PAX Migration Australia

13/10/2026

📢 Victoria’s skilled nomination program opens soon!
New priority occupations, selection details and fees have been announced for the 2026–27 program.

Here’s what to know before it opens:

🏥 Priority industries
Specified occupations in healthcare, social assistance, education and construction will be prioritised. Applicants in other eligible occupations can also be considered.

📊 Your whole profile matters
Victoria uses its own Victorian Points Test to rank Registrations of Interest (ROIs). Age, English, qualifications, work experience and other factors influence your competitiveness.

🔄 Already submitted an ROI in a previous program year?
You will need to submit a new one when the 2026–27 program opens.
New fees will also apply: $60 for an ROI and $180 for a nomination application, plus GST where applicable.

💬 Considering Victoria for your future in Australia? Book a consultation with PAX Migration to review your eligibility and prepare for the program opening.

Read the official update: https://liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/news-events/news/2026/update-victorias-skilled-visa-nomination-program-2026-27

12/10/2026

📣 Next subclass 189 invitation round: 15 October 2026
The Department of Home Affairs has announced the next invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa.

If you have an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, now is a good time to check that your information is accurate and up to date.
✅ Review your personal details and qualifications.
✅ Check your employment history and points claimed.
✅ Make sure your English test and skills assessment details are current.

At PAX Migration Australia, our Registered Migration Agents can help you review your EOI and understand your skilled migration options.

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08/10/2026

Migration changes can create uncertainty, whether you’re planning your future in Australia or managing a business that relies on overseas talent.

🤝 You don’t have to navigate them alone.

The migration strategy that made sense six months ago may need another look today. Changes to policies, visa requirements or your circumstances can affect personal migration plans, recruitment and workforce planning.
At PAX Migration, we’re here to listen, understand your goals and help you make sense of your next steps.

Our Registered Migration Agents work with individuals and employers to:
✓ Review their circumstances
✓ Explain how changes may affect them
✓ Explore the options that may be available

Whether you’re reassessing your own visa pathway or considering how to support your employees and plan for your business, we’re here to help.

💬 Book a consultation to review your migration or employer sponsorship options with our team: https://paxmigration.com.au/contact/

02/10/2026

🎓 Australia’s Student visa rules have changed
Effective from 2 October 2026

📍 More temporary visa holders must apply offshore
The prescribed list includes Working Holiday (417/462), Training (407), Temporary Activity (408), Temporary Work (400/457), Skills in Demand/Temporary Skill Shortage (482), Temporary Graduate (485) and Visitor (600/601/651) visas, among others. Holders cannot lodge a valid Student visa application in Australia.

🎓 Further onshore Student visa applications are restricted
Current primary Student visa holders must generally apply offshore unless an exception applies:
• Completing an eligible unfinished principal course within 12 months of its CoE end date.
• Qualifying progression after completing the principal course.
• Doctoral or school studies.
• Defence or Foreign Affairs students.
• Qualifying provider default cases.
Each exception has specific requirements.

For course progression, the relevant principal course must be completed and enrolment limited to one further course. If the completed course has an AQF level, the next must be higher. If it was higher education, the next must also be higher education, delivered by a higher education provider. Separate rules apply to courses without an AQF level.

👤 Dependants becoming primary students must apply offshore
Current Student visa dependants applying as primary students must apply outside Australia.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family inclusion is limited
Eligible categories include families of doctoral, Defence or Foreign Affairs students, students whose courses are fully foreign-government-funded, and students with eligible Pacific or ASEAN passports.
Conditional provisions cover certain existing dependants, eligible children born in Australia, and existing dependants of students affected by provider default or completing unfinished studies.
Family eligibility does not itself allow the student to apply onshore.

🚫 No new subsequent entrant applications
From 2 October 2026, family members cannot make new subsequent entrant applications to join a student after visa grant. Eligible family members must apply at the same time and place as the primary student.

✈️ Offshore application and grant
If these rules require an offshore application, you must also be outside Australia at visa grant.

✅ Existing visas and earlier applications
Current Student visas are unaffected by these changes. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 remain subject to the previous rules.

Speak with PAX Migration Australia about your options and next steps.
General information only. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and applicable requirements.

30/09/2026

📍 State nomination programs don't all open at the same time - and waiting for an announcement to start preparing can leave you playing catch-up.

If you're considering a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) pathway, there are things you can review before opportunities arise:

✓ Is your Skills Assessment valid?

✓ Are your English results current?

