Tasmania Opens Skilled Migration Program on 17 August 2026: Key Changes Every Skilled Visa Applicant Should Know

Tasmania will reopen its Skilled Migration State Nomination Program on 17 August 2026 with revised priority scoring, updated eligibility rules, 2,050 nomination places and weekly invitation rounds. Tasmania has announced that its 2026-27 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will open for new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 17 August 2026, introducing several changes that could…

Tasmania Receives 2,050 Skilled Migration Places for 2026-27

Tasmania has increased its skilled migration allocation to 2,050 places for 2026-27, creating more opportunities for eligible skilled workers seeking state nomination under subclasses 190 and 491. Tasmania has received 2,050 skilled migration nomination places for the 2026-27 program year, representing an increase of 200 places from the 1,850 places allocated in 2025-26. The expanded…

How Long Does It Take to Process an Australian Skilled Visa in July 2026?

Australian skilled visa applicants may wait anywhere between 4 months and nearly 2 years for a decision, depending on the visa subclass they apply for, according to the latest processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA). Skilled migration applicants who have qualifications or experience in an eligible skilled occupation and meet all…

Goldfields DAMA Extended Until 31 December 2026: What Employers Need to Know

The Australian Government has extended the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) until 31 December 2026, allowing eligible regional employers continued access to overseas workers to address workforce shortages. The Australian Government has confirmed the extension of the Goldfields DAMA until 31 December 2026, providing certainty for employers across the Goldfields region that rely on…

Australia Visa Application Fees 2026: New Costs for Partner, Student, 482 and Skilled Visas from 1 July

Australia increased visa application charges for many popular visa subclasses from 1 July 2026, with most government fees rising by 25%, making careful budgeting more important than ever. Anyone planning to lodge an Australian visa application should check the latest government charges before applying. While annual fee indexation is expected, the increases that took effect…

June 2026 SkillSelect Invitation Round: How Many Points Do You Need for a Subclass 189 Visa?

Australia has issued 10,000 invitations in the latest SkillSelect invitation round for Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, with invitation scores ranging from 65 to 100 points across more than 100 occupations. The Department of Home Affairs published the results of the 4 June 2026 SkillSelect invitation round for the subclass 189 visa, inviting 10,000 prospective…

VETASSESS Introduces New DAMA Renewal, Reassessment and E-Declaration Changes from 29 June 2026

VETASSESS will introduce new online renewal and reassessment options for Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) applicants and replace manual declarations with electronic signatures from 29 June 2026. The changes will apply through the Professional Skills Recognition (PSR) Application Portal and are intended to streamline the application process for applicants and their authorised representatives. According to…

Australia’s Peak Chemistry Body Endorses Revised VETASSESS Assessment Criteria for Chemistry Technicians

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute has endorsed updated VETASSESS assessment criteria for Chemistry Technicians, reinforcing national standards for skilled migration in the chemical sciences. VETASSESS announced the endorsement by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) of its revised assessment criteria for the occupation of Chemistry Technician (ANZSCO Code 311411), aligning the framework with current Australian…

Tasmania to Close Skilled Migration ROIs on 3 June As Nomination Places Near Exhaustion

Tasmania will stop accepting new skilled migration Registrations of Interest (ROIs) from 5 pm on 3 June 2026, after strong demand pushed the state close to exhausting its nomination allocation. The announcement affects all pathways and passes under the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for the 2025–26 program year. Migration Tasmania confirmed that the…