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Upcoming Invitation Round for Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa
  • November 7, 2025

Upcoming Invitation Round for Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa

The Department of Home Affairs has set the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa under the points-tested stream. The Department has announced that the upcoming invitation round for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa (points-tested stream) will take place on 13 November 2025. Migration agents and applicants are encouraged to ensure that all Expressions of Interest (EOI) are current and accurately updated before the scheduled round. This will help ensure eligibility for selection when invitations are issued.
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Migration Stack Updated Following Aged Care Legislative Changes
  • November 7, 2025

Migration Stack Updated Following Aged Care Legislative Changes

LEGENDcom updated its migration stack on 1 November 2025 to reflect the Aged Care Legislation Consequential Amendments Regulations 2025, which align with the Aged Care Act 2024. The migration stack update incorporates amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 and related federal instruments, including healthcare, Medicare, taxation, and foreign investment regulations. Key updates include: Click here: Aged Care Legislation Consequential Amendments Regulations 2025
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Migration Stack Updated Following Aged Care Legislative Changes
  • November 7, 2025

Administrative Review Tribunal Bill 2025: Key Changes to Visa Reviews

The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 proposes changes to allow certain matters to be decided without an oral hearing, streamlining the review process for specific visa applications. The Bill expands circumstances where the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) can decide a matter on the papers, without holding a hearing, provided that: Under the proposed Migration Act amendments, certain applications must be reviewed on the papers, including: Other visa types, including permanent and protection visas, remain unaffected. Applications subject to this requirement will be decided entirely on the basis of written submissions under new Division 4A of Part 5 of the Migration Act. Committee Recommendations: Click here: Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
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Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025: Proposed Approved Work Sponsor Register
  • November 7, 2025

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025: Proposed Approved Work Sponsor Register

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 proposes to amend the Migration Act 1958 to establish a public register of approved work sponsors, promoting transparency in skilled worker sponsorship. The Bill allows the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs to publish information about approved work sponsors on the Department’s website. The register may include: The register will not include personal identifiers, in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988. The Bill was introduced and read a first time, with the second reading moved on 6 November 2025. Click here: Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025
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Migration Instrument 2025: Technical Measures for Skilled Visas
  • November 7, 2025

Migration Instrument 2025: Technical Measures for Skilled Visas

The Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/110) introduces a series of technical updates to clarify occupation lists and assessing authorities for skilled visas. The instrument commenced on 3 November 2025 for Immigration, aimed at updating occupation codes, caveats, and assessing authorities to support accurate processing of skilled visa applications under the Migration Regulations 1994. Key changes include: Click here: LIN 25/110 – Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Instrument 2025
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Australia Announces Nil Visa Fees for Key Personnel at 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup
  • November 7, 2025

Australia Announces Nil Visa Fees for Key Personnel at 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup

The Australian Government has officially designated the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup as an Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) under the Migration Regulations, paving the way for simplified visa arrangements for key participants. The Migration (2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025 establishes the specific class of people eligible for the visa concession. The instrument commenced on 5 November 2025. Under this new instrument, individuals approved for accreditation by the local organising committee are eligible for a Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa under the AGEE stream with no visa application charge (VAC). The categories of eligible persons include: Click here: LIN 25/115 – Migration (2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025
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Canberra Matrix Invitation Round

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government has the flexibility to address skills shortages and labour market needs in the Territory through the state/territory nominated stream of the Australian Migration Program. The Australian Government allocates the ACT a fixed number of nomination places each financial year. The interested persons can apply for ACT nomination by completing score-based ‘Canberra Matrix’ where points can be claimed against specific criteria including skilled employment, English proficiency, formal qualifications, length of ACT residence / study, investment activity and close family ties, etc. Canberra has a fixed number of nomination places available each month (pro-rata against the annual allocation). Invitation Round: 21 May 2024 The highest ranked Matrix in each occupation were invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut‑off for selection depended on the remaining monthly allocation, the date and time of Matrix submission, occupation cap and demand. The greater the demand for a particular occupation, the higher the rank of the Matrix score invited. Matrix nominating Small Business Owners: 10 invitations ACT 190 nominations: 04 invitations 190 minimum matrix score: 125 ACT 491 nominations: 06 invitations 491 minimum matrix score: 105 Matrix nominating 457 visa / 482 visa holders: 10 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 08 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 02 invitations Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 164 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 54 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 110 invitations Overseas Applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill occupations: 110 invitations ACT 190 nomination: 16 invitations ACT 491 nomination: 94 invitations Matrix will not be prioritised or issued invitations based on personal circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to, visa expiry dates or a change in circumstances including critical birthdays. The minimum ranking score is not a guarantee but rather an indication that an invitation was issued.  Invitations were not issued if the applicants have an active application in the system or the applicants have previously received ACT nomination.
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Closure of Registrations of Interest for South Australia’s skilled migration program

Registration of Interest (ROI) applications for South Australia’s skilled migration for onshore applicants have closed for the 2023-2024 program year. The registration of interest applications have been closed for onshore applicants only which means that the offshore applicants can continue to submit a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) for consideration and will receive a direct invitation to apply for South Australian state nomination, if successful. For the nomination allocation of 2,300 places in this financial year (2023-24), South Australia received more than 12,000 ROIs which points at the competitiveness of the process.   All ROIs received will be processed by 30 June 2024 and in case no invitation is received to apply for state nomination this program year, the applicants can submit another ROI in 2024-25 program year.
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Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold 2024

The Department has announced that the TSMIT will increase from $70,000 to $73,150 effective from 1 July 2024 to ensure a better targeted skilled migration system. In July 2023, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) was increased from $53,900 to $70,000. It was the first increase to the TSMIT since 2013 and it was set around where the TSMIT would have been if it had been indexed to average weekly ordinary time earnings growth over the last 10 years at that time. Now in July 2024, the temporary income threshold will be set at $73,150. Therefore, from 1 July 2024, the annual market salary rate for the nominated occupation and the guaranteed annual earnings the nominator will pay to the worker must be at least $73,150. New nomination applications will be required to meet this threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. • Nominations lodged on or before 30 June 2024 will need to meet the ‘old’ TSMIT of $70,000. • Nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2024 will need to meet the ‘new’ TSMIT of $73,150. The TSMIT applies to a number of skilled visas, including the Temporary Skill shortage (subclass 482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visas.
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Age Update for Masters and PhD graduates applying for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa in the Post-Higher Education Work Stream

The maximum age for Masters (research) and PhD graduates applying for the SC 485 visa will remain at 50 years. Following representations from the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) on behalf of its members, the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that this age limit will be maintained beyond the changes coming into effect on 1 July 2024. Consequently, masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates can continue to apply for the SC 485 visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream without concern about a reduction in the age limit.
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