Australian Immigration – October 2026

This edition brings together the key updates to help you stay informed.

• Student Visa Changes Now in Effect
• New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities (Ministerial Directions 121 and 122)
• Working Holiday Maker Ballot Announced
• Opposition Releases Australia-First Migration Plan
• Subclass 189 Invitation Round – Congratulations!
• State and Territory UpdateVictoria
  • New South Wales
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • South Australia

Student Visa Changes Now in Effect

In short: Since 2 October 2026, most people in Australia on another temporary visa can no longer apply for a Student visa from within Australia, and most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members.

The new rules apply to the Student visa (subclass 500) and the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590).

Applying from within Australia

• Most temporary visa holders must now be outside Australia both when they lodge a Student or Student Guardian visa application and when the visa is granted.
• This also applies to current Student visa holders applying for another Student visa, unless an exemption applies.
• Exemptions are limited. They include needing extra time to finish a course, the education provider being unable to deliver the course, and certain student groups and course progressions.
• Current Student Guardian visa holders can still apply for a further Student Guardian visa in Australia.
• Student visas that have already been granted are not affected.

Including family members

• Student visa applicants can no longer include family members in their application, whether it is their first or a further Student visa.
• Exemptions apply to PhD students, nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries, foreign government scholarship recipients, and students sponsored by the Department of Defence or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Family members cannot be added after a Student visa has been granted. There are no exemptions to this rule.

Applications lodged before 2 October 2026

These will continue to be assessed under the previous rules, including applications that include family members.

The Department of Home Affairs has published full details, including the list of affected visas and exemptions, on its website.

New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities: Ministerial Directions 121 and 122

In short: Since 19 September 2026, two new Ministerial Directions have set the order in which the Department of Home Affairs processes employer sponsored and skilled visa applications. They replace Ministerial Direction 119.

Ministerial Direction 121 applies to the Skills in Demand visa and the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (both subclass 482). Ministerial Direction 122 applies to permanent and provisional skilled visas, including subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 491, 494 and 887.

Order of priority – subclass 482 (Direction 121)

• Priority 1:occupations in the construction, health care, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources sectors, and positions supporting national law enforcement and defence interests
• Priority 2:Specialist Skills stream applications
• Priority 3:applicants who were in Australia when they applied
• Priority 4:applicants who were outside Australia when they applied
• Priority 5:all other applications

Order of priority – permanent and provisional skilled visas (Direction 122)

• Priority 1:the same priority sectors and law enforcement and defence interests as above
• Priority 2:applicants who were in Australia when they applied
• Priority 3:applicants who were outside Australia when they applied
• Priority 4:all other applications

What this means

• Agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources have been added to the top priority group, and applicants outside Australia in the priority sectors now also receive the highest priority.
• Priority is based on the nominated occupation, not the industry the employer operates in.
• The directions apply to all applications that had not been decided by 19 September 2026, so processing times may shift as existing applications are reordered.
• Applications in occupations outside the priority sectors, particularly from applicants outside Australia, are likely to wait longer.
• Nomination applications are not covered by either direction.
• Priority affects only the order in which applications are processed. It does not change the visa criteria or how an application is assessed.

Working Holiday Maker Ballot Announced

In short: The Government has announced that access to second and third year Working Holiday Maker visas will be allocated by ballot. No start date has been published, and the current rules still apply.

On 17 September 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP, announced a package of migration reforms. These include a ballot for second and third year Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462), together with a regional work requirement. Under the current rules, a working holiday maker who completes the required specified work can apply for a further visa. Once the ballot is introduced, eligible applicants will also need to be selected.

The Government has also committed to keeping Working Holiday Maker processing times to around three months.

Key details, including how the ballot will operate, the number of places and when it will start, have not yet been released. Interestingly, the Opposition’s migration plan (below) proposes reversing the ballot.

What this means for working holiday makers

• If you are planning a second or third year, keep completing your specified work and keep evidence of it, such as payslips and employer details.
• If you already meet the requirements for a further visa, speak with us about the timing of your application.

