The Migration (Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/025) has been registered setting out updated lodgement arrangements for Maritime Crew (Temporary) visa applications. It will commence on 1st November 2026, repealing and replacing the Specification of Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications 2016/115 instrument. The instrument sets out how applications for the Maritime Crew (Temporary) (Class ZM) visa must be lodged, depending on the applicant’s circumstances: Click here: LIN 26/025 – Migration (Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications) Instrument 2026

A new Migration (Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/068) was made on 21 September 2026 specifying which temporary visa holders are prevented from lodging a Student visa application while in Australia. It repeals and replaces the Specification of Categories of Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia 2016/016 instrument. Under the instrument, a person holding one of the following substantive temporary visas is precluded from lodging a Student (Subclass 500) or Student Guardian (Subclass 590) visa application while onshore in Australia: Applicants holding any of the above visas will need to depart Australia before applying for a Student or Student Guardian visa, rather than lodging the application onshore. Click here: LIN 26/068 – Migration (Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia) Instrument 2026

A new LIN 26/055 – Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity-Funding Entities) Instrument 2026 has been registered specifying which entities count as recognised funding sources for a “complying entrepreneur activity” under the entrepreneur visa framework. It repeals and replaces the Specification of Entities 2016/074 instrument. Made under the Migration Regulations 1994, the instrument specifies which entities qualify as recognised funding sources for entrepreneur visa purposes. These include all Commonwealth, State or Territory government agencies, as well as bodies established under Commonwealth, State or Territory law that undertake publicly funded research or innovation initiatives. Also recognised are investors registered, or conditionally registered, as venture capital limited partnerships or early-stage venture capital limited partnerships under the Venture Capital Act 2002, along with higher education providers listed as Table A or Table B providers under the Higher Education Support Act 2003. It also clarifies that a higher education provider ceases to qualify as a recognised entity if its approval is revoked or suspended, or if its approval notice ceases to have legal effect under the relevant provisions of the Legislation Act 2003. Applicants relying on entrepreneur activity funding to meet visa requirements should ensure their funding source falls within one of these specified categories. Click here: LIN 26/055 – Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Funding Entities) Instrument 2026

A new instrument has been registered specifying which business activities do not qualify as a “complying entrepreneur activity” for entrepreneur visa purposes, replacing the previous 2016 instrument. The Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity-Excluded Activities) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/056) was made on 18 September 2026 and sets out the activities that are excluded from being recognised as a complying entrepreneur activity. The following activities are specified as excluded: Applicants relying on entrepreneur activity to meet visa requirements should ensure their proposed business activities do not fall within these excluded categories. Click here: LIN 26/056 – Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Excluded Activities) Instrument 2026

A new Customs (Place for the Examination of International Mail-Norfolk Island) Approval 2026 (LIN 26/076) was made on 21 September 2026 approving a designated location on Norfolk Island for the examination of international mail, replacing the previous 2016 approval. Under the new instrument, the Norfolk Island Delivery Annex, located at 47 Taylors Rd, Norfolk Island, NSW 2899, is approved as the official customs place for examining international mail, as authorised under the Customs Act 1901 (as applied in Norfolk Island). Click here: Customs (Place for the Examination of International Mail-Norfolk Island) Approval 2026 (LIN 26/076)

A new instrument Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/100) has been registered to correct the postal address for lodging Child (Migrant) and Child (Residence) visa applications. The instrument amends the earlier Migration (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/081), specifically updating the postal address listed for lodging applications. The previous address, “GPO Box 241, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia,” has been replaced with “GPO Box 241, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.” This corrected address applies to any visa application made on or after the date this amending instrument commences. Applications lodged before that date, using the previous address, are not affected. Click here: LIN 26/100 – Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will acquire visa-related data from the Department of Home Affairs across the 2026–27 to 2028–29 financial years, as part of a new data-matching program aimed at strengthening tax and superannuation compliance. The program was announced via a gazette notice on the Federal Register of Legislation on 21 September 2026. The ATO estimates that records relating to approximately 9 million individuals will be obtained each financial year. Data items to be shared include: Objectives of the program include: The program operates in line with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s Guidelines on Data Matching in Australian Government Administration (2014), ensuring compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles and the Privacy Act 1988. Click here: Gazette notice: Commissioner of Taxation – Notice of a visa data-matching program 21 September 2026

The Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/004) has been registered specifying the designated regional areas recognised for migration purposes across Australia. The instrument made on 18 September 2026 by Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke and takes effect the day after registration. It repeals and replaces the Designated Areas 2016/044 instrument. It sets out the areas that qualify as “designated areas” for the purposes of regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994 – a classification relevant to certain regional visa pathways and regional work or study requirements. Designated areas under the new instrument include: Click here: LIN 26/004 – Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026

The Australian Government has confirmed that the Agreement between Australia and Fiji on Cooperation in the Field of Defence and the Status of Visiting Forces has officially entered into force, triggering related migration and customs arrangements. The Home Affairs (Status of Forces Agreement-Fiji-Entry into Force) Notice 2026 was made on 18 September 2026, confirming that the Agreement, originally signed on 20 October 2022 in Suva, Fiji, entered into force for Australia on 20 May 2026. The Notice is authorised under the Customs (International Obligations) Amendment (Australia–Fiji Defence Cooperation Agreement) By-Law 2025 and the Migration Amendment (Status of Forces Agreement-Fiji and Timor-Leste) Regulations 2023 and gives formal effect to the Status of Forces arrangements between the two countries, supporting the entry, status and visiting arrangements of defence personnel operating under the Agreement. Click here: Home Affairs (Status of Forces Agreement-Fiji-Entry into Force) Notice 2026

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke has issued Direction 122, establishing a new order of priority for processing applications across a range of provisional and permanent skilled visa subclasses. It was commenced on 19 September 2026. It applies to a broad range of skilled visa subclasses, including subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888. Order of priority for processing applications: As with Direction 121, delegates may depart from this order of priority where an application involves compelling circumstances affecting community safety or the continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services in Australia. Click here: Ministerial Direction 122 – Migration Act 1958