Australian Migration Agents

Call Directions Website

Australian Migration Agents Skilled & Work Visas | Partner & Family Visas | Protection Visas | Citizenship

Great news for Australian visa applicants! Paying your Visa Application Charge just got simpler. ✈️💳From 1 October 2026,...
30/09/2026

Great news for Australian visa applicants! Paying your Visa Application Charge just got simpler. ✈️💳

From 1 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs has officially stopped charging card payment surcharges on ImmiAccount!

This update aligns with the Reserve Bank of Australia's broad reforms banning card surcharges across debit, prepaid, and credit card payments.

What this means for you:
✅ No Card Surcharges: You won't pay extra merchant fees when paying by card on ImmiAccount.
✅ Same Standard Fees: Visa Application Charge (VAC) fees remain unchanged -you simply pay the exact fee required without added card charges.

Whether you're applying for a skilled visa, partner visa, or student visa, every bit of clarity helps make your migration journey smoother.

Ready to take the next step in your visa application? Contact our team today for professional guidance.

📞 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au

MARN 2217744

🚨 SKILLED VISA UPDATE: New Processing Priorities Released 🚨The Australian Department of Home Affairs has updated its pro...
21/09/2026

🚨 SKILLED VISA UPDATE: New Processing Priorities Released 🚨

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has updated its processing priorities for skilled visa applications under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 (effective 19 September 2026).

1. Priority Sectors Lead the Queue
Highest priority across temporary, provisional, and permanent skilled visas goes to critical industries:
• Healthcare & Teaching
• Construction & Resources
• Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fishing
• Law Enforcement & Defence

2. Onshore Applicants Take Precedence
If you lodge your visa application inside Australia (onshore), your application is prioritised ahead of standard offshore applications.

3. Specialist & Uncombined Applications
• For temporary skilled visas (Subclass 482 / Skills in Demand), the Specialist Skills stream receives elevated priority.
• Single primary applicants applying from offshore without dependents attached are processed ahead of other general offshore applications.

Visas Impacted:
• Temporary: Skills in Demand / TSS (Subclass 482)
• Permanent & Provisional: Subclasses 186, 189, 190, 491, 191, and 494

Navigating Australian visa changes can be complex. If you want to know how these processing priorities affect your timeline or application strategy, contact our team of registered migration agents today.

📞 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au
MARN 2217744

Major shifts are coming to Australia's immigration system. The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive suite of ...
18/09/2026

Major shifts are coming to Australia's immigration system. The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive suite of migration reforms that will reshape pathways for international students, working holiday makers, trade professionals, and visitors.

Key Policy Updates:

Student Visa Progression: A new "qualification scale" will require international students to advance academically (e.g., progressing from a Bachelor's to a Master's degree) to prevent lateral transfers between equivalent courses and target "visa hopping."

Dependant Restrictions: New student and graduate visa applicants will no longer be permitted to include family members on their visas. Exceptions apply to PhD candidates and nationals from ASEAN and Pacific nations. Existing onshore visa holders with dependants are grandfathered under current rules.

Trade Qualification Points: Trade qualifications in housing and construction sectors will now be awarded points equal to university degrees under the Points Test.

Working Holiday Ballots: A new ballot system is being introduced to manage applications for second and third-year Working Holiday visas.

Visitor Visa Restrictions: Future visitor visas will automatically carry a "no further stay" condition (this will not apply retrospectively).

Enhanced Compliance: Stricter sanctions and enforcement measures are proposed to target overstayers.

While start dates for these changes are yet to be confirmed, they will directly affect many prospective and current visa holders.

If you are concerned about how these updates might impact your timeline or eligibility, reach out to our team to navigate your best path forward.

📞 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au
MARN 2217744

A medical refusal does not have to end your Australian journey.When a 40-year-old Thai applicant faced visa refusal over...
11/09/2026

A medical refusal does not have to end your Australian journey.

When a 40-year-old Thai applicant faced visa refusal over a health assessment failure and digital documentation barriers, the Australian citizen partner was confronted with an impossible choice: leave the children and 9 grandchildren, or be separated from the partner of 13 years.

Our registered migration agents intervened during the Subclass 801 stage to build a compelling case for a Public Interest Criterion (PIC 4007) Health Waiver. By establishing medical management, private cover, and deep family ties, we satisfied all Departmental requirements.

The Department granted back-to-back Subclass 820 and 801 approvals, granting immediate Permanent Residency.

If your clients or family members face complex health waivers or RFIs, professional intervention makes all the difference.

