Intercon Global Immigration Services

10/03/2026

Migration Amendment (Training Visas – Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026, which update the Migration Regulations 1994 and revise the validity criteria for the Subclass 407 (Training) visa.
Under these changes, an applicant can only submit a valid Subclass 407 visa application if they already have an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor. Additionally, if the sponsor is not a Commonwealth agency, an approved nomination for an occupational training program must also be in place before the visa application is lodged.

Previously, applicants were able to lodge the sponsorship application, nomination, and Subclass 407 visa application at the same time. The new regulations remove this option, requiring both sponsorship and nomination approvals to be completed prior to submitting the visa application.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the amendments are designed to enhance the integrity of the Subclass 407 program. The Department has observed a significant rise in onshore applications since mid‑2024, including instances where the visa was being used for purposes unrelated to genuine workplace training or professional development.

By mandating sponsor and nomination approval before lodgement, the amendments aim to discourage non‑genuine applications and streamline processing for applicants pursuing legitimate training pathways in Australia.

New regulations introduced today will prevent Subclass 407 Trainee applicants from lodging a visa application until both the Sponsorship and Nomination have been approved.

From 11 March 2026, applicants will no longer be able to submit a Temporary Activities Sponsorship, Training Nomination, and Training Visa application at the same time.

While the Temporary Activities Sponsorship and Training Nomination can still be processed concurrently, Trainees may face a lengthy wait before they are eligible to lodge their visa application, with current processing times ranging from 88 days to 11 months.
These changes apply to all Training visa applications lodged on or after 11 March 2026. Applications submitted before this date will not be affected.

Reference:

20/01/2026

Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026

The Australian Government has introduced the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, a wide‑ranging legislative package aimed at strengthening Australia’s ability to address antisemitism, hate‑motivated behaviour, and extremist activity.
The Bill proposes amendments to several Commonwealth laws, including:

Migration Act 1958
Migration Regulations 1994
Australian Citizenship Act 2007

These reforms are designed to better protect the Australian community by equipping authorities with enhanced tools to identify individuals or groups involved in promoting hate or extremist ideologies. The measures also aim to prevent high‑risk individuals from entering or remaining in Australia, ensuring that migration, citizenship, and criminal law frameworks remain aligned with modern security challenges.

Key Elements of the Bill
1. Strengthened Migration Controls
Updates to the Character Test (Section 501)
The Bill introduces new reasons for a visa applicant or visa holder to fail the character test, specifically targeting involvement in hate‑based or extremist conduct. This includes:

Individuals who are current or former members of:

Terrorist organisations
Foreign states that sponsor terrorism
Prohibited hate groups

Individuals who support such groups or assist in advancing their objectives
People who have committed or been involved in hate crimes, regardless of conviction
Individuals who publicly express or endorse online content promoting racial, ethnic, or religious superiority or hatred
Those who encourage others to make hate‑based public statements

Key changes include:

Lowering the risk threshold from “would” to “might”, enabling authorities to intervene earlier based on potential threats
Clarifying ministerial discretion so that ongoing association with an organisation does not need to be proven

Temporary Safe Haven Visas (Section 500A)

The Minister may refuse or cancel temporary safe haven visas if a person meets the new character grounds for engaging in or spreading hate or extremist behaviour
Decisions may be made pre‑emptively, allowing a risk‑based approach before harmful conduct escalates

Updated Definitions (Sections 5 & 5C)
The Bill introduces clearer definitions for terms such as:

Association
Hate crime
Member
Prohibited hate group
State sponsor of terrorism
Terrorist organisation

The definition of “character concern” is also expanded to address potential harm arising from hate or extremist activity, ensuring consistent decision‑making across visa categories.

2. Permanent Exclusion Measures

Special Return Criteria 5001 in the Migration Regulations is broadened.
Individuals refused visas under sections 501, 501A or 501B will face permanent exclusion from future applications unless:

The refusal is revoked, or
The Minister personally grants a permanent visa

The measures apply to both current and future applications, ensuring continuous enforcement.

3. Amendments to the Citizenship Act
The changes include:

Expanding the definition of national security offences to incorporate convictions related to prohibited hate groups
Allowing citizenship to be refused on grounds of conduct that poses a threat to national security or public safety

These updates ensure alignment between citizenship provisions and the new migration and character test reforms.

4. Wider Legal Implications
The Bill ensures:

Ministerial powers to refuse or cancel visas are clearly defined and enforceable
Consistency across migration, citizenship, and criminal legislation
Public safety is prioritised while maintaining procedural fairness for applicants

By modernising definitions and broadening the concept of “character concern,” the Bill creates a more adaptive and contemporary legal framework to combat hate‑motivated and extremist behaviour in Australia.

Implementation

Applications in progress: The Bill applies to visa applications lodged before or after commencement, as long as they are not yet finally decided
Visa cancellations: Apply to cancellation decisions made after commencement, regardless of when the visa was originally granted
Permanent exclusion: Applies to those refused under sections 501, 501A or 501B

These measures ensure the law is applied consistently across all relevant cases.

02/12/2025

Subclass 804 - Aged Parent Visa Approval

02/12/2025

3 December is International Day of People with Disability 💛
It is a day to celebrate inclusion and learn about the supports available in our community.
Did you know that there are many everyday accessibility features that help make our community more inclusive? See below.
Discover other services including housing, employment, transport, sport, recreation and more 👉 nsw.gov.au/go/IPWD

25/09/2025

PIC 4014: The 3-Year Entry Ban

25/09/2025

17/09/2025

9 New English Tests Accepted as at 7 Aug 2025

08/09/2025

Congratulations, PASILAN Family! You are are now full-pledged Australians.

19/08/2025

New Federal Law Rules for Migration Cases: Key Changes
Effective 1 September 2025