Educare International Student Services Centre ( 學進澳洲留學移民中心）

21/05/2026

Update on Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program
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Registrations of Interest (ROI) for all TAS pathways and passes of the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will close at 5pm , 3rd June 2026.

Below information is provided by Migration Tasmania:

1) The last invitation round for the 2025-26 program year will take place on 4 June 2026.

2) Migration Tasmania will resume accepting ROIs from all eligible candidates when the 2026-27 program commences.

3) Migration Tasmania will continue to assess applications for nomination, so new applications will be able to be lodged. However, with few nomination places remaining, the chance of being invited is low.

4) ROIs that are not invited to apply for nomination before the end of this migration program will continue to be held in the Application Gateway for six months and considered for an invitation to apply for nomination when the 2026-27 migration program commences.

(Source: Migration Tasmania)

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15/05/2026

Federal Budget 2026-2027
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The Federal Budget 2026-2027 was hand downed on Tuesday 12 May 2026, introducing some key updates to the Australia's migration system.

In the perspective of Australian migration, the Government’s main plan is to revamp the permanent skilled migration point-test program to target better education, higher skilled, and younger migrants to address skills shortages.

With the information we have so far, below are the key announcements:

1) Australia’s permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places with the 70% skilled / 30% family split, with a strong continued focus on onshore applicants. Around 70% of places (129,590) will be allocated to people already living in Australia, while offshore places will prioritise highly skilled migrants to meet long term workforce needs. From the new budget, an advantage is given to onshore skilled applicants. Out of the total places, 129,590 are reserved for applicants already living and working in Australia. If you are currently on a temporary visa such as a 482, 485, or 408 visa, your pathway to Permanent Residency has never looked more promising.

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2) For offshore skilled applicants, there are 55,110 places remain, and these spots are strictly earmarked for high-skilled migrants in sectors facing chronic, long-term shortages, such as healthcare, secondary education, and specialised infrastructure engineering.

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3) It also indicates a shift towards prioritizing onshore visa applicants and reforms that target highly skilled and qualified migrants in the medium to long term. It reinforces that skilled migration and applicants already in Australia will be a key focus, especially for occupations and industries with long-term demand, that is implied from the streamlined recognition of overseas qualifications for trades workers.

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4) Net Overseas Migration: The budget forecasts net overseas migration of 295,000 in 2025-26 and 245,000 in 2026-27, falling to 225,000 by 2027-28 and remaining around that level through to 2029-30. Net overseas migration has declined by around 45% from its peak in 2022-23. The Budget notes that net overseas migration is moderately higher than previously expected in 2025-26 and 2026-27 because migrants on temporary visas are departing Australia at lower rates than in the past, and that arrivals of New Zealand citizens remain strong.

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5) Points Test Reform: The Government has also flagged upcoming changes to the points test that is used as a tool for subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. The points test is used to score and rank skilled visa participants on factors such as age, English ability, work experience, and qualifications to determine who receives an invitation to apply for a Skilled Independent Visa.

Key reforms in the New Points Test:

• Age: Expect higher points for applicants in the 21–29 age bracket.
• Education over Experience: While work experience remains vital, the new system places a higher premium on Australian qualifications and higher education levels (Masters and PhDs).
• High-Demand Productivity Skills: Not all jobs are equal under the new reform. Skills that drive "sovereign capability" and "green energy transitions" are expected to receive weighted points.
• English Language Proficiency: "Competent" English is no longer enough to be competitive. The new system heavily rewards "Superior" English speakers, viewing language as the primary driver of successful economic integration.

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6) Other measures mentioned in the budget include:

• Reform of the Working Holiday Maker program, including greater use of ballots to manage demand. To better control numbers, reduce barriers to work, provide a fairer allocation of WHM visas, and support Australia’s national interests.
• Funding to address misuse of the protection visa system, including early legal advice to reduce unmeritorious claims
• Focus on visa integrity: $167.4 million in funding over four years will be committed to “strengthen the integrity of the migration system.” This includes $19.8 million over four years for “enhanced scrutiny of onshore and offshore student visa applications, ensuring the integrity of the international student visa system.”
• Assessing the requirements for establishing a Skills Migration Commissioner.
• Improving the efficiency of recognising VET qualifications.
• Ongoing support for migrant workers, victims of trafficking, and future reforms to the Adult Migrant English Program
• The Australian Border Force will receive supplementary funding of $270 million in 2026–27 to assist in combatting the influences of antisemitism, violent extremism and hate in Australian communities, and additional training to immigration and visa officers in relation to antisemitism and hate related behaviour. Increased resources for border enforcement, national security and character testing, including new visa refusal and cancellation powers linked to extremism and hate related conduct

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(Source: Federal Budget 2026-2027)

15/05/2026

Federal Budget 2026
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It is important to learn about annual Federal Budget if you are living in Australia. This year’s Federal Budget has been handed down on Tuesday 12 May 2026, and below are the key focus:

1) From 1 July 2026, the tax rate for income between $18,201 and $45,000 drops from 16% to 15%, then to 14% from 1 July 2027. That means less tax coming out of your pay as your income grows.

2) From 2027-28, the new Working Australians Tax Offset kicks in, which will automatically reduce the tax paid by eligible workers when they lodge their tax return. The $250 offset directly reduces the amount of tax you owe, rather than reducing your taxable income, meaning eligible workers can pay up to $250 less tax for the year.

3) Then there’s the new $1,000 instant tax deduction, available from 2026-27. Instead of tracking every small work-related expense, many people will be able to claim a flat $1,000 deduction without keeping receipts. It’s designed to make tax time less fiddly and more predictable.

4) Government modelling suggests an average full time worker could be up to $2,816 a year better off by 2027-28 once all scheduled tax changes apply. If you use family trust, there’s also a change worth being aware of. From 1 July 2028, income flowing through discretionary (family) trusts will generally be taxed at a minimum rate of 30%, reducing the benefit of spreading income across family members. The Budget also allows a three year transition period from 1 July 2027 to help eligible trusts restructure.

5) Fuel excise on petrol and diesel was temporarily cut from 52.6 cents to 20.6 cents per litre for three months from April 2026. However, the discounts will end at the start of July, with no new fuel relief announced.

6) Healthcare support includes cheaper Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines and additional funding for public hospitals.

7) Negative gearing will be limited to new builds from July 2027, changing incentives for landlords and property investors.

8) The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount will change from July 2027, which may increase tax on future gains for some investors.

9) From 1 July 2026, the $20,000 instant asset write off will become permanent, making it easier to immediately deduct the cost of business essentials like tools, equipment or vehicles.

NOTE: You shall refer to the official details at https://budget.gov.au/

(Source: Federal Budget 2026-2027)

Australian Federal Budget, 2026-27

07/05/2026

Updates on NSW state nominations
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1) Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

NSW has invited sufficient Expressions of Interests (EOIs) to fill the nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the current program year. There will be no further invitations issued for visa subclass 190 until a new allocation is provided by the Australian Government at the start of the 2026-27 program year.

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2) Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) - Pathway 2

An invitation round for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Pathway 2 was conducted last week, and NSW will continue to invite EOIs for the visa subclass until the nomination allocation is reached.

06/05/2026

A brief wrap-up of the up-to-date state nominations
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Approaching to the end of Migration program year, it is important to learn about nomination activity in each state if you are pursuing to apply for a state nomination.
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Below is the summary of nomination activity in each state:

1) New South Wales

a) NSW conducted a subclass 190 invitation round on 4 March 2026 targeting specific occupations with points ranging from 70 to 110:

• Architect
• Architectural Draftsperson
• Carpenter
• Civil Engineer
• Community Worker
• Developer Programmer

b) NSW's priority sectors remain construction, renewable energy, health, digital/cyber, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

c) NSW's 491 visa pathway is partially closed where Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 have been closed since 19 January 2026 after their allocation was reached. Pathway 2 may reopen in April depending on demand.

d) NSW places allocation: 2,100 for subclass 190 visa and 1,500 for 491 visa

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2) Victoria

a) Victoria’s 2025-26 state nominated skilled visa program was closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 28th April 2026.
VIC government will continue to consider all submitted ROIs for the remaining nomination places in the 2025-26 program year. If you withdraw your ROI, you will not be able to submit a new one until the 2026-27 program opens.

b) VIC places allocation: 2,700 for subclass 190 and 700 for 491 visa

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3) Western Australia

a) The most recent rounds were conducted on 03 and 05th March 2026 where 53% allocation has been used.
b) On the round of 3rd March 2026: Priority trade occupations + occupations in a sector-targeted construction industry were invited
c) On the round of 5th March 2026: Priority non-trade occupations for both 491 and 190 visas
d) Key occupation clusters included healthcare and nursing, engineering and built environment, hospitality and skilled trades, and education and professional services.
e) WA has used approximately 53% of its 2025-26 allocation, with roughly 1,600 places remaining across both visa subclasses. At the current pace, WA could fill its allocation before 30 June 2026. If WA is on your list, submit your EOI now.
f) WA place allocation: 2,000 for subclass 190 and 1,400 for 491 visa

