Updates

The Department of Home Affairs provides dedicated information and support for people experiencing domestic and family violence through its website. These pages are regularly reviewed and updated and translated into different languages: Domestic and Family Violence Information The website includes a downloadable information sheet that RMAs may provide to clients, where appropriate. This resource was developed in consultation with the International Organization for Migration and is attached below. The website also hosts the Temporary visa holder domestic and family violence contact form, which is the Department's preferred point of contact for clients and RMAs seeking information or support regarding visa status or other DFV-related immigration matters. Source: Department-of-Home-Affairs-information-sheet-for-visa-holders-experiencing-DFV-in-Australia.pdf

VETASSESS is strengthening its engagement with migration professionals across Australia, with Perth taking centre stage to commence its upcoming series of Migration Agent Masterclasses. The initiative will bring senior VETASSESS leaders and experienced assessors directly to the Western Australian migration community, creating opportunities to share insights, discuss emerging industry trends and strengthen connections with migration agents working across Australia's skilled migration system. Perth sits at the heart of this year's Masterclass program, with VETASSESS looking forward to spending time with migration professionals in Western Australia and strengthening connections with a market that continues to play an important role in Australia's skilled migration landscape. By bringing senior leaders and experienced assessors directly to Perth, VETASSESS is creating opportunities for meaningful face-to-face engagement, knowledge sharing and discussion on the issues most relevant to migration agents and their clients. The Perth event forms part of a broader national program that will also visit Sydney and Melbourne, reinforcing VETASSESS' commitment to supporting migration professionals through collaboration, accessibility and direct access to assessment expertise. Designed to foster greater industry engagement, the Masterclasses will provide attendees with deeper insight into the skills assessment process, including key evidence considerations, common application challenges and factors that can influence assessment outcomes. Participants will hear directly from the experts behind the assessment process and gain practical insights drawn from real-world examples and industry experience. The sessions will also provide a forum for discussion on issues shaping the current migration environment, enabling migration professionals to engage directly with VETASSESS subject matter experts and exchange perspectives with peers from across the industry. Attendees will gain: Deeper insight into how applications are assessed and the evidence considerations that influence outcomes. Direct access to senior leaders and experienced assessors across a broad range of occupations and assessment pathways. Practical learnings drawn from real-world examples and common assessment scenarios. Opportunities to discuss challenges, trends and emerging issues affecting migration professionals and their clients. Stronger professional connections with industry peers and the VETASSESS team. Beyond technical insights, the Masterclasses reflect VETASSESS' ongoing commitment to building strong relationships with migration professionals. The events provide opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and direct engagement, helping ensure migration agents have access to the expertise and information needed to support their clients. Through ongoing engagement with migration professionals, VETASSESS continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting a well-informed, connected and capable migration sector. The Migration Agent Masterclass series is one of the many ways VETASSESS is investing in industry relationships, sharing expertise and contributing to a stronger understanding of skills assessment across Australia's migration profession. The 2026 Masterclass series will be delivered across Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, with Perth serving as a key focus of the national program as VETASSESS brings its expertise directly to migration professionals in Western Australia.

On 25 July 2026, three new Ministerial Directions came into effect to support the Government’s policy to prioritise applications from onshore migrants across the Skilled and Family programs and reduce Net Overseas Migration. For further information about visa processing priorities, please refer to Visa processing priorities.

Fans and supporters who want to come to Australia to watch the Rugby League World Cup 2026 must have a valid Australian visa. There are a range of visas that are suitable for fans and supporters, and the type of visa you need will depend on: how long you would like to stay in Australia if you are planning to enter Australia more than once the nationality of your passport what you would like to do while you are here. You can find out more information about Australian visas by using the visa finder. We are currently processing a high number of visa applications. To help us process your visa application faster always remember to check twice, and submit once. Travelling to New Zealand and/or Papua New Guinea Fans and supporters who want to travel to New Zealand and/or Papua New Guinea to watch matches will need an appropriate visa for the country they are visiting. Information on New Zealand visas and NZeTAs is available on the Immigration New Zealand website: Visitor Visa: Visa details | Immigration New Zealand. Information on visa requirements for Papua New Guinea are available on Papua New Guinea's Immigration & Citizenship Service Authority website: Visit - ICA. Transit visa requirement Fans and supporters transiting through Australia on their way to or from another country, including New Zealand and/or Papua New Guinea, may need a transit visa. You can find out more about transit visas at transiting through Australia. Fans and supporters should also check the transit visa requirements for other countries they are transiting through when travelling to and from Australia.

