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01/03/2026

485 GRADUATE VISA - 100% FEE INCREASE EFFECTIVE 01 MARCH 2026

Yesterday, the Australian Government implemented a significant change to the Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa, doubling the application charges overnight without prior notice. This move highlights how quickly migration legislation can change.

New Visa Application Charges (VAC):

$4,600 for the primary applicant

$2,300 for an additional applicant (18+ years)

$1,160 for an additional applicant (under 18 years)

Note: Lower fees still apply for citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste, as well as for those applying for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream ($1,810).

Source:

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

06/08/2025

NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR VISA APPLICATIONS START ON 07 AUGUST 2025

In general, these new requirements will apply to applicants who sat an English test on or after 07 August 2025. We prepared a page with the new required test scores here: https://visa.ozhome.info/legislation-_-policy/2025/alternative-english-tests-after-06-august-2025

The Department will also accept a wide range of tests:
- C1 Advanced
- CELPIP General
- IELTS Academic
- IELTS General Training
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- MET
- OET
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT

30/06/2025

01 JULY 2025 VISA APPLICATION CHARGES

New charges of selected visas are as follows (a primary applicant):
- 600 Visitor onshore $500, offshore $200
- 500 student visa $2,000
- 485 graduate visa (first) $2,300
- 462 WHV $670
- 801/100 Partner $9,365
- 300 Prospective marriage $9,365
- 482 Skills in Demand $3,210
- 186 Employer nomination scheme $4,910
- 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) $4,910
- 189 Skilled independent $4,910
- 190 State nominated $4,910
- 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) $4,910
- 020 Bridging visa B $190

13/06/2025

TRIBUNAL FEES INCREASE 01 JULY 2025

Tribunals fee increases from 1 July 2025:

Application fee – review of reviewable migration decision - $3,580
Application fee – review of reviewable protection decision - $2,203

25/01/2025

http://www.facebook.com/AusHomeAffairs/posts/845471720950407

19/12/2024

482 VISA APPLICATION CHARGES (VAC) WILL BE INCREASED ON 01 FEBRUARY 2025

The one-off 14.75% increase to the VAC for the 485 visa supports the Australian Government’s approach to delivering managed, sustainable migration growth and restoring integrity in the international education sector. It is intended that CPI indexation amendments will be made in subsequent years.

New charges for an initial:
- 485 visa primary applicant is increased to $2,235 (from $1,945),
- for secondary applicants over 18 to $1,115 (from $975) and
- for those under 18 to $560 (from $490).

The charges will also be increased for subsequent 485 visa in the Post‑Higher Education Work stream.

08/12/2024

482 SKILLS IN DEMAND STARTED ON 07/12/2024

482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa was replaced with 482 Skills in Demand visa on 07/12/2024. The main differences between those two visas are:

- Medium term and Short term streams were repealed
- there is a new Specialist Skills stream for occupations in ANZSCO major group 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and a minimum salary of $135,000 pa.
- there is a new Core Skills stream for positions with salaries above $73,150 that are not eligible for Specialist Skills stream. The nominated occupation must be on CSOL (Core Skills Occupation List).
- minimum English language requirement of IELTS 5.0 in all bands or equivalent
- work experience requirement was reduced from 2 years to 1 year but it needs to be 1 year full time equivalent in the last 5 years before the application lodgement
- the temporary residency transition pathway after 2 years of sponsored employment (it does not have to be with 1 sponsor)

There is also good news for child care workers including OSHC workers who have been added on CSOL list of 482 and 186 Direct Entry visa.

Cooks will be happy to hear that they are also eligible for 186 Direct Entry as well.

On the other hand, chefs are not eligible for 482/186DE visa unless international trade obligations apply.

These changes apply to applications lodged after 06/12/2024 only. Previously lodged applications are not affected by these changes.

03/12/2024

Skills in Demand Visa (SID) To Be Introduced on 07 December 2024

So we were wrong, we expected the new SID visa at some time early next year after the new legislation gets passed. The Department of Home Affairs, however, announced today that SID visa will replace 482 visa on 07 December 2024.

The new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) was also released and will apply to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa and also to 186 Direct Entry stream visa.

CSOL: https://visa.ozhome.info/legislation-_-policy/2024/core-skills-occupation-list-december-2024

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1269

The new Regulations introducing SID have not been released yet.

02/12/2024

Skills in Demand Visa Replacing 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Unlikely to Be Introduced in 2024

The Australian government passed several significant pieces of legislation during the final parliamentary sitting week of the year last week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TALQ9FGV4Cs

As of December 2, 2024, the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 has not yet been passed by the Australian Parliament. The legislation is necessary to introduce a Skills in Demand Visa. Consequently, the current 482 TSS visa is likely to be in place until at least next Parliamentary sitting https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/parliamentary-sittings

The progress of the bill can be tracked on the Australian Parliament's website:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7224

Helpful information Text of bill First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house. As passed by

11/10/2024

ANZSCO is changing to OSCA

The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand announced, that while maintaining comparability, each country will introduce their own tailored occupational statistical classifications.

This is likely to have an impact on Australian skilled occupation lists. The change is expected on Friday 6 December 2024.

More info:
https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/anzsco-change

https://www.abs.gov.au/about/consultation-and-conferences/updating-anzsco/about-osca

Learn more about the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) and how it relates to ANZSCO.

29/07/2024

Migrant Justice Institute - Temporary migrant work Survey

The Migrant Justice Institute have just launched an important national survey to improve working conditions for migrants and international students in Australia, and prevent modern slavery.

The survey also provides migrants with important information about their rights at work and referrals to support services.

The surveys shift the dial on migrant worker issues in Australia. Previous surveys led to new world-first visa protections for exploited migrants who take action to enforce their rights at work, and new migrant legal services. This survey's findings will drive the next 5 years of change.

There are $10,000 of prizes up for grabs.

The online survey is anonymous, takes 10-15 minutes, and is available in Mandarin, Nepali, Spanish, Arabic and Tamil. The survey closes 31 August. You can take the survey here: https://unsw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a63wawGjYmYUjdQ