The Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) visa applications) Amendment Instrument 2026, registered on 28 September 2026 and effective from 29 September 2026, updates the list of Chinese travel agents authorised to lodge Visitor (Subclass 600) visa applications under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream. The updated list includes 78 approved Chinese travel agents across 16 provinces and municipalities in China. These agents are authorised to lodge ADS stream visa applications on behalf of eligible Chinese citizens travelling to Australia as part of organised tour groups. Applications under this stream must be lodged using Form 48G (Internet) through ImmiAccount by a travel agent specified in Schedule 1 of the instrument. Updated List of Approved Travel Agents: Province / Municipality Number of approved agents Beijing 18 Shanghai 15 Guangdong 13 Zhejiang 8 Jiangsu 5 Fujian 3 Hunan 3 Liaoning 2 Shandong 2 Sichuan 2 Tianjin 2 Chongqing 1 Hebei 1 Henan 1 Hubei 1 Shaanxi 1 Total 78 The rules for the other Visitor visa streams have not changed. Applications in the Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor and Frequent Traveller streams must still be made on form 1419 through ImmiAccount, unless the Department has invited the applicant to use a different form. The Frequent Traveller stream remains open to passport holders of the 10 ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste and China. Travel agents and tour operators should check the updated list to confirm their approval status. Click here: Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) visa applications) Instrument (LIN 21/056) 2021

The National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students Amendment (Overseas Student Transfers) Instrument 2026 commenced on 2 October 2026, extending the overseas student transfer restriction from six months to 12 months. Most international students outside the school sector must complete at least 12 months of their principal course before transferring to another education provider without a release. This temporary extension applies until 30 June 2027, after which the restriction returns to six months from 1 July 2027. For school students, the existing six-month restriction remains unchanged. A student can still transfer earlier in any of these cases: Any release granted by an education provider must be provided at no cost to the student. Click here: National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018

Victoria’s 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program is now open for Registrations of Interest (ROI) for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa, with 900 nomination places available. Each year, the Australian Government gives state and territory governments a number of nomination places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visas. For 2026–27, Victoria has been allocated 900 Subclass 190 nomination places. Victoria’s Subclass 491 nomination places for 2026–27 have not yet been finalised. Registrations of Interest for Subclass 491 nomination are not being accepted at this stage. Victoria will publish more information once the places are confirmed. Victoria has also advised that a possible payment provider issue is causing some payments to be declined, and it is working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. For eligibility requirements and more details click here

The new Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, commencing on 1 November 2026, introduce changes to Australia’s migration regulations, including an upfront application fee for certain protection visa review applications lodged with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The amendments also restrict access to Bridging Visa B (BVB) for people with pending protection visa applications or related judicial review proceedings. Applicants seeking ART review of a reviewable protection visa decision must pay a fee when submitting their review application. The fee is set at 50% of the standard migration review application fee. The fee does not have to be paid if the applicant is in immigration detention, or if the application is combined with another application for which the fee has already been paid. The fee will be refunded in full if any of the following apply: The new fee arrangements apply to review applications relating to decisions made on or after 1 November 2026. Review applications relating to decisions made before that date remain subject to the previous fee arrangements. The regulations also change who can get a Bridging B visa, which allows a person to travel outside Australia and return while their visa matter is being decided. To be eligible, applicants must have one of the following: Applicants are not eligible if they have a protection visa application that has not been decided or withdrawn, or if they have ongoing judicial review proceedings about a protection visa application. The regulations also add conditions 8564 and 8566 to the conditions that may be placed on Bridging E visas. These bridging visa changes apply to visa applications made on or after 1 November 2026. Click here: Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026

From 12 November 2026, most applicants for the Training (Subclass 407) visa must be outside Australia both when submitting their visa application and when the visa is granted. The Australian Government has introduced these changes through the Migration Amendment (Training Visas-Application Requirements) Regulations 2026. Under the new requirements: The new rules apply only to Subclass 407 visa applications made on or after 12 November 2026. Applications lodged before that date are not affected. People currently in Australia who are planning to apply for a Subclass 407 visa should consider lodging their application before 12 November 2026 or check whether they fall within one of the exemption groups. Click here: Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Application Requirements) Regulations 2026

The NSW Government opened its 2026–27 Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) program and published an updated NSW Skills List covering 78 ANZSCO unit groups. Some unit groups have been added and others removed compared with the previous list. The updated list identifies the ANZSCO unit groups considered for subclass 190 nomination. Candidates must make sure their nominated occupation falls within an eligible unit group and is also eligible for the visa under the Department of Home Affairs requirements. Subclass 491 is currently closed to new applicants, and the NSW Regional Skills List has not yet been updated. Subclass 190 nomination process NSW nomination is invitation-based. Meeting the eligibility criteria or having an occupation included in an eligible unit group does not guarantee an invitation or nomination. Candidates should review the current nomination requirements and ensure their Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is accurate and up to date. For information regarding Occupations and Eligibility, visit: NSW Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190)

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) published the results of its Canberra Matrix invitation round held on 12 October 2026. According to the ACT Government, the round issued 261 invitations, all for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Invitation Results Applicant Group Stream Invitations All applicants Doctorate Streamlined Pathway 54 Canberra residents Small Business Owners (minimum score 120) 18 Canberra residents Critical Skill Occupations 126 Overseas applicants Critical Skill Occupations 63 Total 261 The ACT invited the highest-ranked Matrix in each occupation. The cut-off for selection depended on the remaining monthly allocation, the date and time of Matrix submission, the occupation cap and demand. No Subclass 491 invitations were issued in this round. Tentative future invitation rounds The ACT has listed the following tentative dates for 2026–27: These dates are subject to change. The ACT Government has also said that its nomination allocation for 2026–27 has not yet been confirmed. Click here: Canberra Matrix – Invitation Round

Jobs and Skills Australia has released its 2026 Jobs and Skills Report, pathways to success. It finds that Australia’s labour market remains strong, although almost 3 in 10 occupations are still in shortage in 2025. The report brings together evidence on jobs, skills and workforce participation. It is designed to help governments, employers, education providers and individuals make better decisions about future workforce needs. Key findings Click here: Jobs and Skills Report 2026

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport will be the first Australian airport to offer the new web-based Australia Travel Declaration to arriving international passengers on any airline. It will be available from the airport’s first international flight on Monday, 26 October 2026. The Australia Travel Declaration has been trialled since October 2024 through a pilot with Qantas, completed via the Qantas app. The new web-based version opens it up to travellers regardless of which airline they fly. Key features include: In July 2026, the Australian Government committed $56.1 million over four years for traveller modernisation at Australian airports. As part of this, the Australia Travel Declaration will be rolled out in phases to all international airports and seaports over 12–18 months. Click here: Australian Travel Declaration

South Australia announced an update to its General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the 2026–27 program year on 22nd October 2026. Eligible candidates living and working in South Australia whose current visas are due to expire by 31 January 2027 can now submit a Registration of Interest (ROI), subject to the applicable program requirements. Offshore candidates do not need to submit an ROI. They can continue to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, and suitable candidates will be invited directly from their EOI. Invitations will go to suitable candidates from both the onshore and offshore groups. Priority will be given to those working in these sectors: High-ranking candidates in non-priority sectors may also be considered. All applicants must have a current EOI lodged in SkillSelect. Candidates should review the eligible occupations for the 2026–27 program and confirm the requirements of the relevant migration stream before proceeding. Click here: South Australia’s General Skilled Migration Program Update