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.
The Australian Government has released the Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025, which take effect on 29 November 2025. The changes clarify how the new Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand (SID) visa operates within the existing framework previously applied to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. Key Changes Integration into cancellation and sponsorship frameworks: The SID visa is now formally included in the same cancellation, sponsorship and review provisions that operate for the TSS visa. Consistent employer obligations: Obligations for approved sponsors now expressly apply to both primary and secondary SID visa holders in the same way they apply to TSS holders. Alignment with prior TSS arrangements: The regulatory structure for the SID visa is aligned with the former Subclass 482 TSS visa to ensure continuity and clarity across both programs. Review rights clarified for Offshore Applicants: Refusals of SID visa applications in circumstances equivalent to TSS refusals are now confirmed as reviewable migration decisions. ENS 186 TRT pathway clarified: Employment experience used to meet the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) TRT stream requirements must be undertaken with an approved work sponsor, formally codifying long-standing policy practice. These amendments support the broader Skilled Visa Reform agenda and ensuring consistent, transparent operation of Australia’s employer-sponsored migration framework. Click here: Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025
The Victorian Government will hold a live webinar to provide migration professionals with insights into the 2025–26 Skilled Visa Nomination Program. This session is aimed at migration agents, lawyers, and other interested stakeholders. The webinar offers an opportunity to gain direct insights from Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program, including nomination pathways, eligibility requirements, priority sectors, and the application process. Event Details: Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm AEDT Key Topics Covered in the Webinar: Available skilled visa nomination options in Victoria Eligibility requirements for applicants Step-by-step application process Priority sectors for nominations Opportunity to submit questions in advance To register for the webinar click here
The Department of Home Affairs has announced the state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025–26 program year. A total of 20,350 skilled migration nominations are available across Australia’s states and territories. These allocations apply to two key skilled visa streams: Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) Skilled Work Regional (provisional) (subclass 491) State / Territory Subclass 190 Subclass 491 ACT 800 800 NSW 2,100 1,500 NT 850 800 QLD 1,850 750 SA 1,350 900 TAS 1,200 650 VIC 2,700 700 WA 2,000 1,400 Total 12,850 7,500 These allocations allow each state and territory to nominate skilled migrants according to their own criteria, tailored to local workforce needs. While these numbers set the ceiling for nominations, they do not guarantee visa grants. The actual number of visas issued will still depend on visa application processing, on‑hand applications, and the broader Migration Program planning levels. Click here: State and Territory Nomination Allocations
The Department of Home Affairs has announced that the ballot for the 2025–26 program year of the MATES ( Mobility Access Training for Education and Skills)‑India initiative is now open. It allows skilled Indian graduates and early-career professionals to gain valuable work experience in Australia without employer sponsorship. The eligible Indian graduates can apply between 1 November 2025 and 14 December 2025. Those selected through the ballot will be notified by the Department and invited to lodge a visa application. The ballot registration fee is AUD 25. The MATES program offers up to 3,000 primary applicants each year for skilled Indian graduates and early-career professionals to live and work in Australia for up to two years. Primary applicants may bring members of the family unit, who will not be counted towards the 3,000 places. Click here: MATE-Professionals Scheme 403 – Ballot Registration
The Department of Home Affairs has announced updates to migration and citizenship policies on LEGENDcom as of 7 November 2025. Migration Stack Updates Key updates to Migration Policy and Procedural Instructions (PIs) include: Citizenship Stack Updates Key updates to Citizenship Policies and Procedures include: These updates provide guidance for visa applicants, sponsors, and citizenship applicants, ensuring compliance with current legislative and procedural requirements. Click here: Migration Stack Update and Citizenship Stack Update
The NT Government has now received full allocations for the 2025-26 program year from the Australian Government. The NT Nomination application portal is intended to be opened by 24 November 2025 to new applications for all onshore and offshore streams. The NT has been allocated 1650 places, divided as follows: Please note that the NT Government cannot guarantee nominations before visa deadlines. Those who are onshore and have visas expiring should seek professional advice from a Registered Migration Agent or Legal Practitioner on their visa options and ensure that they remain lawful in Australia. Click here: NT Government Visa Nomination and Eligibility Requirements