Visa applicants from around the world can now apply for an Australian visa more easily, thanks to the latest expansion of the Australian Immi App. Eligible applicants can now use the Australian Immi App to submit their facial biometrics and passport information from their smartphones, removing the need for in-person visits to biometric collection centres. The Australian Immi App also reduces the costs associated with a visa application as there is no charge to use the app. To be eligible to use the app, clients must have previously provided their biometrics (facial image and fingerprints) to the Department and hold a valid passport. From 24 November 2025, the Department of Home Affairs introduced the app in a further 19 countries, bringing the total number of supported countries to 34. Available countries From 24 November, eligible applicants in the following countries will be able to use the Australian Immi App: Algeria Bahrain Colombia Egypt Fiji France Greece Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China) Iran Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Malaysia Mexico New Zealand (third-country nationals) Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Qatar Samoa Saudi Arabia Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea Thailand Tonga Türkiye Tuvalu United Arab Emirates Vanuatu With the app now available in 34 countries, the Australian Government is delivering on its promise to make the visa process faster, simpler and more convenient. A final expansion to all remaining countries in Australia’s biometric collection program is scheduled for early 2026. The Department of Home Affairs thanks all applicants for embracing this shift to digital service and looks forward to continuing to expand the app’s reach in 2026. It aims to give easier access to Australia’s visa system for more people, in more places. For full eligibility details, supported visa subclasses, step-by-step guidance and technical requirements, visit Australian Immi App.

The National Migration Conference 2025 will be held today, providing migration professionals with essential updates ahead of the 2026 program year. The event offers comprehensive coverage of key legislative and policy developments relevant to Registered Migration Agents, migration lawyers, and industry stakeholders. Session 1: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Presenter: Marsha Bassily, Immigration Lawyer CPD Allocation: 1 Category B CPD Point (CN199) This session will deliver structured analysis and practical insights across the following visa programs: Student visas Skilled visas Family visas Employer sponsored visas (temporary and permanent pathways) Additional legislative amendments and policy updates relevant to 2026 Marsha Bassily will focus on recent changes, emerging trends, and strategic considerations for practitioners advising on complex visa matters. Session 2: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Department of Home Affairs – Live Briefing The Department of Home Affairs will provide a high-level overview of the Migration Program with specific emphasis on the skilled independent, employer sponsored, and student visa programs. Key topics include: 2025–26 Migration Program planning levels Nomination allocations and regional migration settings Skills in Demand (SID) visa statistics and trends Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) updates Processing times and the “Check Twice, Submit Once” initiative Compliance developments under strengthened employer legislation Subclass 407 Training visa Student Program Management Current global visa processing times The Department’s briefing will be delivered by: Steve Lanyi, Assistant Director, Business, Industry and Regional Outreach (BIRO) Kimberly Turner, Director, Program Management and Registration, OMARA The session will conclude with a dedicated question-and-answer segment, providing attendees the opportunity to engage directly with departmental representatives. Event Details Date: Today Time: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM AEDT Format: Online This conference serves as an important opportunity for practitioners to remain informed, enhance professional competence, and prepare effectively for the upcoming migration program year. Attendance is strongly encouraged for those seeking authoritative and practical guidance ahead of 2026. Book here: https://legaltrainingaustralia.com/conference-cpd/

In an exclusive interview, El Jannah CEO Brett Houldin tells SBS News of the Lebanese chicken chain's global ambitions after a major US buyout.

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two national guard members, one of them fatally, in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Are you a skilled migrant looking to make your mark in the South Australian job market? Whether you're in engineering, construction, ICT, healthcare, or any other field, this comprehensive training program is designed to help you confidently navigate the local job scene and land your next role. Join us for a half day of practical workshops led by experienced career coaches, where you’ll gain essential skills to boost your job search. Learn how to tailor your resume to Australian standards, master the art of behavioural interviews, and understand the key cultural differences that will help you thrive in your new workplace. Event details: Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025 Time: 9:00am – 12:30pm with morning tea provided Location: SABC, Level 1, 136 Greenhill Road, Unley Cost: Free Register now POSTED MORE NEWS

State Nomination Migration Program – 2025-26 invitations Mon, 24/11/2025 - 11:47 Invitation rounds for Western Australian State nomination will begin in December 2025. To be considered, please make sure your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is up to date with: Residency status Nominated occupation Qualifications Relevant work experience For details, visit the State Nominated Migration Program page (opens in a new tab) . News Category SNMP

