Latest Immigration News and Update

Parliament has passed the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, with the legislation approved by both Houses on 5 February 2026. The new rules will start on a date set by the government, or automatically six months after the Bill receives Royal Assent.

The changes make it easier for the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) to decide some cases without holding a face-to-face hearing. In certain situations, the Tribunal will be able to make decisions based only on written information, such as application forms and written submissions. This will happen where a hearing is not needed to properly decide the issues and where all parties have had a fair chance to provide their information in writing.

The amendments also affect some migration review cases. Reviews of student visa refusals and some temporary visa decisions will now be decided on the paperwork only, without an oral hearing. Over time, the government may add more temporary visa types to this paper-based review process through changes to the Migration Regulations.

Importantly, the changes do not apply to permanent visa or protection visa cases. These matters will continue to be reviewed under the existing processes.

The Tasmanian Government updates its skilled migration nomination invitation information on a weekly basis. The most recent update was released on 5 February 2026.

As part of this update, the following Registrations of Interest (ROIs) were invited to apply for state nomination:

Subclass 190: 35 ROIs invited
Subclass 491: 26 ROIs invited

For the 2025–26 program year, the number of nomination places currently available is:

Subclass 190: 698 places remaining
Subclass 491: 486 places remaining

The Tasmanian Government will continue to publish regular updates as invitation rounds progress throughout the program year.

The South Australian Government has issued state nomination invitations for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visas in February 2026.

In this round, the following invitations were issued:

227 invitations for the Subclass 190 visa
137 invitations for the Subclass 491 visa

This brings the total number of nomination invitations issued so far in the 2025–26 program year to:

837 invitations for the Subclass 190 visa
458 invitations for the Subclass 491 visa

The South Australian Government will continue to hold invitation rounds on a monthly basis, with the next round expected to take place in early March 2026.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) held a skilled migration nomination invitation round on 29 January 2026, issuing a total of 483 nominations across the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa programs.

The round resulted in 246 Subclass 190 nominations and 237 Subclass 491 nominations being issued.

For Canberra residents, the largest number of invitations were issued under the Critical Skill Occupations stream, with 123 Subclass 190 and 140 Subclass 491 nominations granted. Invitations were also issued to 457 and 482 visa holders, with 49 Subclass 190 and 20 Subclass 491 nominations, as well as to small business owners, where minimum Matrix scores of 105 for Subclass 190 and 95 for Subclass 491 applied.

Under the Doctorate Streamlined Pathway, 26 Subclass 190 nominations and one Subclass 491 nomination were issued.

For overseas applicants, invitations were limited to Critical Skill Occupations, with 31 Subclass 190 and 60 Subclass 491 nominations granted.

The ACT Government has also released a tentative schedule for the remaining invitation rounds in the 2025–26 program year, with rounds expected in the weeks commencing 23 February 2026, 23 March 2026, and 27 April 2026.

Complete Allocation for 2025-26 Program Year Released

The Tasmanian government has revealed the total number of state nomination spots available for the current program year. Combined with earlier interim numbers, Tasmania will offer:

• 1,200 spots for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa
• 650 spots for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa                        
  This brings the total available nominations to 1,850 for the 2025-26 period.

Regular Invitation Rounds Begin

Migration Tasmania is now conducting invitation rounds on a weekly basis for eligible candidates. The department will publish updated information on its official website following each round.

Information provided each week would include:

• How many Registrations of Interest (ROIs) received invitations
• Minimum points scores that were successful
• Number of nomination spots still available
• Current queue of pending ROIs             
  This regular reporting system would help candidates track invitation trends and assess their likelihood of success based on their points total and the program's ongoing status.

For guidance on applying for Tasmania state nomination, please get in touch with our team.

The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program is scheduled to commence on 6 October 2025, offering renewed opportunities for skilled professionals seeking to make Tasmania their home.

Application Portal Updates

Migration Tasmania's Application Gateway is currently undergoing essential maintenance and system upgrades. The portal is anticipated to be available for new Registration of Interest (ROI) submissions by close of business on 10 October 2025.

Important Update for Recent Applicants

Applicants who lodged a Registration of Interest within the past six months should take note: Migration Tasmania has revised its priority attribute ranking criteria for the new program year. These updated selection criteria may substantially enhance your prospects of being selected for state nomination.

Starting 19 September 2025, you will be able to submit your Registration of Interest (ROI) for Queensland nomination in preparation for the program’s opening.

Some of the things to keep in mind:

• No need to submit a new EOI each year — they’re now valid for 2 years (715 days).
• EOIs expiring in less than 2 weeks won’t be considered — submit a new EOI + ROI if needed.
• You don’t need to select Queensland as your only state of interest.
• Applying from within Queensland? Set your ‘Usual Country of Residence’ as Australia.

Keep your details updated to stay eligible! Stay informed and prepare early to ensure your application is ready when the program officially launches.

This is a significant update to Australia's visa application requirements. Here's what international applicants need to know about the English language testing changes effective 7 August 2025:

Expanded Test Options
Three New Accepted Tests:

1. CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) - Previously only accepted in Canada
2. LANGUAGECERT Academic - A newer international English proficiency assessment
3. Michigan English Test (MET) - A well-established American English proficiency test

We will provide you guidance on the latest changes to English language tests with effect from 7 August 2025. Our consultants will help you understand the new requirements and prepare effectively.

Good news for visa applicants! The Department of Home Affairs has streamlined visa processing for several visa subclasses, reducing wait times and improving efficiency.

On June 10, 2025, South Australia officially launched a state nomination pathway for the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858) - a permanent residency route for globally talented individuals

Visa ballot for WHV subclass 462 opened on 24 June 2025 and closed on 15 July 2025.

As of 1 July 2025, the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for Student visas (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visas (subclass 590) has increased. The fee for a primary applicant has risen from $1,600 to $2,000. This change affects all new applications lodged on or after this date. Applicants are advised to factor in the updated cost when planning their visa application.