Opposition Releases Australia-First Migration Plan

In short: The Opposition has released a plan to reduce migration numbers. These are proposals only. They are not law, and nothing has changed for current visa holders or applicants.

On 6 October 2026, the Liberal and National parties, led by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, released their Australia-First Migration Plan. The Opposition says the plan would reduce net overseas migration and raise the standard of skilled migration.

Proposed numbers

• Net overseas migration reduced to 100,000 a year for the first two years, levelling out at around 160,000 by year four
• Around 650,000 fewer temporary visa holders over four years (excluding visitors and New Zealanders)
• Permanent skilled migration program capped at 185,000 places a year
• International student commencements reduced to 240,000
• Humanitarian intake halved to 10,000 places a year, with flexibility to respond to emerging needs
• An estimated positive budget impact of around $260 million over four years (Opposition estimate)

Key proposals

• Family visas:no changes proposed
• Students and graduates: Temporary Graduate visas abolished (with post-study transitional visas for PhD, health, education and regional university students), most secondary applicants restricted, and each student visa linked to the enrolling institution
• Temporary visas: second and later temporary visa applications to be made offshore, although second and third year Working Holiday Makers could still reapply onshore
• Working Holiday Makers: the ballot reversed, caps on second and third year extensions removed, fees raised (with an exemption for regional areas), and regional definitions for extensions revised
• Skilled and employer sponsored: up to 5,000 more places a year in the Specialist stream of the Skills in Demand visa, 15,000 new Skilled Project visas a year, a revised temporary skilled priority list, and a strike force to clear the backlog of skilled construction applications
• Talent and regional: the Talent and Innovation allocation doubled to 7,000 places through a new AUKUS and Five Eyes visa, and the regional permanent program replaced with Ministerial Directions prioritising employer sponsored applications in regional Australia
• Agriculture: a new Agriculture visa from 2030
• Protection visas and review: onshore protection visa applications required within 30 days, and merits review removed for adverse character decisions, temporary visa refusals and offshore applicants

The Opposition stated that many of these changes could be made quickly using existing ministerial powers.

Our view

As migration agents, we see every day the contribution skilled migrants make to Australian communities, and we are tired of watching migration become a political football. Net overseas migration has become a headline number, debated by both sides of politics. Yet no one has explained to the Australian public what a lower number would cost in practice.

If migration is cut, who fills the gaps? How will our hospitality businesses stay staffed, and who will pick the crops on our farms? Will people in regional Australia still be able to see a doctor, a physio or a dentist? Who will staff our childcare centres, care for older Australians in aged care, build the homes this country needs, and teach our children?

Australia needs skilled migrants. Rather than chasing a political target, we believe the conversation should start with the skills and services Australians rely on, and be honest about what reducing migration would mean for each of them.

Subclass 189 Invitation Round – Congratulations!

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) invitation round planned for 30 September 2026 was postponed. It went ahead on 15 October 2026, and we were delighted to see so many of our own clients among those invited. Congratulations to everyone who received an invitation. For many, it marks the end of a long wait.

If you were invited, you now have 60 days from the date of your invitation to lodge your visa application. For those invited on 15 October, that deadline is 14 December 2026. It cannot be extended, and if it passes, the invitation lapses.

Before you lodge, make sure you can provide evidence for every point claimed in your Expression of Interest. Meeting the points score at the time of invitation is a legislative requirement. It cannot be waived or worked around. If you can’t support a claim, the application may be refused, and you could also face consequences for providing incorrect information. If you are unsure about any of your claims, please speak with us before lodging.

State and Territory Updates

Several state and territory governments have released updates on their skilled nomination programs for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

VICTORIA

In short: Victoria’s 2026-27 program is expected to open soon. Fees now apply, a new Registration of Interest (ROI) is required, and applicants will be ranked using the Victorian Points Test.

New fees. ROIs and nomination applications were free in 2025-26. From 2026-27, the following fees apply:

• GST of 10% applies only if the applicant is in Australia when paying.
• The nomination fee is only payable if the applicant is invited and goes on to lodge a nomination application.
• The ROI fee is charged once per program year. An applicant who withdraws and submits a new ROI in the same year will not be charged again.

