases already on footRefusal and review
July 2026
- Direction 117 sets the order family visa applications are considered in, and it covers matters sent back by the TribunalPartner and family
- Visa application charges are now two-tier, and the lower tier follows the passportFees and charges
- Sponsored income thresholds for 2026–27, and why the Regulations still print the old figureEmployer sponsored
- ART review fees rose on 1 July 2026, and the trigger is the date the fee is paidRefusal and review
June 2026
- Most student visa refusal reviews are now decided without a hearingRefusal and review
March 2026
- The method for working out the annual market salary rate was replaced in March 2026Employer sponsored
These remain current unless a later update on this page says otherwise. The date shown is the date the change took effect.
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Not sure how a change affects your application?
Send us the visa you hold or have applied for, the date it was lodged and any notice you have received. A change in the law does not always reach back to an application already on foot.
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