The Northern Territory Government has confirmed that it has been granted its complete allocation for the 2026-27 General Skilled Migration program year by the Australian Government. Nomination applications through the NT Government will open on 21 August 2026, available to all onshore applicants as well as selected offshore streams. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility requirements relevant to their stream before submitting an application, as these have been revised for the upcoming program year. Guidance on completing and submitting an application is also available on the NT Government website. The NT Government has clarified that it cannot promise nomination outcomes will be finalised before an applicant’s visa expires. Individuals currently in Australia whose visas are nearing expiry are urged to consult a Registered Migration Agent or Legal Practitioner regarding their options, to ensure their ongoing lawful status in the country is maintained. For more information and guidance visit Northern Territory

The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program has begun accepting new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) from 17 August 2026, alongside a number of updates to the priority attributes used for candidate selection. Several changes have been made to how priority attributes are scored and assessed for this program year, and applicants are encouraged to review the full nomination requirements and updated attribute criteria available on the Migration Tasmania website. For the 2026-27 program year, Tasmania has been allocated a total of 2,050 nomination places, comprises two visa subclasses: For more information visit: Migration Tasmania

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is inviting public feedback on the draft Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) 2027, the classification set to replace the current OSCA 2024 version. The ABS is collaborating with representatives from government, industry, and the education and training sectors to ensure OSCA 2027 accurately reflects today’s Australian workforce. Community input is being sought to help identify gaps, update outdated terminology, and refine the classification ahead of its scheduled release in March 2027. The upcoming revision will concentrate on OSCA’s 6-digit occupation level and will involve identifying new and emerging occupations, phasing out occupations that no longer meet statistical thresholds, adjusting skill levels, and refining details such as specialisations, job titles, lead statements, main tasks, licensing requirements, and inclusion or exclusion criteria. Public consultation on the draft classification is open now and will run until 18 September 2026, after which the draft and related materials will be taken down from the ABS website. Interested parties can access the draft and submit feedback via the ABS Consultation Hub. Click here: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

A new Bill has been introduced to help the Administrative Review Tribunal and the Federal Circuit and Family Court manage rising caseloads, particularly in migration matters. It proposes changes to the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 and the Migration Act 1958. Key measures include allowing Tribunal registrars to dismiss applications with no reasonable prospect of success, enabling decisions to be delivered orally with written reasons available on request, and introducing new identity verification requirements for applicants seeking review of migration or protection decisions. The Bill responds to a sharp rise in caseloads. Tribunal lodgements have more than doubled in five years, while migration matters now make up two-thirds of the Federal Circuit and Family Court’s general caseload. It has been referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, with stakeholder groups raising concerns over procedural fairness and tighter review timeframes. Click here: Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced that surcharging on debit, prepaid and credit cards will be removed from 1st October 2026, as surcharging is no longer achieving its intended purpose, it has become harder for consumers to avoid and is often poorly disclosed. From that date, businesses will no longer be able to surcharge payments made via eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. American Express, JCB and UnionPay are also working to remove surcharging from the same date. Interchange fee caps will also be lowered from 1st October 2026 for Australian-issued cards, and 1st April 2027 for foreign-issued cards, alongside new reporting requirements to improve fee transparency for merchants. Businesses that currently apply surcharges will need to remove surcharge settings across all payment channels, update customer-facing materials, and ensure staff are prepared ahead of the changeover. Click here: Reserve Bank of Australia

