News

The income thresholds for the Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) and Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa programs will increase from 1 July 2026 following the annual indexation process under regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations. Each year, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) are automatically adjusted based on the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). As this indexation occurs under the Regulations, no separate legislative instrument is required. Indexed thresholds for the 2026–27 program year: These revised income thresholds will apply to all relevant Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Click here: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (ABS)

A new legislative instrument has been introduced to replace the existing Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations. The updated Regulations commence on 1 April 2026 and continue the current registration charge arrangements with minor drafting improvements. The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 2026 repeal and replace the 1998 Regulations. The new instrument has been made in substantially the same form as the previous Regulations, with minor drafting amendments to improve clarity and readability. There is no change to the registration or renewal charges payable to the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) for both commercial and non-commercial registered migration agents (RMAs). The instrument also contains transitional arrangements. Any RMA who has already paid the non-commercial application charge before 1 April 2026 will continue under the previous arrangements until the end of their current registration period. From 1 April 2026 onwards, a registered non-commercial migration agent may only provide immigration assistance on a non-commercial basis. If they provide services commercially, they must pay the appropriate commercial charge under the Act. Click here: Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 2026

A new legislative instrument has been registered to repeal the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 and introduce consequential amendments to align existing migration legislation with the Migration Agents Regulations 2026. The Migration Legislation (Migration Agents) (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 support the transition to the new regulatory framework governing registered migration agents (RMAs). The amendments ensure consistency across migration legislation and remove outdated references to the repealed 1998 Regulations. Key amendments include: These changes streamline the legislative framework, modernise regulatory references, and ensure alignment with the updated migration agent regulatory scheme commencing 1 April 2026. Click here: Migration Legislation (Migration Agents) (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026

Educational Testing Service (ETS) has introduced changes to the scoring system for the global TOEFL iBT test. These changes may affect applicants intending to rely on TOEFL results for Australian visa purposes. From 21 January 2026, the global TOEFL iBT test has transitioned from the traditional 0–30 score per section model to a 1–6 band score scale. These changes do not apply to the TOEFL iBT Australia test. The Australian version will continue to operate under the existing 0–120 total score scale. As of 21 January 2026, the TOEFL iBT Australia test is the only TOEFL test accepted for Department of Home Affairs visa purposes. Results from the global TOEFL iBT test types are not valid for Australian migration or visa applications. When booking the test, applicants must ensure they select the option labelled “TOEFL iBT for Australia.” The booking system may default to global TOEFL test versions, which do not meet Australian visa requirements. The confirmation screen should clearly indicate that the selected test is the TOEFL iBT Australia test. Careful attention during registration is essential to ensure compliance with English language requirements for visa applications. For more information Click here.

The South Australian Government has officially launched an updated version of their website, delivering a refreshed design, clearer content, and enhanced functionality. The updated website features a modern, mobile-friendly design that adapts seamlessly across phones, tablets, and desktop devices, ensuring a smooth user experience on any platform. Its improved navigation and cleaner layout reduce clutter and guide users directly to essential information, including migration pathways, eligibility requirements, and available services. In addition, the site is now available in 106 languages, making it more accessible and inclusive for a diverse audience. To visit the news website Click here.

LEGENDcom has released a Migration stack update, including revisions to internal policy and procedural instruction. As part of this update, the Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy Statement (SM-7088) has been introduced. Consequently, the following Policy and Procedural Instructions (PIs) have been removed, as their content has been consolidated into the new Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy Statement: The update ensures greater clarity and consistency in policy settings by centralising child safety and wellbeing guidance under one authoritative instruction.

A new legislative instrument has commenced, updating the temporary visa subclasses referenced under Public Interest Criteria (PIC) 4005 and 4007. The changes remove references to repealed visa subclasses and ensure the legislation reflects the current visa framework. The Migration (Temporary Visa Subclasses for PIC 4005 and 4007) Instrument 2026 commenced on 20 February 2026, replacing the previous instrument LIN 22/007. The new instrument removes Subclass 159 and Subclass 487 from the specified temporary visa subclasses for the purposes of subparagraphs 4005(2)(b)(ii) and 4007(1A)(b)(ii), as these visa subclasses have been repealed. Transitional provisions apply. The repealed instrument (LIN 22/007) will continue to apply to applications lodged under regulations 2.08 or 2.08B where the application was taken to have been made prior to the commencement of the new instrument. Click here: Migration (Temporary Visa Subclasses for PIC 4005 and 4007) Instrument 2026

The Department of Home Affairs has announced a free employer-focused webinar on the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot. This webinar is designed for employers seeking access to an alternative skilled labour pathway that supports workforce shortages while enabling skilled refugees and their families to rebuild their lives in Australia. The webinar will take place on Thursday, 19 February 2026 from 11:00am to 12:00pm (AWST). The Pilot is delivered in collaboration with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), which works closely with employers throughout the recruitment process. Participants will receive an overview of the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, learn about the support provided to employers by Talent Beyond Boundaries, hear testimonials from Pilot alumni and participating employers, and have the opportunity to ask questions of subject matter experts following the presentation. To register click here

Registered Migration Agents have been advised by OMARA of updates made by the Department’s Freedom of Information (FOI) section to its online resources. The revised FOI webpages have been updated to enhance clarity, improve navigation, and provide a more user-friendly experience for those seeking information or lodging requests. The full communication is provided below: “A fresh look for the Department’s access to information web pages In the Freedom of Information Section, we are committed to constantly refining our services to ensure an improved experience for you and your clients. Behind the scenes, we have been working on a number of initiatives to improve our processes to benefit clients needing to access their own personal information. Our external web pages have been redesigned to make the navigation experience more user-friendly, including a new landing page that is titled ‘Access to information’. The landing page separates personal and non-personal requests and clearly directs the user to the ‘Personal access request’ tab. Please follow the link here. To help us help you!  We encourage you to use our online webform to submit your requests. •              If you are requesting a visa file, this is typically more efficiently processed under Privacy Act provisions, and we have designed our new automation tools with this efficiency in mind. •              If you are happy for your request to be processed under the Privacy Act, we encourage you to state this clearly in your requests to us.•              To access improved automation to access information under the Privacy Act provisions you will need to ensure you do not specifically mention FOI or the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in your request. We will continue to ensure that if you indicate your preference is for us to manage your request under the FOI Act that these requests are registered and finalised as FOI requests. Whether you are requesting access to information under the FOI Act or Privacy Act we encourage you to use our online webform—it’s the fastest way to get started. If you have questions or feedback about these changes or how to frame your next request, our team is here to help. Just reach out to us. Email: request.personal.information@homeaffairs.gov.au”

The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 has received Royal Assent on 9 February 2026, formalising significant changes to the way the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) conducts reviews. The amendments broaden the Administrative Review Tribunal’s (ART) ability to finalise matters without convening an oral hearing. Under the new framework, the Tribunal may determine a case based solely on written material where it considers a hearing unnecessary, reasonable in the circumstances, and where all parties have been provided with an adequate opportunity to present written submissions. Changes to the Migration Act introduce a mandatory “on the papers” review process for certain visa categories. This will apply to: Reviews involving permanent visas and protection visas will continue to follow existing procedures and are not impacted by these amendments. Click here: Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026