The latest news on Australian immigration, including changes to regulations, government policy announcements, and analysis of media releases affecting current and future applications.
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Further restrictions on student visa applications begin on 2 October 2026, which is a major pillar of recent reforms to Australia’s immigration program, closing a loophole that allowed an applicant to return and obtain a bridging visa to await an outcome. This follows new Ministerial Directions for skilled visa processing priorities.
Read MoreYesterday, the government outlined a broad migration reform package aimed at reducing net overseas migration, with proposed changes to visitor visa conditions, student and graduate visa restrictions, working holiday maker ballots, skilled visa priorities and a tweak to the points test.
Read MoreIn a media release yesterday, the Minister for Home Affairs announced that visitor visa and subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa holders will be barred from lodging a student visa application from 1 July 2024.
Read MoreThe age cap for a 186 visa under the Temporary Residence Transition stream will not apply to some current or former 457 visa holders who were in Australia for at least 12 months during the pandemic from 1 July 2022. Also from this date, 482 visa holders in the Short-term who held this visa and were in Australia during the pandemic will be allowed to validly lodge a further application in Australia.
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