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…
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 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…
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 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…
The cut to regional skilled visas will be harder for some employers, especially those who depend heavily on regional visa places. However, it does not mean regional hiring from overseas is stopping. It means the system is being tightened and redistributed. What Changed in the 2026–2027 Federal Budget? The Federal Budget released in May 2026…
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 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…
Australia will keep its permanent migration program at 185,000 places in 2026–27, but will sharpen selection towards skilled onshore applicants and reform how migrants are assessed and prioritised. The Migration Program Remains Stable at 185,000 Places On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government confirmed that the 2026–27 permanent migration program will stay at 185,000 places,…
The Department of Home Affairs is tightening Partner (subclasses 820 and 801) visa processing standards, increasing the risk of refusal for applications lodged without strong, current and properly structured evidence. The Department’s April 2026 Partner Processing Newsletter signals a significant operational shift in how Partner visa applications are assessed. While the legislative requirements for Partner…