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4) Queensland

a) QLD invited applicants for onshore occupations under both 491 and 190 on the round of 12th March 2026, with points ranging from 65 to 100.
b) Queensland's onshore construction worker pathway continues to expand where 190 visa requires at least 9 months onshore experience (min. 20 hours per week) and 491 visa requires at least 6 months onshore experience (min. 20 hours per week).
c) Casual and self-employed work now counts toward the experience requirement, that is a significant change that broadens eligibility for tradespersons already working in Queensland.
d) QLD is actively recruiting for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics preparation, which means the sustained demand for construction occupations will continue.
e) QLD place allocation: 1,850 for subclass 190 and 750 for 491 visa

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5) Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

a) The last round was held on 12th March 2026, and the final round will run in the week of 4 May 2026.
b) Income thresholds for subclasses 190/491 ACT nominations was increased from 1 February 2026.
c) ACT continues to prioritise 491 visa invitations over 190 visa.
d) After the last round, ACT’s total allocation remaining is 639 nomination places where 190 Nominations is 326 and 491 Nominations is 313.
f) ACT place allocation: 800 for subclass 190 and 800 for 491 visa

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6) Tasmania

a) There is still strong interest in the State Visa Nomination program, and the number of invitations to nominate TAS has now issued to candidates will use most of this year’s allocation.
b) There are some remaining places and TAS will continue to process applications and receive ROIs however the number of new invitations to apply for nomination will be limited over the coming weeks while TAS focus on processing the applications currently on hand.
c) Subclass 190: TAS is temporarily pausing invitations for any ROIs that do not attract a Gold pass. ROIs can continue to be submitted and TAS will review the situation in the coming weeks.
d) ROIs with a Green pass will continue to be invited to apply for nomination within six months of submission however, if approved, TAS may not be able to nominate them this program year if all places are filled.
e) Subclass 491: Invitations will continue for all pass colours although the number issued will be reduced.

f) On the round of 11th March 2026, Tasmania issued 33 invitations where 14 for the 190 visa ("Gold pass" profiles only) and 19 for the 491 visa. The lowest invited score for 491 visa was 40 points (an "Orange pass" profile). That makes Tasmania the most accessible state for lower-scoring applicants in the current cycle.
g) TAS place allocation: 1200 for subclass 190 and 650 for 491 visa

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7) Northern Territory

a) The NT Government has now received sufficient applications to fully utilise its GSM nomination allocation for the 2025-26 program year. As a result, the NT nomination portal is now closed to new applications. Applications lodged before the closure will continue to be assessed.
b) The nomination portal will reopen once the Australian Government confirms the NT’s nomination allocations for the 2026-27 program year.

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8) South Australia

a) The most recent round was conducted on 01st May 2026
b) SA continues to invite candidates across the four streams of the 2025-26 General Skilled Migration program
c) SA will conduct an invitation round in mid to late May 2026.
d) The table set below provides the relevant data for the invitations issued on 1st May 2026:

05/05/2026

Updates on the processing times of Parent visas
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I. All Parent visa applications are subject to capping and queueing. This includes:
• Parent (subclass 103)
• Aged Parent (subclass 804)
• Contributory Parent (including subclasses 143 and 173)
• Contributory Aged Parent (subclasses 864 and 884).
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II. As at 31 March 2026, we have released the following applications for final processing:

• Contributory Parent visa applications with a queue date up to November 2018
• Parent visa applications with a queue date up to July 2013
• Aged Parent visa applications with a queue date up to July 2013.

(see the diagram below)
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Note:
a) The Department of Home Affairs (The DoHA) processes Parent and Contributory Parent applications in lodgement date order and within annual limits. There are some discrepancies identified in processing times between offshore and onshore visas in both Parent and Contributory Parent categories. The DoHA are taking action to correct these.
b) ** The DoHA has given all Contributory Parent visa applications lodged before 1 June 2018 a queue date of the application lodgement date and will assess and give a queue date to applications lodged on or after 1 June 2018 when they meet the initial visa criteria.
c) The current processing time frame (estimate) for Contributory Parent visas is 15 years and for Parent & Aged Parent visas is 33 years. The DoHA generally updates this information on a yearly basis.

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III. The following family migration visas are subject to Ministerial Directions outlining the processing priority order:
• 100 – Partner
• 101 – Child
• 102 –Adoption
• 103 – Parent
• 114 – Aged Dependent Relative
• 115 – Remaining Relative
• 116 – Carer
• 117 – Orphan Relative
• 143 – Contributory Parent
• 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary)
• 300 – Prospective Marriage (Temporary)
• 309 – Partner (Provisional)
• 445 – Dependent Child
• 801 – Partner (Permanent)
• 802 – Child
• 804 – Aged Parent
• 820 – Partner (Temporary)
• 835 – Remaining Relative
• 836 – Carer
• 837 – Orphan Relative
• 838 – Aged Dependent Relative
• 864 – Contributory Aged Parent
• 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary).
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(Source: The Department of Home Affairs)

05/05/2026

Overseas Students Studying and Living in Australia
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If you would like to study in Australia on a student visa, it is important for you and your parents to well learn about the financial requirements for the visa as well as the expected living costs. To apply for a student visa, costs are mandatory minimums for visa approval, and students are often advised to have a higher budget, especially in major cities like Sydney.

