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
The new Ministerial Direction 121 has been issued in order to set out the new order of priority for considering temporary skilled visa applications. It was commenced on 19 September 2026, formally revoking Direction 119 (dated 24 July 2026). It applies to the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, covering both the Specialist Skills and other streams. Order of priority for processing applications: Delegates may depart from this order where an application involves compelling circumstances, such as risks to community safety, continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services, or Australia’s international relations. Click here: Direction No. 121- Migration Act 1958
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) will host its national Roadshow across Australia in October and November 2026, bringing together government, industry and community stakeholders to discuss the latest labour market trends and workforce challenges. Read more: The Roadshow offers attendees the chance to hear directly from JSA, state and territory governments, industry leaders and local experts through presentations and panel discussions, covering the latest evidence shaping Australia’s jobs, skills and training landscape. This year’s event coincides with Jobs and Skills Month, a JSA-led collaborative initiative. Roadshow locations and dates: Speaker announcements will be released closer to each event, and an online option will be available for those unable to attend in person. Interested parties can subscribe to JSA’s latest news updates to be notified when registrations open. Click here: Jobs and Skills Australia Roadshow 2026
VETASSESS will undertake scheduled technical maintenance on Saturday, 10 October 2026, during which clients and agents will be temporarily unable to access certain portal functions. The maintenance will take place from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (AEDT). During this window, clients and agents will be unable to: VETASSESS has advised applicants and agents to plan around this downtime accordingly and has apologised for any inconvenience caused while the essential maintenance is completed. Click here: VETASSESS
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke has announced a package of migration reforms structured around who arrives, who stays, and who leaves, aimed at reducing Net Overseas Migration (NOM) while better targeting the program to Australia’s economic and workforce needs. Migration numbers: Who arrives (new arrivals into Australia): Who stays (people already in Australia): Who leaves (departures and compliance): Click here: Department of Home Affairs
Tasmania issued its latest round of skilled migration invitations on 10 September 2026, extending 40 invitations under subclass 190 and 26 under subclass 491. Invitations issued (10 September 2026): Current processing summary: Category Subclass 190 Subclass 491 Lowest score invited 502 points 74 points ROIs on hand 890 603 Nomination places available 1,018 732 Applications lodged, not yet decided 8 13 Invitations issued, application not yet lodged 66 58 The oldest lodged application still awaiting case officer allocation dates back to 9 September 2026. Lowest score required for nomination (rolling 3-month average): Nomination is granted once all claimed priority attributes are verified and the information provided in the ROI and nomination application is confirmed to be true and correct. Applications may be declined where attributes cannot be verified and the resulting score falls below the required threshold, or where attributes appear to have been claimed to artificially inflate a score. Gold pass holders who do not satisfy the relevant Gold priority attribute will be declined, irrespective of their overall score. Click here: Migration Tasmania