From 1 July 2025, a 4.6% increase in Skilled Visa Salary Thresholds will apply, requiring employers to offer higher salaries to employees they nominate for Subclass 482, 494 and 186 Visas from this date.

Australian immigration was again a very topical issue in the media in 2023. In the 2022-23 financial year, we s | get 2022-23 and more than twice the October 2022-23 forecast of 235,000.

The Government has released its long-awaited Migration Strategy, revealing how the Skilled Migration visa system will be re-designed to support Australia's skills needs in coming decades.

While the Australian Federal Budget usually provides insights on the size and composition of the permanent migration program for the coming financial year, these planning levels were not released in this week's Budget announcements.

Since the government implemented Ministerial Direction 119 on 25 July 2026 to prioritise skilled visa processing for onshore applicants and applications supporting Australia’s defence and law enforcement interests (followed by construction, healthcare, and teaching), there has been considerable uncertainty about the impact of these changes.

Changes to the Subclass 482 TSS Visa will apply to new applications lodged on or after 25 November 2023.

The 407 Training Visa allows people to build their skills through organised, workplace‑based training programs in Australia.

Visa application processing times vary significantly. Updated processing times for most visa types are issued every month by the Department of Home Affairs and are indicative of the actual processing time...

What employers and skilled individuals should know about the Global Talent Program.

Australia’s migration program has always evolved in response to changing economic, demographic, and global conditions. But in 2026, the direction of migration policy is less clear than it has been in recent years. Elements of the government’s 2023 Migration Strategy, including its focus on regional migration, have been overshadowed by evolving policy settings aimed at reducing Net Overseas Migration (NOM)—a concept that has attracted significant political and media attention in the past year despite often being misunderstood.

The Subclass 408 Pandemic Event Visa will close on 1 February 2024, signifying the normalisation of the migration program after years of pandemic recovery efforts.

The Pandemic event stream of the 408 visa will provide flexible temporary arrangements for visa holders in Australia.

Employer-sponsored Visas for regional work are being prioritised for Government processing in 2024, according to the latest Ministerial Direction.

For most Australian visas, English proficiency matters. Unless exempt, applicants need to meet specific English language requirements that vary depending on whether they are the primary or secondary applicant and the type of visa they are applying for.

The Australian Government's Federal Budget indicates policy spend for 2024/25 will focus on actions to reduce Net Overseas Migration (particularly international student migration) and reforms to the migration system to implement its Migration Strategy.

Last month, Interstaff's Managing Director, Sheila Woods was interviewed on ABC Radio Perth on a critical issue that affects many migrants in Australia – family reunification.

Australia’s skilled visa priorities have changed following the introduction of Ministerial Direction 119 on 25 July 2026:

Australia’s permanent migration program is reviewed annually, with planning levels typically released alongside the Federal Budget.

Permanent Residence (PR) via the 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Visa has become more accessible for 482 Visa holders since the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 Visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa in December 2024.

Legislative changes will soon allow workers to be sponsored for a Subclass 482 Visa with just one year of relevant work experience – a reduction from the previous requirement of two years.