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Below are the tips that you must be aware of:

1) Key 2026 Financial Requirements for Visa

• Main Applicant: AUD 29,710/year.
• Partner/Spouse: Additional AUD 10,394/year.
• Dependent Child: Additional AUD 4,449/year.
• School-age Child: Additional AUD 13,502/year.

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2) Estimated Additional Costs

• OSHC (Health Insurance): Approximately AUD 450 – $650 per year for a single student.
• Travel/Relocation: Approximately AUD 2,500 – $3,500.
• Accommodation: While the visa requires proof of funds, actual costs vary by city (e.g., lower in Perth and Adelaide, higher in Sydney and Melbourne).

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3) Tips for Budgeting

• Utilities: Generally include electricity, water, and gas, costing around $120–$250 per month, though these are often included in on-campus or shared housing.
• Transport/Food: Weekly public transport pass is roughly $35, with weekly groceries ranging from $70–$140.
• Tools: You may use the Study Australia Living Cost Calculator for personalized estimates at

Find out about common costs to help you prepare for the average living costs as an international student in Australia.

05/05/2026

Tuvalu Citizens: Ballot Open for the Pacific Engagement Visa (Subclass 192)
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The ballot for the Pacific Engagement Visa (subclass 192) under the Tuvalu Treaty Stream is now officially open with a limited number of 280 visa places for the 2026 program year offered. It is open from 1 May 2026 to 1 June 2026.

To participate, applicants must first complete the registration for the ballot. A random selection process will then determine who will be invited to apply for the visa. This visa offers eligible citizens from Tuvalu an opportunity for permanent residency in Australia. Applicants who are selected will have the freedom to live, work, and study anywhere across Australia, without any minimum skill requirements, job limitations, or English language proficiency criteria.

The Department of Home Affairs will conduct the ballot selection process during the selection period, and the ballot status may show as follows:

- “PENDING” – The Ballot is pending commencement or opening.
- “Active” – The Ballot is open and you can submit your registration.
- “CLOSED” – The Ballot period for participants to submit registrations is closed. No further registrations can be submitted and the selection process is pending for this ballot.
- “EXPIRED” – Selections have been finalised for this Ballot. No further selections will be made from this ballot.

The Department of Home Affairs expects to complete the first random selection process for the visa when the selection period commences and may make a further selection later in the program year to fill remaining allocation.

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14/04/2026

Update on Victorian state nominations
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Victoria’s 2025-26 state nominated skilled visa program will close to receive new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) at 4pm AEST on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

In 2025-26 Migration Program Year, Australian Government allocated Victoria with 3,400 skilled visa places, including 2,700 places for subclass 190 visa and 700 places for the subclass 491 visa. The program has attracted significant interest this year and has received many more ROIs than available places.

VIC government will continue to consider all submitted ROIs for remaining nomination places in the 2025-26 program year.

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24/03/2026

University of New South Wales (UNSW)
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Applications for UNSW Sydney for all semesters and all student categories in 2027 are now officially open.

As one of the world's top 20 universities (QS World University Rankings 2026) and having ranked highly in graduate employability for the 7th consecutive year, UNSW Sydney continues to receive significant attention and strong demand from students worldwide. We encourage your students to apply early for 2027 entry to ensure priority consideration for their desired courses in the admissions rounds.

Why Choose UNSW?

1) Top Graduate Employability Rankings for Seven Consecutive Years
2) UNSW Graduates have been ranked among the Most Employable for Seven Consecutive Years
3) International Students can participate in:
• Real-world Industry Projects
• Internship Opportunities
• Industry Networking and Events (Truly Integrating Classroom Learning with Real-world Work Experience)

4) Employability Enhancement Programs designed specifically for International Students

The UNSW Professional Development Program is a free program designed specifically for international students to enhance practical skills and support career development. This program includes:

• A Series of Career Development Workshops
• Work Experience Opportunities: Helping international students prepare for the global job market.

5) Scholarship Support for Future Development

UNSW offers a variety of international scholarships and awards programs to provide financial support to eligible students, enhancing their future employability. Scholarship categories cover:

• Academic Excellence

• Passion and Potential for Learning

• Community Service

• UNSW College Pathway Students

Send a message to learn more