✓ Is your SkillSelect EOI accurate and up to date?

✓ Does your occupation meet the requirements of the state you're considering?

✓ Have you strengthen your application to meet specific state/territory criteria?

✓ Can you evidence the claims you're making?

🔎 Each state and territory sets its own nomination criteria and processes, and these can change between program years.

💡 Getting in early doesn't mean rushing an application. It means being prepared to act when the right opportunity becomes available.

💬 Considering state nomination?

Speak with PAX Migration about preparing your skilled migration strategy.

29/09/2026

The Australian Government has announced a series of significant migration changes affecting a range of visa pathways and applicants.

Some measures are already being implemented, with further changes expected over the coming months.

🔗 Read our latest blog for a breakdown of the key announcements and what they could mean for you: https://paxmigration.com.au/blog/migration-changes-announced-17-sep-2026/

25/09/2026

📣 Subclass 189 invitation round coming soon
The next SkillSelect invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is expected by 30 September 2026.
If you have an EOI in SkillSelect, now is a good time to make sure everything is accurate, complete and up to date.
Before the next round:
✔️ Review your points
✔️ Check your skills assessment validity
✔️ Check your English test validity
✔️ Make sure your EOI is accurate and complete
📅 30 September 2026
Don’t wait until the invitation round to discover something needs updating.
👉 Not sure if your EOI is ready for the next round? Speak with our team: https://paxmigration.com.au/contact/

22/09/2026

When the employment of a sponsored worker comes to an end, there can be a few additional considerations beyond the usual HR process.

🔔 This may include notifying the Department of Home Affairs and understanding how the change could affect the employee’s visa.

🤝 Knowing the steps required can help make the transition smoother for both the business and the employee.

💬 Need guidance on your sponsorship obligations?
Speak with our team.

17/09/2026

🚨 Major Australian migration changes announced

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has outlined a series of significant changes to Australia's migration system at today's National Press Club address.
Some of the key announcements include:

🎓 Student & Graduate Visas
New restrictions on family members accompanying Student and Graduate visa applicants, with exceptions for Pacific and ASEAN nationals and PhD students. Importantly, the Government indicated that families already attached to visas and already in Australia will not be separated.

🎒 Working Holiday Maker Visas
Second and third-year Working Holiday visas will move to a ballot-based system, with caps of 45,000 for second-year visas and 5,000 for third-year visas.

✈️ Visitor Visas
Future Visitor visas are set to include No Further Stay conditions, limiting the ability to move to another visa while onshore.

📚 Student Visa Hopping
Further restrictions will target students moving to courses at the same or a lower qualification level, with greater emphasis on genuine academic progression.

👷 Skilled Migration & Priority Sectors
Ministerial Direction 119 will be updated to give greater processing priority to occupations in key sectors, including health and aged care, construction, teaching and agriculture, among others. The Government has also announced a stronger focus on construction skills across both temporary and permanent migration programs to support Australia's housing needs

🛠️ Points Test Reform
Changes to the skilled migration points test have also been announced, including that trade qualifications linked to housing construction will receive the same points as university qualifications. Further details and implementation timing are still to be confirmed.

🔎 Compliance & Visa Overstayers
The Government will strengthen compliance activity, including additional compliance officers and detention capacity, as part of a greater focus on people remaining in Australia without a valid visa.

⚠️ What happens next?
While these changes have now been announced, the commencement dates and detailed implementation of several measures still need to be confirmed.
At PAX Migration Australia, we will be closely monitoring the legislation, policy updates and Department guidance as further details become available.

📩 If you're unsure how these changes could affect your current or future migration pathway, contact our team to discuss your circumstances.

15/09/2026

A change meant to help with processing timelines but has Regional Australia been left behind?

Ministerial Direction 119 introduces some welcome changes to skilled visa processing priorities. But what could they mean for employers and communities across Regional Australia?

In our latest blog, PAX Migration Senior Migration Consultant Anke Nagel shares her insights on the new direction and raises an important question: are the unique workforce needs of Regional Australia being adequately recognised?

👉 Read Anke’s full insight on the PAX Migration blog:
https://paxmigration.com.au/blog/ministerial-direction-119-a-positive-change-but-has-regional-australian-been-left-behind/

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The Australian Government has released Ministerial Direction No. 119, replacing Direction 105 and changing the order in which a range of skilled visa nominations and applications are processed. Overall, there are several welcome changes. A positive outcome for employer-sponsored migration … Contin...