The Australian Government has determined the maximum number of Contributory Parent, Parent and Other Family visas that may be granted during the 2025–26 financial year, through a legislative instrument commencing 12 June 2026. The Migration (Granting of Contributory Parent Visas, Parent Visas and Other Family Visas During Financial Year 2025–26) Instrument 2026 sets the visa caps applicable from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 inclusive, under section 85 of the Migration Act 1958. These caps are established annually to manage demand across the Parent and Other Family visa categories, which consistently exceeds the number of available places. The maximum number of visas that may be granted across each category for the 2025–26 financial year is as follows: Visa Category Maximum Number of Visas Contributory Parent Visas 6,800 Parent Visas 1,700 Other Family Visas 500 Applications that exceed the allocated cap will be carried over to the next program year. The instrument will self-repeal on 1 July 2026, as it applies solely to the current financial year. Click here: Migration (Granting of Contributory Parent Visas, Parent Visas and Other Family Visas During Financial Year 2025-26) Instrument 2026
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released two new publications – the Australian Labour Market for Migrants report for April 2026 and the 2025 Skills in Demand Report – offering insights into Australia’s labour market conditions, migration trends and the employer-sponsored temporary visa program. Australian Labour Market for Migrants – April 2026 The Australian Labour Market for Migrants report for April 2026 offers an overview of current labour market conditions, migration trends and workforce outcomes across Australia. The report is designed to support prospective migrants, visa holders, employers and migration professionals in navigating Australia’s evolving labour market landscape. While the Australian economy and labour market continue to demonstrate resilience overall, the report notes signs of further softening, with trend employment declining over the 12 months to February 2026 in Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. Key findings include: 2025 Skills in Demand Report The Skills in Demand (SID) Report is prepared in response to the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy. The report analyses the employer-sponsored temporary SID visa program – across the Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams – for the period from December 2024 to 30 September 2025, providing data and analysis relevant to migration practitioners and employers operating within the program.
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) is conducting an independent client experience survey, inviting selected applicants and representatives to provide feedback on their experience with the Tribunal. The survey targets applicants and representatives whose matters were finalised between December 2025 and March 2026. Eligible participants will receive an email invitation from the ART containing a link to the survey, which is being conducted by Portable – an independent research company engaged by the ART to gather and analyse responses. Participation is entirely voluntary and all responses will be treated confidentially. The survey will remain open until 9:00 am (AEST) on Monday, 22 June 2026.
The Western Australian Government has announced the transition of the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) to the broader Western Australian DAMA framework, providing continued access to skilled migration pathways for employers across the Goldfields region. The Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) will end on 30 June 2026. From 1 July 2026, employers located within the Goldfields region will be able to access the WA DAMA, ensuring ongoing access to employer-sponsored migration concessions and skilled workforce solutions. Goldfields employers should be aware of the following key dates: Click here: Goldfields DAMA transition
LEGENDcom has released Migration stack updates for 2 June and 5 June 2026, covering amendments to the Migration Regulations and updates to several Policy and Procedural Instructions (PIs). 2 June 2026 The stack update reflects amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 made on 1 June 2026 by the Migration Amendment (Administrative Review of Student Visa Refusal Decisions) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00640), which prescribe that most applications for review of a student visa refusal must now be determined on the papers rather than through an oral hearing. 5 June 2026 The following PIs have been updated across the Migration stack: Policy — Migration Regulations Schedules Policy — Migration Act Policy — Refugee and Humanitarian Policy — Migration Regulations
Luxembourg passport holders applying for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa will no longer be required to provide a letter of support from the Luxembourg Government, following a legislative amendment that commenced on 3 June 2026. The Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Work and Holiday Visas — Luxembourg) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/063) amends the existing arrangements under LIN 21/019 to add Luxembourg to the list of countries whose passport holders are exempt from the government support letter requirement. The amendment applies to all applications made on or after 3 June 2026. Click here: Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Work and Holiday Visas—Luxembourg) Instrument 2026
The Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, and the Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, have announced the departure of Professor Barney Glover AO from his role as Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), where he has served since April 2024. During his time at JSA, Professor Glover was instrumental in building the organisation into a valued contributor to Australia’s workforce planning and labour market policy landscape. He brought to the role a distinguished background in tertiary education, having previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University and Charles Darwin University, among other senior academic leadership roles. Professor Glover is now taking up the role of Chief Commissioner of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). Throughout his tenure at JSA, he also supported the interim ATEC in an advisory capacity from its inception on 1 July 2025. His new appointment as Chief Commissioner is a full statutory role commencing 1 July 2026, for a five-year term. Click here: Jobs and Skills Australia
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has launched a four-month national operation to strengthen compliance and oversight of the Training (Subclass 407) visa program, targeting employers using fraudulent training arrangements to exploit migrant workers. This program is led by the Department’s Sponsor Monitoring Unit, ABF officers have already conducted more than 100 site visits across six states and territories in the first month alone. Early findings reveal employers lacking genuine training plans and trainees being placed in roles unrelated to their approved training. The operation will cover more than 200 workplaces nationally and is being conducted in collaboration with the Fair Work Ombudsman. It is important to note that the Subclass 407 visa is for structured workplace-based training and professional development — not ongoing employment. In the 2025–26 financial year to 30 April 2026, 55% of Subclass 407 applications have been refused or withdrawn. Under the Migration Act, exploiting visa holders is a serious criminal offence carrying significant penalties including fines and imprisonment. Suspicious activity can be reported anonymously via Border Watch. For more information click here
The Department of Home Affairs has advised the pre-application ballot process for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa for the 2026-27 program year. Applicants from China, India and Vietnam must now register through a ballot before being eligible to apply for the visa. Rather than applying directly, eligible applicants from China, India and Vietnam must first register in their respective country’s ballot. Only those randomly selected through the ballot will be invited to lodge a Subclass 462 visa application. An invitation to apply does not guarantee the visa -applicants must still meet all relevant eligibility criteria. Ballot registration must be completed via the applicant’s ImmiAccount. Applicants may only register once per ballot round, and registration is only available while the ballot period is open. Registrations for the China, India and Vietnam ballot for the 2026–27 program year will open on 4 June 2026 and close on 25 June 2026. Key Considerations: Click here: Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program
The Australian Government has introduced the Migration Amendment (Administrative Review of Student Visa Refusal Decisions) Regulations 2026, changing the way student visa refusal decisions are reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The majority of review applications will now be assessed on the papers based on written submissions and documentary evidence rather than through an oral hearing. The Regulations introduce the following changes: Response timeframes Additional amendments Where a matter later becomes unsuitable for an on-the-papers review, any notices previously issued by the ART will remain valid and fresh invitations will not be required. The Regulations also include technical updates to migration regulation numbering and revisions to the definition of confirmation of enrolment to align with the ESOS framework. Commencement and Transitional Arrangements The new provisions will apply to: Transitional arrangements also apply to cases moving into the new paper-based review system from 1 June 2026, ensuring steps already taken under previous provisions are treated as steps taken under the new framework. Click here: Migration Amendment (Administrative Review of Student Visa Refusal Decisions) Regulations 2026