Blogs

The Department of Home Affairs is inviting Australian employers to a free online seminar to explore the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot Program. In collaboration with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), this initiative provides a unique opportunity for skilled refugees and displaced individuals to contribute to Australia’s workforce. With the program’s extension until 30 June 2026, there is even more reason for employers to consider participating. The webinar offers employers a chance to learn about the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, explore the support available through Talent Beyond Boundaries, and hear success stories from participating businesses. An interactive Q&A will provide direct access to experts, helping employers understand how to get involved. Webinar Details: Date Thursday, 13 November 2025 Time 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (UTC+11)  To register, simply visit the event page of Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot Webinar. Employers can also access a fact sheet for further details about the Pilot and how to get involved. Click here-  Register for the Webinar

The Department of Home Affairs has launched a new online support service to assist individuals whose visas have expired or who are currently on a Bridging Visa E (BVE). This service aims to help people resolve their immigration status and get back on track with their visa arrangements. In addition to the online service, the Department is also offering in-person support at community visits across Australia. These visits are designed to help individuals who need more personal assistance in resolving their immigration status. Upcoming Community Visits: Australian Capital Territory: New South Wales: Victoria: There are no in-person visits scheduled for Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, or Western Australia. Click here – Immigration Status Resolution Service Page

The Department of Home Affairs has issued outcome letters to individuals whose Personal Procedural Decisions (PPD) under section 351 have resulted in a negative determination. These letters specifically apply to requests lodged before 12 April 2023 that have not been subject to a personal procedural decision or a substantive public interest decision by a Minister. Important Information Regarding the Outcome Letters: Click here:  Ministerial Intervention Guidelines

From 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025, the Department of Home Affairs updated its website with the number of State and Territory nominations made for Sc 190 and Sc 491 visas. While the final allocations for the 2025-26 program year are still pending, the states and territories have been allocated small interim nominations for the time being. Visa Subclass ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 70 108 80 <5 66 85 <5 60 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) 74 71 65 <5 31 66 <5 54   ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List Update The ACT Government has updated the Critical Skill List for the 2025-26 program year, now known as the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List. The list has been reduced from 152 ANZSCO 4-digit unit groups to 105. Key updates: Goldfields DAMA Transitioning to WA DAMA The Goldfields DAMA will transition to the WA DAMA on 4 April 2026, as confirmed by the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development and the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Key details: Western Australia State Nominated Migration Program 2025-26 The Western Australian Government will conduct a limited invitation round in October 2025 for the interim 2025-26 State Nomination Migration Program. Invitations to apply for state nomination will begin once Western Australia’s final 2025-26 allocation is confirmed by the Commonwealth Government. The 2025-26 WA State Nominated Migration Program will feature the following key updates: Click here: ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List Goldfields Designated Migration Agreement (DAMA) WA State Nominated Migration Program

The Migration (2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025 officially designates the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup as an Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) under the Migration Regulations 1994, providing a nil Visa Application Charge (VAC) for eligible individuals involved in the event. The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will be held from 1 to 21 March 2026 in Perth, Sydney, and the Gold Coast. It is an official event of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and is organized by the Local Organising Committee. Individuals within the specified class—such as AFC delegation members, participating team members, and event affiliates—will benefit from the visa fee exemption, ensuring easier access to travel for those participating in this major international event. Applicants are advised to submit their requests according to the outlined eligibility criteria in the Migration Instrument, which clarifies who qualifies for the event-specific visa exemption. This instrument provides a clear pathway for individuals involved in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup to obtain visas with the exemption from application fees, facilitating smooth participation in this major international sporting event. Click here: LIN 25/116- Migration (2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025