📞 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au
MARN 2217744

From 9 September 2026, VETASSESS's standard skills assessment fee increases from $1,096 to $1,146.VETASSESS assesses a m...
09/09/2026

From 9 September 2026, VETASSESS's standard skills assessment fee increases from $1,096 to $1,146.

VETASSESS assesses a much broader range of professional and trade occupations, and this rise is described as an inflation-linked adjustment rather than a fee schedule overhaul.

Teacher skills assessment fees have gone up. From 7 September 2026, AITSL's standard application fee rose from $1,154 to...
09/09/2026

Teacher skills assessment fees have gone up. From 7 September 2026, AITSL's standard application fee rose from $1,154 to $1,198. The appeal fee and Skilled Employment Statement fee increased too, and so did the partial refund for withdrawn applications.

The change affects overseas-trained teachers - primary, secondary, middle and special education - who need a positive AITSL assessment to support a 189, 190 or 491 skilled visa application.

Applications lodged on or before 6 September were charged the old rate; anything submitted from 7 September pays the new fee.

Lower Visa Costs for Pacific Island & Timor-Leste Partner Visa ApplicantsFrom 1 July 2026, eligible Partner visa applica...
10/08/2026

Lower Visa Costs for Pacific Island & Timor-Leste Partner Visa Applicants

From 1 July 2026, eligible Partner visa applicants from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste can access a reduced visa application charge.

✅ Automatically recognised in ImmiAccount if applying with a valid passport from an eligible country

✅ Family members included - eligibility is based on the primary applicant's passport

Eligible countries:

Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

If you're applying for a Partner visa and hold a passport from one of these countries, this could mean real savings on your application.

Tasmania has confirmed its skilled migration nomination places for 2026-27, with a total of 2,050 places - up on last ye...
06/08/2026

Tasmania has confirmed its skilled migration nomination places for 2026-27, with a total of 2,050 places - up on last year.

📈 1,250 places for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) - up from 1,200

📈 800 places for Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) - up from 650

The state's Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will reopen for new Registrations of Interest in the coming weeks (exact date TBC).

A few things to note if you're advising clients:

✅ Applications already lodged will be assessed against the rules in place at lodgement

✅ Pending 491 applications won't automatically convert to 190 - applicants wanting 190 nomination will need to withdraw and re-register once the 2026-27 program opens

✅ New 190 invitations will depend on interest levels and pro-rata places available at the time

More places, more opportunity - but timing and process matter. We'll share the reopening date as soon as it's confirmed.

🇦🇺 Major Visa Fee Increases – Effective 1 July 2026 🇦🇺Australia's Department of Home Affairs has confirmed sweeping incr...
03/07/2026

🇦🇺 Major Visa Fee Increases – Effective 1 July 2026 🇦🇺
Australia's Department of Home Affairs has confirmed sweeping increases to visa application charges across nearly every major category. Here's the full breakdown

💍 Partner Visas (309/100 & 820/801)
$9,365 ➡$11,710 (+25%)
🎓 Skilled Visas
Skilled Independent (189): $4,910 ➡ $6,135
Skilled Nominated (190): $4,910 ➡ $6,140
Skilled Work Regional Provisional (491): $4,910 ➡ $6,140

📚 Student & Other Visas
Student (500): $2,000 ➡ $2,500
Temporary Graduate (485): $4,600 ➡ $5,750
Bridging Visa B (BVB): $190 ➡ $575

📌 These are base application charges only - additional applicant charges and other costs may apply depending on your visa subclass.

💡 If you've been planning to lodge an application, timing now matters more than ever. Get in touch with our team to review your options and avoid unnecessary delays or added costs.
☎️ 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au

🚨 EMPLOYER SPONSORED VISA CHANGES – Effective 1 July 2026 🚨Big updates for Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and Subclass ...
03/07/2026

🚨 EMPLOYER SPONSORED VISA CHANGES – Effective 1 July 2026 🚨
Big updates for Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visas! Here's what employers and skilled workers need to know 👇
💰 Income Thresholds Increased
✅ Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): $76,515 → $79,423
✅ Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): $141,210 → $146,576
✅ Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): $76,515 → $79,423

💵 Visa Fees Increased
📌 482 visa base application charge: $4,015
📌 186 & 494 visa base application charge: $6,140
(Additional applicant charges have also increased - see our graphic for full breakdown!)

These changes affect sponsorship eligibility, nomination salaries, and overall visa costs - so if you're an employer sponsoring talent or a skilled worker planning your visa pathway, now's the time to review your position.

📞 Need help navigating these changes? Our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
☎️ 1300 490 604
🌐 www.australianmigrationagents.com.au

Address

Level 19, 180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300490604

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Australian Migration Agents posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category