OZ Home Migration MARN 1464306

02/10/2026

Student Visa Reform Starts on 02 October 2026

The student visa reform namely limits who can apply for a student visa in Australia and who can include family members.

More info: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/changes-to-student-visa-application-rules-500-590

Our website with links to relevant legislation and detailed commentary: https://visa.ozhome.info/who-arrives_-who-stays-and-who-leaves---policy-changes-17-september-2026

19/09/2026

SKILLED VISA PRIORITY PROCESSING FROM 19 SEPTEMBER 2026

482 visas are processed in the following order of priority:

- Visa applications relating to Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources sectors, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
- Visa applications in the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa.
- Visa applications where the applicant was in Australia at the time they lodged their application.
- Visa applications where the primary applicant was outside of Australia at the time they lodged their application and whose application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
- All other visa applications.

186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887, 888 visas are processed in the following order of priority:

- Visa applications relating to Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources sectors, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
- Visa applications where the applicant was in Australia at the time they lodged their application.
- Visa applications where the primary applicant was outside of Australia at the time they lodged their application and whose application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
- All other visa applications.

Some exemptions apply.

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/visa-processing-priorities/skilled-visa

Our summary page of changes: https://visa.ozhome.info/who-arrives_-who-stays-and-who-leaves---policy-changes-17-september-2026

17/09/2026

Who arrives, who stays and who leaves - Policy changes 17 September 2026

Minister Tony Burke announced several policy updates designed to lower Net Overseas Migration (NOM).

More info here: https://visa.ozhome.info/who-arrives_-who-stays-and-who-leaves---policy-changes-17-september-2026

The changes will affect applications for a student visa, graduate visa, WHV and visitor visa and points test for GSM visas. We are still waiting for the regulatory changes to know the exact impact.

30/06/2026

01 JULY 2026 VISA APPLICATION CHARGES

The government changed substantially visa application charges overnight.

New charges of selected visas are as follows (a primary applicant) - these do NOT apply to holders of Pacific-regional country passports:

- 600 Visitor onshore $630, offshore $250
- 500 student visa $2,500
- 485 graduate visa (first) $5,750
- 462 WHV $840, extension $1,000
- 801/100 Partner $11,710
- 300 Prospective marriage $11,710
- 482 Skills in Demand $4,015
- 186 Employer nomination scheme $6,140
- 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) $6,140
- 189 Skilled independent $6,135
- 190 State nominated $6,140
- 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) $6,140
- 020 Bridging visa B $575

30/05/2026

REFUSED STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS TO BE REVIEWED ON PAPERS FROM 01 JUNE 2026

ART will start reviewing student visa refusals ‘on the papers’ without conducting an oral hearing.

Student visa refusals based on failing to satisfy public interest criteria or special return criteria will still have an oral hearing.

Source https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L00640/latest/text

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