Allocation received and program opening details to be announced soon 2026-27 Program Allocations A total of 2050 nomination places have been issued to Tasmania this year, comprising: Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa: 1250 places Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: 800 places Tasmania’s Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will reopen to new Registrations of Interest in the coming weeks, with details to be announced soon. You can monitor the Migration Tasmania site for the latest information regarding the 2026-27 program. You can also sign up for our newsletter . Once the program reopens, please carefully read the 2026-27 program settings and guidelines for any changes. Nomination applications lodged but not yet decided If you have lodged an application for nomination but have not received an outcome, Migration Tasmania will continue to process your application against the requirements in place at the time you lodged your application. If approved, applicants will be nominated in SkillSelect. Subclass 491 applicants seeking subclass 190 nomination Applications for subclass 491 nomination that have been lodged but not yet decided will not be considered for subclass 190 nomination. If you wish to be considered for subclass 190 nomination you will need to withdraw your current application and register for subclass 190 when the 2026-27 program opens. A new invitation to apply for subclass 190 nomination will depend upon the level of interest and the number of pro-rata places available at the time. If you have any questions about the program, your ROI or your application for nomination, please contact Migration Tasmania at skilled@migration.tas.gov.au

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Annual Applicant Limits for Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) Visas) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/035), establishing annual limits on the number of applicants that each Approved Proposing Organisation (APO) may propose under the Community Support Program (CSP). The instrument specifies that: The explanatory statement notes that the reforms are intended to provide a more transparent and predictable framework for managing Community Support Program places while requiring Approved Proposing Organisations to carefully plan and administer their annual allocations. Approved Proposing Organisations and migration practitioners involved in humanitarian migration should review the new instrument to ensure future Subclass 202 applications comply with the revised validity requirements. Source: Migration-Annual-Applicant-Limits-for-Sc202-Global-Special-Humanitarian-visas-Instrument-2026.pdf and Migration-Annual-Applicant-Limits-for-Sc202-Global-Special-Humanitarian-visas-Instrument-2026----explanatory-statement.pdf - Each APO will be subject to an annual applicant allocation for the financial year commencing 1 July 2026. - Both primary and secondary applicants are counted towards an APO's allocation. - Where the applicable limit would be exceeded, the Subclass 202 visa application will be invalid and cannot be considered. - The instrument also clarifies the methodology for counting applicants, including circumstances where responsibility for a proposal is transferred between APOs, ensuring applicants are not counted twice.

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Specification of Commonwealth Priorities for Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) Visas) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/036), which establishes the Commonwealth's priorities for assessing applications under the Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) visa within the Community Support Program (CSP). The instrument aligns with the CSP's objective of supporting humanitarian entrants who are well placed to establish themselves in Australia and achieve financial independence. The Commonwealth priorities include: -Primary applicants should generally be between 18 and 50 years of age. -Primary applicants should demonstrate adequate spoken and written English to support independent living, workplace safety and employment. -Primary applicants should have the capacity to become financially self-sufficient within 12 months of arrival, supported by either an offer of paid employment in Australia or evidence of relevant skills and work experience. The explanatory statement notes that these priorities are intended to support the viability and integrity of the Community Support Program by providing greater clarity regarding the assessment of Subclass 202 visa applications proposed by Approved Proposing Organisations. Migration practitioners, Approved Proposing Organisations and organisations involved in humanitarian resettlement should review the new instrument to understand how these priorities will apply to future Subclass 202 visa applications. Source: Migration-Specification-of-Commonwealth-Priorities-for-Sc202-Global-Special-Humanitarian-visas-Instrument-2026.pdf and Migration-Specification-of-Commonwealth-Priorities-for-Sc202-Global-Special-Humanitarian-visas-Instrument-2026---explanatory-statement.pdf

We are currently aware of an issue affecting some users (approx. 0.5%) when attempting to make their Job Ready Employment payment and submit their application. When this issue occurs, selecting the payment option does not redirect users to the payment portal. Instead, the system may incorrectly indicate that a Job Ready Employment payment has already been made. Our team is actively investigating and working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. The team will be identifying the affected applications daily and remedying them one by one each weekday, so if the payment does not process at the first attempt, please try again the following day until the underlying cause has been remedied. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience while we work towards a resolution.

The Australian Government has announced its annual ‘National Planning Level’ (NPL) for new international student commencements (NOSCs). In 2027, the NPL will remain at 295,000, the same as in 2026. No active international education provider in Australia will receive a lower allocation in 2027 than it did in 2026. What does the National Planning Level do? Australia’s National Planning Level (NPL) is not a cap or a limit on student numbers. It is a planning level to manage the size of the international education program. This helps maintain the highest quality student experience and best possible learning outcomes. The NPL is supported by a prioritisation system for Student visa applications. Student visa applications are processed as Priority 1 (high priority) until the chosen provider reaches 80% of their commencements allocation. After this, further visa applications are still accepted for that provider but are processed more slowly. Any genuine international student who meets the Student visa requirements can still apply and be granted a visa. What does this mean for you? You can still apply for a visa as usual. Fair and transparent processing continues for all eligible providers and students. Arrangements for 2027 are designed to maintain a positive and high-quality experience for all students.

