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The Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025 forms part of the Government’s “tell us once” initiative to modernise service delivery and reduce duplication across Commonwealth programs. A key element is reform to citizenship evidence, enabling more streamlined, digital-first interactions with government. Amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 and the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 introduce digital notices of evidence of Australian citizenship alongside traditional paper certificates, removing barriers to digital proof. The framework now clearly distinguishes between physical certificates and digital notices. The Bill passed Parliament on 27 November 2025 and received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025. However, currently, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) can only provide physical citizenship certificates to applicants. The Department is yet to develop a digital solution that will allow for digital evidence of Australian citizenship to be issued to applicants. Overall, the purpose of these amendments was to remove legislative barriers that prevented the future development and provision of digital evidence of Australian citizenship. Click here: Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025

The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025 has updated the Migration Act 1958 and the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to modernise the collection of facial images as personal identifiers, validate previously collected facial images and related actions, and remove certain residence barriers for citizenship applicants whose work overseas benefits Australia. Schedule 1 amends both the Migration Act and Citizenship Act to ensure facial-image collection powers reflect current biometric technology and align with international practice. It also validates facial images collected or provided before commencement, including any administrative decisions made using those images. Schedule 2 amends the Citizenship Act to lift specific residence barriers for people undertaking activities of benefit to Australia who must spend extended periods overseas. This change applies within the special residence framework in section 22A. The Act received Royal Assent on 1 December 2025. Sections 1–3 and Schedule 2 commenced on 2 December 2025, while Schedule 1 commences by Proclamation or, if not proclaimed earlier, on 1 June 2026. Click here: Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025

The Department of Home Affairs has updated the SkillSelect Invitation Rounds with the latest State and Territory nomination outcomes for November 2025. The figures below show the number of EOIs nominated by each jurisdiction during the 2025–26 program year to date (1 July 2025 to 30 November 2025), including nominations made between 31 October and 30 November 2025. Visa subclass ACT NSW NT Qld SA Tas Vic WA Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 207 508 180 17 92 208 359 94 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – State & Territory nominated 220 329 97 85 70 74 213 72 Click here: State and Territory nominations

The NSW Government has confirmed key operational settings for the 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program, including state nomination allocations, invitation schedules, and the reopening of major regional pathways under subclass 491. NSW will continue to prioritise applicants in occupations critical to state workforce needs. Nominations will only be issued to applicants whose occupations appear on the NSW Skills List (subclass 190) or the NSW Regional Skills List (subclass 491). For the 2025–26 program year, NSW has been allocated: Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated (Permanent) NSW has advised that three invitation rounds have already been conducted in the current program year. Monthly invitation rounds will recommence from January 2026 and continue until the annual allocation is fully utilised. As of December 2025, NSW has nominated approximately 25% of its 190 allocations to occupations listed on the List. Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) NSW will continue offering nomination through three pathways: Pathways 1 and 3 will reopen on 19 January 2026. Applications and Processing Only applications that meet all NSW eligibility requirements at lodgement, supported by valid skills assessments and English test results, will be accepted into the processing queue. NSW finalises nominations within around six weeks after payment, subject to volume. Priority processing is considered only where an applicant faces an imminent visa/document expiry or an age-related points loss that may affect eligibility. Click here: NSW Skills List (190) and NSW Regional Skills List (491)

South Australia has opened its 2025–26 skilled nomination program and Home Affairs tightens SA DAMA variation limits and offers a free FNQ DAMA online session. South Australia 2025–26 Nomination Allocations The South Australian Government has confirmed its 2025–26 skilled nomination allocations. South Australia has received 2,250 nomination places in total, including 1,350 places for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa and 900 places for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa (including interim allocations). Registrations of Interest (ROI) are now open for eligible applicants living and working in South Australia, while offshore applicants do not need to lodge an ROI and may be invited directly from their SkillSelect EOI. Further eligibility details are available on the South Australian Government website. Click here: South Australia’s 2025-2026 allocations South Australian DAMA Update Home Affairs has revised the DAMA variation settings for South Australia. Under the new approach, businesses may request only a single variation per labour agreement each year, and no variation applications will be accepted during the first six months after a new agreement is signed. FNQ DAMA Information Session for Agents and Lawyers The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free online information session for Registered Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers on the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA), presented by Migration Manager Geoff Heath. The session will be held on Thursday 4 December 2025, 12:00pm–1:00pm (AEST) via Microsoft Teams (link sent 24 hours prior) and will provide a practical overview of the FNQ DAMA, the latest program updates, and an open Q&A for DAMA-related questions. Attendance is free and delivered entirely online. Click here: FNQ DAMA Information Session for Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers

The Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, which commenced on 1 July 2021, has been extended for a further 12 months under existing arrangements and will now continue until 30 June 2026. The pilot enables approved Australian employers to recruit skilled, job-ready refugees from overseas through a dedicated labour-agreement pathway. The pilot operates through labour agreements endorsed by Talent Beyond Boundaries and provides access to 500 visa places across eligible occupations and employer-sponsored visa programs. Key Information: Click here: Skilled Refugee Labour A​greement P​ilot​​

From 29 November 2025, most offshore Class XB Refugee and Humanitarian visa applications must be submitted online via ImmiAccount, extending the digital lodgement arrangement introduced earlier in July 2025. The change is designed to improve accessibility and allow applicants to lodge, upload documents, and manage their applications online, reducing reliance on postal systems. Applications under the Community Support Program remain unchanged. Key Updates: Unchanged Arrangements: Additional Information: For more information refer to the attached Fact sheet

An interactive one-hour webinar is being hosted to help Australian aged care providers understand practical visa pathways for recruiting overseas workers. The Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with Ageing Australia, will deliver this webinar to explain how aged care providers can use the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement and other skilled visa pathways to respond to workforce shortages, with practical guidance on preparing strong, decision-ready applications. The session will outline ACILA eligibility and supported occupations by clarifying who can apply, which roles are covered, and the main requirements providers must satisfy, share a practical case study of ACILA in action with insights into the process, common challenges, and outcomes, highlight alternative skilled visa pathways for aged care roles to help employers determine when these options are most suitable, and provide official resources to support high-quality, decision-ready applications. Session Details: To register for the webinar Click here

Several significant reforms have progressed, spanning humanitarian visa processing, detention facility controls, international education integrity, and Home Affairs Bills. Legislative Instrument Expands Online Lodgement for Class XB Visas A new legislative instrument, LIN 25/121 Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Expanding Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025, updates the lodgement arrangements for Class XB Refugee and Humanitarian visas by making Form 842 (Internet) lodgement through ImmiAccount the default approach. The amendments formalise expanded online submission while retaining limited alternatives for applicants who are unable to apply online. The instrument amends LIN 20/169 and commences on 29 November 2025. Click here: LIN 25/121- Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Expanding Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025 New “Prohibited Things” Rules for Immigration Detention Facilities The LIN 25/068 The Migration (Prohibited Things) Determination 2025 establishes a new list of items classified as “prohibited things” for people in immigration detention and within immigration detention facilities. This enables stronger facility controls by clearly defining items that may be restricted, searched for, and seized when necessary to manage safety and security risks. The prohibited things include controlled drugs and controlled precursors as defined in the Criminal Code Act 1995, as well as alcohol, mobile telecommunications devices, SIM cards, and internet-capable devices. Once the determination is in effect, authorised officers will be able to screen for, search for (without a warrant), and seize these items where there are reasonable grounds to believe this is necessary to prevent or reduce risks to the safety, security, or orderly operation of an immigration detention facility. Click here: LIN 25/068 – The Migration (Prohibited Things) Determination 2025 Education Integrity Reforms Passed: New Compliance and Agent Transparency Rules The Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 introduces reforms across the Education portfolio to strengthen quality and integrity in Australia’s education system. A major focus is tightening the regulation of international education under the ESOS framework, including clearer oversight of education agents and provider practices. A central component updates the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 to address concerns raised in the Nixon Review and align with the Government’s Migration Strategy, introducing tighter provider registration requirements, greater transparency of education-agent commissions, clearer rules for course delivery, and expanded powers for the Minister and ESOS agencies to intervene where provider or course risks arise, including automatic suspension or cancellation for serious non-compliance and extended review mechanisms. The Bill passed the Senate on 27 November 2025 with agreed amendments and was endorsed by the House of Representatives on 28 November 2025; it will commence the day after Royal Assent. Click here: Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 Home Affairs Bill 2025: Facial Image Powers and Citizenship Updates The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025, now passed by Parliament, amends the Migration Act 1958 and Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to modernise and clarify the Department of Home Affairs’ (including the ABF) powers to collect facial images in line with current biometric technology and international standards, and to validate facial images collected or provided previously, along with any related administrative actions. The Bill also removes certain residency barriers for citizenship applicants whose work benefits Australia but requires long periods overseas, giving the Minister greater flexibility to recognise them as meeting special residence requirements without strict physical-presence thresholds. The Bill passed both Houses on 27 November 2025; sections 1–3 commence on Royal Assent, Schedule 2 starts the day after Royal Assent, and Schedule 1 begins on proclamation or six months after Royal Assent. Click here: Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025 Work Sponsor Register Approved The Federal Government has introduced the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, proposing changes to the Migration Act to establish a public Approved Work Sponsor Register. The register would cover approved standard business sponsors and accredited sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry to Australia, with the aim of strengthening transparency in employer sponsorship. If enacted, the register—maintained on the Department of Home Affairs website—would publish each sponsor’s name, ABN and postcode, the number of individuals they have nominated under the sponsorship approval process, and the occupations of those nominated workers. This is intended to support system integrity and help deter migrant exploitation through public visibility of sponsorship activity. The Bill was introduced in the Senate and read a first time, with a second reading moved on 27 November 2025. Click here: Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025

The Department of Home Affairs has released a new Migration stack update on LEGENDcom dated 21 November 2025. The update includes revisions across several Migration Policy and Procedural Instructions and key areas of the Migration Act and Regulations. The update includes revisions to the following Migration Policy and Procedural Instructions:  Migration Act: Notes for guidance for selected cancers – Supporting Material Notes for Guidance for Endocrinological Condition Merits Review Policy Statement Migration regulation divisions: Visa Application Charge Sponsorship compliance framework: Immigration Inspector powers Penalties, sanctions and enforcement Sponsorship compliance framework: Sponsorship obligations Migration Regulations – Schedules: The Health Requirement LEGENDcom does not identify the specific amendments made within each policy or instruction. It is strongly advised to review the updated documents before lodging any related visa or nomination applications.