Australian Immigration – January 2026:

A Month in Review

As we say goodbye to January, we’re excited to welcome you to our first newsletter of 2026. The year is officially underway, and with the first month behind us, it’s a great time to reflect on early momentum and look ahead to what’s coming next.

In this edition, we’ll be sharing key insights, timely reminders, and answer your commonly asked questions.

Whether you’re firming up plans or taking your next steps, we’re here to keep you informed and supported throughout the year.

In this Edition What  does it mean if I leave my employer while on a 482 visa? Subclass 482 Processing Times Subclass 186 Processing Times Subclass 186 Health Examination Requests Bridging Visa B Applications State Updates South Australia Tasmania

What does it mean if I leave my employer while on a 482 visa? If you’re on a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, you’re probably familiar with Condition 8607—the rule that ties you to your sponsoring employer and nominated occupation. Good news! The Department of Home Affairs has introduced some flexibility. If your employment ends, you can now remain in Australia without breaching your visa for: Up to 180 days at a time Up to 365 days in total over the life of your visa During this period, you can: ✅ Work for another employer ✅ Take on roles outside your nominated occupation This makes it easier to support yourself while finding a new sponsor or exploring other visa options. Important to remember: You cannot start work with a new employer until your current employment is officially ended (unless exempt). While still employed with your sponsor, you must continue in your nominated occupation. In practice: Leaving your employer won’t automatically cancel your visa, but you must comply with all conditions. Staying unemployed beyond the allowed period or failing to find a new sponsor could be considered a breach, which may lead to Department action, including visa cancellation.

Subclass 482 Processing Times

The Department continues to work on reducing processing backlogs and improving efficiency. Measures include identifying low-risk applications, optimizing allocations for resubmissions, and promoting first-touch decisions.

Presently, the Department’s website shows that the Core Skills stream is experiencing lengthy processing times, with 50% of applications processed in 4 months and 90% processed in 7 months.

We wish to remind our clients that the service standard processing times are indicative only and we continue to experience inconsistency with these times.

As for the Specialist Skills Stream, the Department’s website shows much faster processing times, with 50% of applications processed within 14 days and 90% within 68 days.

We wish to remind our clients that the service standard processing times are indicative only and we continue to experience inconsistency with these times.

Subclass 186 Processing Times

If you’re thinking about applying for permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) — or you already have an application lodged — it’s helpful to have a realistic idea of current processing timeframes.

While the Department of Home Affairs does not guarantee processing times, recent allocation patterns give us some insight into how applications are moving. Based on cases allocated for processing over the past month, the Department has generally been assessing applications lodged in:

• April 2025 for regional occupation applications
• April 2025 for healthcare and teaching occupation applications
• January 2025 for applicants nominated by an accredited sponsor
• June 2024 for all other ENS applications

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream

According to the Department’s website, processing times for the TRT stream remain lengthy, with:

• 50% of applications finalised within 12 months
• 90% finalised within 19 months

Based on our experience with recently granted cases, most TRT applications are currently taking 18 months or longer to be approved.

Direct Entry (DE) stream

A similar pattern applies to the Direct Entry stream. The Department advises that:

• 50% of applications are processed within 8 months
• 90% within 19 months

However, in practice, we are also seeing most Direct Entry applications taking around 18 months or more to reach a decision.

Subclass 186 Health Examination Requests

According to the Department of Home Affairs visa processing times data, the median processing time for Skilled (Permanent) visas — which includes the 186 visa — is about 18 months as of late 2025.

Due to lengthy processing times, we recommend clients undertake their health examinations within 9 to 12 months from date of lodgement to reduce the risk of results expiring during processing.

Bridging Visa B Applications

Bridging Visa B (BVB) applications are currently taking longer than many applicants expect to be finalised. While the Department of Home Affairs does not publish official processing times for BVB applications, delays are increasingly common and approvals are not guaranteed within short timeframes.

To minimise the risk of travel disruption, we strongly recommend that our clients plan ahead and lodge their Bridging Visa B application at least 4–6 weeks before their intended date of departure. This allows sufficient time for processing and reduces the likelihood of travel plans being affected by unforeseen delays.

Clients should also ensure they do not make firm travel arrangements until their Bridging Visa B has been granted, as departing Australia without an approved BVB may result in the loss of their existing visa status.

State Updates

South Australia

In the first round of South Australia’s skilled migration invitations for the 2025–26 programme year, the Government of South Australia issued a total of 344 state nomination invitations under its General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. This round was conducted on 06 January 2026 to kick off the new migration year.

 Breakdown of Invitations

• 235 invitations were issued for the Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated visa
• 109 invitations were issued for the Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional       (Provisional) visa

The total number of nomination invitations issued in the 2025-26 program year are the following:

• 610 nomination invitations for Sc 190 visa
• 321 invitations for Sc 491 visa

Focus and Priority Sectors

According to reporting on the invitation round which can be found on the South Australia Government website:

• Health professionals received a significant share of invitations.
• Occupations in design, engineering, information & communications technology (ICT) specialties and teaching roles also featured prominently.

These priority areas align with South Australia’s ongoing workforce needs and targeted occupational shortages.

Timeline and Next Steps

• South Australia’s migration authorities have indicated that monthly invitation rounds are expected to continue through the 2025–26 programme year, with the next draw anticipated in early February 2026.
• Candidates are encouraged to ensure their ROIs/EOIs are up to date and competitive — particularly if they are targeting occupations in high-demand sectors.

Tasmania

On 8 January 2026, the Tasmanian Government updated its nomination invitation round results showing the number of ROIs invited for the Subclass 491 and 190 Visas. Migration Tasmania publishes regular updates on its skilled migration nomination invitations. These are generally released on a weekly basis and include key details such as:

• The number of Registrations of Interest (ROIs) invited to apply for nomination;
• The number of nomination places still available;
• The lowest scores invited in that round;
• The number of ROIs on hand (i.e. pending applications not yet invited).

Breakdown of Invitations

• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa) — 36 ROIs were invited to apply for nomination
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa) — 26 ROIs were invited to apply for nomination

Focus and Priority Sectors

Invitations are generally prioritised for applicants in sectors facing workforce shortages, including healthcare and aged care, education, engineering and trades, ICT, business and professional services, and hospitality, with higher rankings given to those already working in Tasmania or holding a skills assessment in a priority occupation.

Timeline and Next Steps

• Migration Tasmania authorities have indicated that weekly invitation rounds are expected to continue through the 2025–26 programme year.
• Candidates are encouraged to ensure their ROIs/EOIs are up to date and competitive — particularly if they are targeting occupations in high-demand sectors.

Final Thoughts – From us, to you.

We have started off 2026 a positive note as the Australian immigration landscape continues to evolve for skilled migrants, temporary visa holders, and employers alike. Staying informed is key—whether it’s understanding the latest state nominations, processing trends, or sponsorship pathways.

Remember, the first months of the year often set the tone for what’s ahead, so staying proactive now can make all the difference in your migration journey. Here’s to a productive and successful year ahead!

How We Can Help

We know the migration process can feel overwhelming, especially when policies shift and programs evolve.

At First Class Migration Australia, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process with up-to-date advice, tailored support, and a deep understanding of the Australian immigration system.

Got questions? Need help? Reach out at: