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Australia Visa Changes 2026
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NEWS & UPDATES

The latest Australian migration news, legal updates and practical insights to help individuals, families and businesses navigate a changing immigration landscape.

Australia immigration changes 2026 graphic showing a map of Australia with a red marker and headline about major visa system reforms.
Migration

Australia Reveals Sweeping Immigration Changes in Major Move to Tighten Visa System

2 October 2026 update: The Student visa component of the September reform package has now commenced. Read our detailed guide to the operative Student visa rules. Australia has announced a major overhaul of its migration system, with new measures targeting temporary visas, international students, visitor visa holders, working holiday makers, and visa applications considered to lack merit. The Australia immigration changes 2026 package comes as the federal government seeks to reduce net overseas migration and reshape how temporary migrants enter, remain, and transition between visa pathways. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the measures on 17 September as the government

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Kerusha Kharel
Subclass 462 visa pause update showing Australia, passport and visa documents, and information about Work and Holiday Visa applications paused for 24 countries.
Migration

Australia Pauses Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa Applications From 24 Countries

Australia has temporarily paused Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa applications for passport holders from 24 countries because demand has approached annual country caps. The pause affects first Subclass 462 visa applications and does not currently apply to the separate Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa program. Which Countries Does the Subclass 462 Visa Pause Affect? Home Affairs currently lists the following 24 countries with Paused status for first Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa applications: Country Status Annual Grant Cap Argentina Paused 3,400 Austria Paused 500 Brazil Paused 500 Chile Paused 3,400 Czech Republic Paused 500 Ecuador Paused 100 Greece

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Kerusha Kharel
Ministerial Direction 119 skilled visa processing priorities in Australia featuring visa documents, Australian map, priority occupations, and migration pathways.
Migration

Ministerial Direction 119: New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities in Australia

Update — 24 September 2026: Direction 119 is no longer current. Directions 121 and 122 commenced on 19 September 2026 and replaced Direction 119 for the covered skilled visa framework. Read our current Direction 121/122 guide. For the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858), see the separate Direction 120 NIV priority guide. Ministerial Direction 119, which replaced Ministerial Direction 105 on 25 July 2026, introduces new processing priorities for many skilled visa nominations and applications in Australia. The new Direction gives higher priority to certain occupations, particularly law enforcement, defence, healthcare, teaching, and construction roles, while also considering whether an applicant

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Kerusha Kharel