A new ROI is required. ROIs from previous program years do not carry over. Applicants wishing to be considered in 2026-27 will need to submit a new ROI once the program opens.

How applicants are ranked. The Victorian Government ranks ROIs using the Victorian Points Test (VPT), which uses the same factors as in 2025-26 but now publishes the points for each one. The seven factors are age, English language ability, years of experience in the nominated occupation, educational qualification, occupation skill level, partner’s skills, and annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria. The factors carrying the most points are:

• Age: up to 300 points (ages 20 to 29)
• English: up to 200 points (Superior English)
• Victorian earnings: up to 150 points

Up to 50 partner skill points are available only where the applicant has claimed 10 partner points in SkillSelect, the partner is included in the nomination application, and the partner’s occupation is a current priority industry occupation.

There is no fixed pass mark. The highest-ranking ROIs are invited in each round, so outcomes depend on the competitiveness of the pool at the time. The Victorian Government has said it cannot comment on an individual’s chances of invitation or prioritise invitations based on personal circumstances such as age or visa expiry. The VPT is separate from the Department’s SkillSelect points test, and applicants must still score at least 65 points on that test.

Two invitation pathways. ROIs can be submitted in all eligible occupations and are considered under:

• Most competitive: the highest VPT totals across all eligible occupations
• Priority industry: the highest VPT totals within each priority industry

2026-27 priority industries: healthcare, social assistance, education (including early childhood, with additional experience and English requirements for early childhood teachers) and construction (professionals and trades). New energy, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality and tourism (subclass 491 only) were priority industries in 2025-26 but are not currently listed. The Victorian Government will publish further details when the program opens.

NEW SOUTH WALES

• The NSW subclass 190 program is now open, and the NSW Government has updated its subclass 190 Skills List.
• The first invitation round was scheduled for the week commencing 19 October 2026, and invitations are reported to have been issued from 21 October 2026.
• Applicants with a current Expression of Interest (EOI) should ensure their details are up to date and that they can provide valid evidence for all points claimed.
• The NSW subclass 491 program remains closed across all pathways.

A word of caution on the NSW list. The NSW subclass 190 Skills List is very attractive this year, with occupations such as Marketing Specialist now included. Being on the list does not guarantee an invitation. NSW continues to prioritise its key sectors: housing and construction, education, health and infrastructure. EOIs outside those sectors are invited sparingly, and generally only where the points score is exceptionally high. Before relying on a NSW nomination, applicants should take a realistic view of their chances and consider whether another pathway may suit them better.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The ACT Government held an invitation round on 12 October 2026, issuing 261 subclass 190 invitations and no subclass 491 invitations.

The minimum matrix score is a guide only and does not guarantee an invitation.

The ACT’s 2026-27 allocation of nomination places has not yet been confirmed by the Australian Government. In the meantime, the ACT Migration Application portal remains open for RCB Support applications and Canberra Matrix submissions.

Tentative future rounds (subject to change without notice) are scheduled for the weeks starting 25 January 2027, 22 March 2027and 24 May 2027.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• Onshore: South Australia is accepting ROIs from people living and working in the state whose current visa expires by 31 January 2027.
• Offshore: no ROI is needed. Suitable candidates will be invited directly from their SkillSelect EOI.
• Priority sectors: building and construction, defence, education, engineering, health and manufacturing. High-ranking candidates in other sectors may also be considered.
• All applicants must have a current EOI lodged in SkillSelect.

The South Australian Government has published its 2026-27 Skilled Occupations List and stream requirements on its migration website.

Final Thoughts – From Us to You

This has been one of the busier months in migration this year. Student visa rules have changed, new skilled visa processing priorities are in place, a Working Holiday Maker ballot has been announced, and the Opposition has released its own plan. At the same time, state and territory skilled nomination programs are gradually opening.

It is a lot to take in, and some details are still to be released. Our team is following each development and will keep you updated as more information becomes available. If you have questions about how any of these changes relate to your circumstances, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.