The Department of Home Affairs has published a series of updates to the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program, effective across 2026, covering visa arrangements, age eligibility, program caps and processing timeframes. As agreed by the Australian and Indonesian Governments, the Indonesia Working Holiday Maker program will transition to a ballot system, with the ballot expected to open later this year. Anyone meeting WHM eligibility requirements will be able to express interest, with further details to be published once arrangements are finalised. Processing timeframes The Department is currently receiving a high volume of Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications, and processing times are consequently longer than usual. Applicants are advised not to book travel to Australia until they have received written confirmation that their visa has been granted and can monitor their application status via ImmiAccount. Increased age eligibility for Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Republic of Korea Passport holders from Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea became eligible to apply for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa up to the age of 35 (inclusive), from 1st July 2026. Cap increase for Uruguay From 1 July 2026, up to 1,500 first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas are available each program year to eligible Uruguayan passport holders, finalising a previously agreed amendment to the bilateral arrangement between Australia and Uruguay. Luxembourg applicants no longer require a Letter of Support From 3 June 2026, Luxembourg passport holders are no longer required to provide a Letter of Support with their Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa application. 2026–27 ballot registrations closed for China, India and Vietnam Registrations for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for China, India and Vietnam applicants closed on 25th June 2026. Czech Republic Work and Holiday Program extended The Pilot Work and Holiday Visa Arrangement between Australia and the Czech Republic has been extended, with Czech applicants able to apply for a Work and Holiday visa online through ImmiAccount. Philippines Work and Holiday arrangement progressing Following the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Australia and the Philippines on 8 September 2023, both governments are finalising the administrative arrangements required to launch a new Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa program. Once operational, the arrangement will allow up to 200 young Filipino and Australian passport holders to undertake a 12-month working holiday in each other’s country annually, including short-term work and study. A start date and further details including guidance on obtaining a Letter of Concurrence for Filipino applicants will be published once arrangements are finalised. Australia and UK Free Trade Agreement Following the entry into force of the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement on 31st May 2023, updated arrangements are in place under the Working Holiday Maker program and Youth Mobility Scheme for UK passport holders. Visa condition 8547 – six-month work limitation Working Holiday Makers are reminded that mandatory visa condition 8547 limits work with any single employer to a maximum of six months, unless a blanket exemption applies or written permission has been obtained to work longer. Click here: Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program

VETASSESS has released its updated fee schedule for Professional Skills Recognition Skills Assessments taking effect from 9th September 2026. The increase applies in line with the Consumer Price Index and has been reviewed in accordance with Australian Government guidance. The fee changes cover a broad range of services, including the standard Full Skills Assessment (which also applies to DAMA and Industry Labour Agreement applications), Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support (SAS), Chinese Qualifications Verification (CQV), non-migration assessments, and administration fees. The increase does not apply to trade occupation assessments. Key fee changes (GST excluded): Service Current fee New fee Full Skills Assessment (incl. DAMA/ILA) $1,096 $1,146 Priority Processing (supplementary) $825 $863 Points Test Advice (non-VETASSESS occupations) $311 $325 Post-485 Assessment (same occupation) $852 $891 Post-Vocational Education Work Visa (Subclass 485) $416 $436 Review – Subclass 485 $265 $277 Reassessment – Subclass 485 $379 $396 Reassessment (within 12 months) $745 $779 Appeal (within 90 days) $1,082 $1,132 Renewal of Skills Assessment (within 3 years) $473 $495 Review of assessment outcome (within 90 days) (including DAMA and ILA): Review type Current fee New fee Qualification only $340 $356 Employment only $609 $637 Qualification and Employment $913 $955 To view the full fee schedule, click here

The Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026 has been introduced into the House of Representatives by the Department of Home Affairs, proposing a further amendment to the Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978. Under the Bill, the Passenger Movement Charge payable by most passengers departing Australia will increase from $70 to $80. The amendment is set to take effect the day after the Bill receives Royal Assent. The increased charge will apply to departures from Australia on or after 1st January 2027. An exception applies where a passenger departs using a ticket or equivalent travel authority that was sold or issued before the Act’s commencement, and the departure occurs between 1st January 2027 and 30th June 2028 in which case the previous $70 charge will continue to apply. Click here: Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026

The Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has been introduced into the House of Representatives by the Attorney-General, proposing amendments to the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, the Migration Act 1958, and related legislation. Key proposed changes include: It takes effect the day after Royal Assent; identity verification and approved forms provisions commence via Proclamation, with a six-month backstop. Click here: Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

The Department of Home Affairs has issued new policy advice regarding endorsements under the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA), effective 30 July 2026. Under the updated guidance, Designated Area Representatives (DARs) are now encouraged to consider a business’s full current and future workforce requirements when endorsing applications, rather than limiting endorsement to a single year. DARs should endorse eligible visa streams across all five years of the agreement where appropriate, including consideration of Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) pathways for Skilled International (SID) visa holders. This change is intended to reduce the need for multiple variation requests and avoid subsequent processing delays for employers and applicants. Importantly, Home Affairs has confirmed that any previous advice recommending endorsement of only the first year of an initial application is no longer valid. Click here: Regional Migration