News, updates & policy shaping migration to Australia.
Curated by our registered agents. What changed this week in Home Affairs program settings, occupation lists, sponsor rules — and comparable moves in the UK, Canada and New Zealand.
Skilled Occupation List: 2026 review signals shift toward critical care and clean energy
Jobs and Skills Australia has flagged registered nurses, renewable-energy engineers and cyber-security analysts as priorities in the upcoming Core Skills Occupation List revision.
Read moreSubclass 482 processing times shorten as accredited-sponsor lane clears backlog
Median processing for Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream has fallen to 21 days for accredited sponsors, down from 62 days at the start of 2026.
Read morePartner visa (subclass 820/801) application charge indexed from 1 July 2026
The combined Partner visa application charge rises with CPI indexation on 1 July. Applications lodged before that date are assessed at the current fee.
Read moreCanada's Express Entry category draws — what Australian-bound applicants should know
IRCC's category-based selection continues to pull healthcare and trades candidates. We compare eligibility overlap with Australia's skilled program.
Read moreUK Graduate Route trimmed to 18 months — impact on Australia-bound students
The UK's post-study Graduate Route is now capped at 18 months for most degrees, prompting renewed interest in Australia's Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.
Read moreNSW and Victoria confirm subclass 491 nomination caps for 2026–27
State nomination allocations for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa have been published. NSW leads with 2,400 places; Victoria with 1,900.
Read moreART replaces AAT: what changes for migration merits review
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has taken over migration and refugee review functions. Filing periods and fees remain unchanged for now.
Read moreNew Zealand citizens: pathway clarifications for those affected by s501 cancellations
Recent policy clarifications tighten thresholds for character-based cancellations and offer clearer revocation-request criteria for long-term NZ residents.
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