The Migration (Nil VAC Arrangements and Other Matters) Amendment (Rugby League World Cup 2026) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/082) amends the existing Migration (Nil VAC Arrangements and Other Matters) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/074) to facilitate Australia's hosting of the Rugby League World Cup 2026. It establishes a nil first instalment visa application charge (VAC) for eligible applicants seeking a Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa under the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream. The instrument specifies the Rugby League World Cup 2026 as an Australian Government Endorsed Event and identifies the classes of persons eligible for the nil VAC. These include members of competing teams, official coaching and support staff, match officials, broadcast rights holders, non-rights holder media personnel, VIPs and other persons participating in the tournament in an official capacity, provided they have been accredited by the Australian Rugby League Commission. The measure gives effect to the Australian Government's immigration support commitment for the Rugby League World Cup 2026 by removing the first instalment visa application charge for eligible participants. The instrument commences on 15 July 2026, applies to visa applications lodged on or after that date, and is repealed on 16 November 2026, following the conclusion of the tournament. Source: Migration-NIL-Vac-Amendment-RLWC-2026-instrument.pdf and Migration-NIL-Vac-Amendment-RLWC-2026-instrument----explanatory-statement.pdf

Tentative Invitation Round Schedule 2026-27 This information will be updated after the allocation for the 2026-27 financial year is announced. Canberra Matrix Invitation Round: 11 June 2026 The ACT has a fixed number of nomination places available each month (pro-rata against the annual allocation). The highest ranked Matrix in each occupation were invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut‑off for selection depended on the remaining monthly allocation, the date and time of Matrix submission, occupation cap and demand. The greater the demand for an occupation, the higher the rank of the Matrix score invited. The minimum ranking score is an indication only and not a guarantee that an invitation was issued. Invitations will not be issued if you have an active application in the system; or if you have previously received ACT nomination. Canberra Matrix submissions in occupations in critical sectors may be prioritised. Requests for ranking information Invitations are not guaranteed. We will not respond to requests for information on ranking or the likelihood of receiving an invitation. Matrix will not be prioritised or issued invitations based on personal circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to, visa expiry dates or a change in circumstances including critical birthdays. Matrix nominating Doctorate Streamlined Pathway 190 nominations: 8 invitations 491 nominations: 5 invitations Canberra residents Matrix nominating Small Business Owners 190 nominations: 3 invitations 190 minimum matrix score: 110 491 nominations: 0 invitation 491 minimum matrix score: - Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations 190 nominations: 66 invitations 491 nominations: 0 invitation Overseas applicants Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations: 190 nominations: 0 invitation 491 nominations: 0 invitation Download a copy of the Matrix invitation ranking 2025-2026 Allocation of ACT Nomination Places: Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa: 800 places Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: 800 places The allocation for the 2026-27 financial year has not yet been announced. The website will be updated when this information becomes available. Application Count @ 30 June 2026 Total approvals: 1600 approvals 190 Nominations: 800 approvals 491 Nominations: 800 approvals Total refusals: 229 applications 190 Nominations: 111 refusals (12.2%) 491 Nominations: 128 refusals (13.8%) Approvals by residency status since the last invitation round ACT Resident: 1417 approvals (89%) Overseas Resident: 183 approvals (11%) Remaining Allocation 2025-2026 Total allocation remaining: 0 nomination places 190 Nominations: 0 491 Nominations: 0

Migration Tasmania has now fully delivered the 2025-26 program. We have nominated our full allocation of 1,200 places for subclass 190 and 650 places for subclass 491. We have no more nomination places in which to nominate applicants. We will reopen the program as soon as we can once we receive our new nomination allocation from the Department of Home Affairs. Migration Tasmania will continue to assess applications for nomination. Any applications approved will be nominated after Tasmania receives its nomination allocation for the 2026-27 program year. Migration Tasmania will continue to use the HA EOI Not Confirmed status internally as a placeholder for applications that have been processed, but the outcome has not yet been provided. These outcomes will be communicated in the new program year. ROIs that are not invited to apply for nomination before the end of the program will continue to be held in the Application Gateway for six months and considered for an invitation to apply for nomination when the 2026-27 program opens. To be informed of the opening date of the program, you can sign up for our newsletter HERE . We will continue to update the program statistics in the 2026-27 program year after we open again. Migration Tasmania is currently undertaking maintenance to both the ROI Gateway system and the nomination application portal. Therefore, we have closed both areas to allow this work to progress. We aim to open these websites as soon as we can, but we do not have a projected timeframe as yet.