Latest Australia immigration announcements, rule changes, fees, and court rulings for people moving permanently, each linked to the official source.
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Home Affairs will hold a SkillSelect invitation round for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa on 15 October 2026, the first since June 2026.
From 2 October 2026 international students must stay with their main course for 12 months before transferring. A new transfer visa starts 1 July 2027.
From 2 October 2026 most Student visa (subclass 500) applicants cannot include a partner or children, and no student can add family after grant.
From 2 October 2026 most temporary visa holders, including working holiday makers and many current students, cannot apply for a Student visa inside Australia.
From 19 September 2026, Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 replace Direction 119 and set new processing priorities for 482, 186, 189, 190 and 491 visas.
Australia will redesign its skilled points test, and housing trades will score the same as a university degree, the Home Affairs Minister said on 17 September 2026.
Second-year Working Holiday visas will be capped at 45,000 and third-year visas at 5,000 through a ballot, the government announced on 17 September 2026.
Future Australian visitor visas will carry a No Further Stay condition, ending most onshore visa applications by visitors, the government announced on 17 September 2026.
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