The OMARA notified all registered migration agents on 20 October 2025 that a new sign-in system featuring Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) has been implemented on the OMARA portal. OMARA advised all RMA members to complete the MFA setup by Sunday, 1 February 2026. After this date, accounts without MFA will be deactivated, and access to the OMARA portal will be restricted. The full communication from OMARA is outlined below: The new sign-in system which supports Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) has now been set up on the OMARA Portal. We encourage you to log into your account on the OMARA portal and set up MFA as soon as possible.  To assist you with setting up MFA on your OMARA Portal account, we have published User Guides and a FAQ on our website which can be accessed here. In addition to the User Guides which provide step by step instructions and screen shots, we have also published short videos that demonstrate the process from start to finish.  They can be viewed here:  Sign-Up and Sign-In Guide Videos · Customer Self-Service.  [Note: These videos have no sound.] You will have until Sunday, 1 February 2026 to set up MFA.  After this date, if you have not logged on and set up MFA, your account will be disabled and you will be unable to log on to the OMARA Portal. If you have questions after reviewing the User Guides, FAQ and videos, please contact us here https://portal.mara.gov.au/enquiry/.

As Parliament prepares for its final sittings of the year, two important bills Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 and Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 are set to be discussed and possibly voted on during the upcoming sessions. The Parliamentary Sitting Periods for the remainder of the year are scheduled as follows: from 27 October to 6 November 2025, and again from 24 to 27 November 2025, before Parliament rises for the year. Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 This bill focuses on updating the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa program. Key changes include: Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 This bill has drawn significant attention, particularly in relation to student visa refusals. It proposes that applicants whose student visas are denied will only be able to have their refusal reviewed “on the papers.” Additionally, this may set a precedent for similar changes to other temporary visa applications in the future. Click here: Submissions received by the Committee

The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 introduces significant changes to the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa program, with updates to income thresholds and an extended validity period for labour market testing (LMT). The Bill’s progress has seen support from both the Senate and the Government, ensuring its continued movement through Parliament. The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 was initially introduced to Parliament last year and aims to bring important adjustments to the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa program. The key provisions of the Bill include: The Bill, which was first introduced in Parliament in 2024, lapsed at the end of the parliamentary session in July 2025. However, on 2 September 2024, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee released a report recommending that the Senate pass the Bill, with some additional amendments and suggestions. The Government responded positively, agreeing with the Committee’s recommendation, and provided an official response to the Senate, which was tabled on 20 October 2025. Members are encouraged to visit the Australian Parliament House (APH) website for further details on the tabled documents. As the Bill continues through the legislative process, further updates will be shared as they become available. Click here- Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 Australian Government response to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Report: Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) has shared an important update from the Department of Home Affairs regarding the VEVO Helpdesk. As of 16 October 2025, the contact details for the VEVO Helpdesk have changed. The complete OMARA communication can be accessed below: The contact details for the VEVO Helpdesk have changed. The previous email address vevo.helpdesk@homeaffairs.gov.au is no longer in use. We encourage industry users to contact us via our online enquiry forms, as this allows us to receive all relevant information to quickly and effectively address your enquiry. You will also be provided a reference number for acknowledgment of receipt. Please use the VEVO web form for your enquiry: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/vevo-enquiry-form . If your enquiry is urgent, please include the word ‘urgent’ in the details field. Response times We have recently transitioned to a new enquiry management system to improve service delivery. This has resulted in some temporary delays in the processing of enquiries which we are working to remediate. We aim to respond to your enquiry within 5 business days. Please do not submit multiple forms for the same enquiry within this timeframe as this can delay processing of the original enquiry.

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the Department of Home Affairs hosted an information session for members on the Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa (NIV). The session provided updates on program priorities, invitation processing, and recent statistics on Expressions of Interest (EOIs). Program Overview: Feature Details Visa Name National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858) Program Type Invitation-only Target Group High-calibre, exceptional talent applicants Assessment Basis Indicators of exceptional and outstanding achievement and alignment with Ministerial Direction 112 (MD 112) Program Goal To attract individuals contributing to Australia’s innovation and priority sectors   Program Statistics Metric Count EOIs submitted 9,000+ Invitations issued 304 Visas granted ~85  Candidates are invited according to the following: Information on the number of invitations issued is available on the Department’s website and is updated quarterly. Information on issued invitations is available on the Department’s website and is updated quarterly. Once an EOI is submitted, it cannot be edited or withdrawn.  If an applicant’s situation changes to strengthen their case, a new EOI must be lodged with updated details. Key Takeaways: Click here: Department of Home Affairs- National Innovation Visa