The Australian Government has determined South Australia’s allocation for the 2025-26 General Skilled Migration program. In total, including interim allocations, this comprises: 1350 nomination places for subclass 190 900 nomination places for subclass 491. Applications are now open for a Registration of Interest (ROI) from people living and working in South Australia. Offshore applicants are not required to submit an ROI, as they will be invited directly from their Expression of Interest (EOI) lodged in Skill Select. Before applying for an ROI, please ensure you have read the requirements for all relevant streams. For information on how to submit an application, view the how to apply page. DAMA Update. The Department of Home Affairs have recently made changes for the DAMA Variations. SBM are only able to support one variation in each year of a labour agreement. SBM will not accept any variation requests in the first six months after a new agreement is executed. You should plan ahead for your business needs. Thank you for your continued interest in South Australia’s migration programs. POSTED MORE NEWS

We will be doing systems maintenance from 8:30 pm (AEDT) Friday 28 November 2025 to 12 noon (AEDT) Saturday 29 November 2025. During this time, some of the following online services may be unavailable: • ImmiAccount • eLodgement (online visa and citizenship applications) • My Health Declarations (MHD) service • eMedical • Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) • LEGENDcom • Australian Trusted Trader • Employment Suitability Clearances • Detention Visitor Application • APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) • Humanitarian Entrants Management System (HEMS) • Adult Migrant English Program Reporting and Management System (ARMS) • Education Provider Report (eBIT) • Visa Pricing Estimator • MSI Register • Australian Migration Status (AMS) Training Portal • Online Payment Portal • Registration Gateway. If you receive a 'Service Temporarily Unavailable' message during this time, please try again after the outage. If your current visa is due to expire on 28 November 2025 and you intend to stay in Australia, you must lodge your application before 8:30 pm (AEDT) Friday 28 November. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Business closure over Christmas and New Year period Mon, 24/11/2025 - 07:42 The Migration Services office will be closed from Thursday 25 December 2025 — reopening at 8.30am (Western Standard Time) on Friday 2 January 2026. No assessment outcomes will be sent during this time. Email enquiries will be responded to as soon as possible once Migration Services re-opens.

Despite recent reforms, exploitation of migrant workers remains a serious issue in Australia, experts say.

The Australian Government uses a visa processing priortisation system. This system works out how quickly Student visa applications are processed for each Australian education provider, based on the number of student places filled. During 2025, Australia's ‘National Planning Level’ (NPL) for international student places was supported by a Government Ministerial Direction called MD111. On 14 November 2025, a new Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115) replaced the old one for 2026. What this means for you In 2026, the National Planning Level (NPL) will be 295,000. This includes an additional 25,000 new international student places compared to 2025. For 2026, the Student visa application process and Student visa requirements remain the same. Who does this effect? Just like before, the 2026 NPL system only applies to offshore Student visa applications (lodged outside of Australia). If you applied for an offshore Student visa prior to 14 November 2025 your application will continue to be prioritized under MD111 settings. If you applied for an offshore Student visa on or after 14 November 2025, your application will be processed under MD115. Make sure your visa application is complete To help reduce processing times and to get you ready for travel, lodge your Student visa application as early as possible. The process will be smoother if you make sure your application is complete. This means including all requested information at time of lodgement. Visa processing takes longer if applications have incorrect information or when documents are missing. Your visa may even be refused. Find out more here. And remember... your visa application will need to meet all other requirements to be approved.

Another initiative under the Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030 is set to be delivered. The Australian Computer Society (ACS) will receive an Australian Government grant of $1.9 million under the Growing and Professionalising Cyber Security Industry Program. In a consortium partnership with the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) and the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN), ACS will co-design and pilot a Cyber Security Professionalisation Scheme. This Scheme will provide clear career, skills and education pathways for workers in the cyber workforce and those seeking to enter it. The Scheme will also deliver guidance for employers and employees regarding skills expectations for accredited professionals. Through extensive consultation with Australia’s cyber industry, the Growing and Professionalising Cyber Security Industry Pilot Program aims to create a voluntary national professionalisation scheme. The Scheme will give employers confidence in workforce capability and provide workers with recognition that their skills and experience are suitable. This will support a stronger and thriving cyber ecosystem. Hamish Hansford, Head of National Security, Department of Home Affairs said: