Australian Immigration – September 2026
Australian Immigration – September 2026
Australian Immigration – September 2026
| As spring settles in, we wanted to bring you a special edition of our newsletter. Rather than our usual roundup, this one is dedicated entirely to a significant announcement: on 17 September 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, addressed the National Press Club with a substantial set of changes to Australia’s migration program. Most of these took effect within days, so we’ve pulled together what you need to know, section by section, below.
The Minister’s stated goal is to bring net overseas migration down, from 292,100 for the year to March 2026 to a target of 245,000 for 2026-27, and 225,000 per year from 2027-28 onward. Importantly, the great majority of these changes are being made administratively, through Ministerial Directions and regulations, rather than through new legislation. That means they can move quickly, and in several cases already have. We go through what’s changed below, and what it might mean for you. As always, if you believe any of this touches your matter directly, you’re welcome to reach out to us with any questions. |
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📌 In this Edition
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Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 Replace Direction 119
As part of this package, Ministerial Direction 119 has been revoked and replaced by two new directions, signed on 18 September 2026 and effective from 19 September 2026: Ministerial Direction 121, which now governs Subclass 482 applications on their own, and Ministerial Direction 122, which covers the remaining skilled visa subclasses that Direction 119 previously grouped together (subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888).
Both directions apply not only to new applications, but also to applications already on hand that had not been finally decided as at 19 September 2026. In practice, this means existing applications are being reprioritised under the new order, rather than continuing to be assessed under the rules that applied when they were lodged. If you lodged an application some months ago and were given an expected timeframe based on the old priorities, that timeframe may now shift, for better or worse, depending on your occupation and location.
Under Ministerial Direction 121 (Subclass 482), applications are now considered in this order:
- Applicants in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement or defence occupations, whether onshore or offshore
- Specialist Skills stream applications under the Skills in Demand visa
- All other onshore applications
- All other offshore applications not combined with another application
- All remaining applications
Ministerial Direction 122 follows a similar structure for the other ten subclasses, with applications considered in this order:
- Applicants in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement or defence occupations, whether onshore or offshore
- All other onshore applications
- All other offshore applications not combined with another application
- All remaining applications
To put this in concrete terms: a civil engineer on a 482 application in the construction sector will now be assessed ahead of, say, an offshore applicant in a non-priority occupation, regardless of which application was lodged first. If your occupation sits in one of these newly added sectors (agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources are new additions; construction, healthcare and teaching have moved up), this is likely good news for your timeframe. If it doesn’t, it may be worth discussing your options with us.
Both directions also introduce something Direction 119 did not have. A provision allowing a delegate to depart from the standard processing order in compelling circumstances, for example where community safety or the continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services is affected (Direction 121 also extends this to Australia’s international relations). Both directions apply to visa applications only, not to nomination applications, which Direction 119 had also covered.
If you are unsure how these changes affect your specific application, please get in touch with our team. We are happy to assess and assist.
| Skilled Visas: A New Points Test (Not yet in effect)
Separately, the points test used for the General Skilled Migration program (subclasses 189, 190 and 491) is being reformed, however not yet in effect, to give more weight to trade qualifications in housing and construction. Under the new settings, a qualified tradesperson in a high-demand trade will score points broadly comparable to someone with a university qualification, a change explicitly aimed at attracting more of the construction workforce Australia needs to help address the housing shortage. For clients weighing up whether a skilled independent or nominated pathway is realistic, this is a meaningful shift. A trade qualification that previously scored relatively few points under the old test may now bring you much closer to an invitation threshold. |
| Student and Graduate Visas
Under the new settings, most new student and graduate visa applicants will not be able to include secondary (family) applicants on their visa. If you already hold a student or graduate visa with family members included, this change does not affect you, existing arrangements are protected. Exceptions also remain in place for students from Pacific and ASEAN nations, and for postgraduate (PhD) study. There’s also a change to how course transfers are treated. Genuine students will still be able to apply for a new visa to progress upward, for example, from a Bachelor’s to a Master’s degree. However, transferring to a lower-tier course will require a fresh visa application, and is likely to raise questions about whether your original visa conditions have been met. If you’re considering any change to your course or provider, it’s worth checking with us first, since the wrong move here can affect your visa standing. |
| Working Holiday Maker Visas
A ballot system is being introduced for second and third-year Working Holiday Maker visas (subclass 417/462), with the existing regional work requirements (88 days for a second year, six months for a third year) still applying. Places are considerably more limited than before: 45,000 for the second-year ballot (down from 57,000) and just 5,000 for the third-year ballot (down from around 31,000). Given how much tighter these numbers are, particularly for a third-year visa, if you’re planning to rely on this pathway, it’s worth registering for the ballot as early as it opens rather than waiting, since the odds of success are meaningfully lower than in previous years. Processing for other Working Holiday Maker applications is returning to its normal pace for those who have already met the regional work requirement. The exception is UK applicants, whose processing will remain slower, reflecting significant growth in that cohort under the UK Free Trade Agreement. |
| Visitor Visas
A “no further stay” condition (condition 8503) will now be applied to all newly granted visitor visas, with the exception of protection visa applications. This means most visitor visa holders will no longer be able to lodge most other visa applications while in Australia, they’ll need to apply from outside the country instead. If you already hold a visitor visa, or are already in Australia on one, this change does not apply to you. This is particularly relevant if you’re planning to visit a partner in Australia and had been considering applying for a partner visa onshore once here. Under the new settings, that route is closing off for new visitor visa grants, so it’s worth discussing timing and visa strategy with us before you travel, rather than after you arrive. On the upside, the change is expected to make it easier for offshore partners to be granted visitor visas for extended stays in the first place, since the pathway is being made more consistent across visa types. |
| Final Thoughts – From Us to You
Spring has a way of feeling like a fresh start, and this year it’s arrived alongside the biggest shake-up to Australia’s migration program we’ve seen in some time. We know that’s a lot to take in, especially if you’re partway through an application and wondering how these changes land for you specifically. Our approach hasn’t changed though. We’ll keep watching the detail as it’s released, keep translating it into what it actually means for your matter, and keep reaching out directly when something shifts that affects you. If this newsletter has raised more questions than it’s answered, that’s exactly what we’re here for, so don’t hesitate to get in touch. From all of us at First Class Migration, we hope the new season brings you clarity, and we look forward to helping you navigate whatever comes next. |
| 💡 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. |
