The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), on behalf of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Section of the Department of Home Affairs, has issued a communication to all Registered Migration Agents announcing significant improvements to the FOI request process. This update reflects the Department’s commitment to refining service delivery and ensuring a faster, more efficient experience for migration professionals seeking access to personal information. Below is the full content of the email sent to Registered Migration Agents: FOI Update – Improvements to serve you better In the Freedom of Information Section, we are committed to constantly refining our services to ensure a smoother and faster experience for you. Behind the scenes, we have been streamlining the FOI request process. Here is what’s new and how it will help us – and you To maximise the benefit to you from these improvements our preferred submission method is via the online form found here: submit a request for personal information A new mailbox – a sharper focus We have renamed our FOI VIC email to: request.personal.information@homeaffairs.gov.au. This change better reflects our core function: handling requests for access to personal information. Smarter processing with our web form We have introduced new automation through our online web form, making it easier and quicker for us to clearly identify the nature of incoming requests, so we can allocate them to the most efficient processing stream. Why this matters: Clarifying your request: Handy hints You may start to see some of your requests processed as Privacy Access rather than Freedom of Information requests. The reference numbers will commence with ‘FA’ for FOI requests and ‘PA’ for Privacy Access. To help us help you! We encourage you to use our online webform to submit your requests to maximise the benefit to you of these new automated processes. Some things won’t change We will continue to manage all FOI requests—both access and amendment—under the FOI Act, as always. The new processes simply offer an optional faster route when appropriate. If you can, use our online webform—it’s the fastest way to get started.
The Australian Government has released interim allocations of skilled visa nomination places for the 2025–26 program year for Tasmania and Western Australia. These allocations allow the states to nominate skilled workers under the sc190 and sc491 visa programs while the final nomination numbers are being finalised. Tasmania Tasmania has been provided with 165 skilled nomination places under the interim arrangements for the 2025–26 program year, comprising: These places are currently being used to confirm nominations for provisionally approved applicants who were unable to be nominated during the 2024–25 program year due to allocation limits. At this time, Tasmania’s Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for 2025–26 has not yet opened for new registrations of interest. Western Australia Western Australia has been granted a small interim allocation of nomination places, which will be used exclusively to finalise outstanding applications from the 2024–25 program year. Due to the limited allocation, the 2025–26 Western Australia State Nominated Migration Program will remain closed until the Commonwealth Government issues the formal allocation. Click here: Website-Tasmanian Government Western Australia- 2025-26 State Nomination Migration Program Interim allocation
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced the Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/082). This instrument outlines important changes to English language test options, scoring requirements, and retake policies for Subclass 482 visa applicants across the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. The new English language test requirements for the Subclass 482 visa, under Instrument LIN 25/082, will begin on 13 September 2025. These requirements apply to any Subclass 482 visa application lodged on or after that date. New English Test Providers Added: The following providers are now formally recognised across the updated instruments: Terminology Updates: The new instrument (LIN 25/082) abolishes the Migration (Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/099). Test providers and score requirements (LIN 25/082). Test Listening Reading Writing Speaking IELTS General Training/ Academic 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 CELPIP General 5 5 5 5 PTE Academic 33 36 29 24 TOEFL iBT 8 8 9 14 C1 Advanced 154 154 154 154 LANGUAGECERT Academic 41 44 45 54 OET 220 240 200 270 MET 49 47 45 38 Guidelines for Test Attempts and Validity: Applicants who sat their English test before 13 September 2025 must have completed all components in one sitting, with no option to re-take individual skills. In contrast, for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025, the updated instrument (LIN 25/082) provides more flexibility, allowing candidates to re-sit specific components instead of repeating the entire test. This means that options such as IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) and MET Single Skill Retake (SSR) are now accepted for tests undertaken after this date. Regardless of whether a candidate re-sits a single component, English test results are valid for three years from the date of the original full test sitting. The validity period does not reset or extend if a component is re-sat at a later stage. Click here: LIN 25/082 – Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) (2025)
On 3 September 2025, the Government introduced the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 to Parliament, proposing changes to both the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (ART Act) and the Migration Act 1958. On 3 September 2025, the Bill was introduced to Parliament, read for the first time, and the second reading was moved on the same day. The Bill aims to broaden the circumstances in which the ART can make decisions without holding an oral hearing. Under the proposed changes, the ART may decide a matter entirely on the papers when the issues can be adequately resolved without a hearing, it is reasonable to make a decision without holding an oral hearing, and all parties have been given a fair opportunity to submit written evidence, which the ART takes into account in reaching its decision. Changes to the Migration Act would require certain visa review applications to be conducted entirely on the papers, including reviews of decisions refusing student visas and reviews relating to prescribed temporary visas. This also allows the Migration Regulations to specify additional temporary visa applications that must be reviewed without a hearing. Permanent visa and protection visa applications are not affected by this change. Applications under the new requirement will be decided entirely based on written submissions, as outlined in new Division 4A of Part 5 of the Migration Act. Click here: Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
On 26 August 2025, the Australian Government introduced the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 to Parliament. The Bill passed both Houses on 4 September 2025 and will commence the day after it receives Royal Assent. The Bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to: Key Amendments: Circumstances Where Procedural Fairness Does Not Apply The Bill clarifies that the rules of natural justice (procedural fairness) will not apply in certain situations, including: Additionally, the Bill validates all past actions and decisions carried out under these powers. Validation of Visa Decisions Affected by High Court’s NZYQ Decision The Bill confirms that visa decisions made on or before 8 November 2023, which might have been affected by the High Court’s ruling in NZYQ regarding indefinite detention, are validated. This applies to: This validation applies to decisions made by: Click here: Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025
The Department of Home Affairs has advised that all enquiries related to partner visa processing should be submitted via the official Partner Processing Enquiry Form for faster and more efficient handling. The Department has advised that enquiries to the partner visa processing team should be made using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form. This form is linked to a triage system that helps ensure enquiries are addressed more quickly than those sent via direct email to partner visa inboxes. Applicants who have appointed a registered migration agent or legal practitioner should attach a completed Form 956 when submitting the enquiry. The Partner Processing Enquiry Form can be accessed and submitted through the Department of Home Affairs website, helping to streamline the process and improve response times. Click here: Partner Processing Enquiry Form
The Commonwealth Government has provided South Australia with a small interim allocation for the 2025–26 migration program year. Due to the limited interim allocation, the Skilled and Business Migration (SBM) program will temporarily pause new Registration of Interest (ROI) applications and instead prioritise inviting high-quality candidates, including those who submitted ROIs in the 2024–25 program year. The full policy settings for the 2025–26 program will be released once the Commonwealth Government provides South Australia with its complete allocation. Click here: Interim Allocations for the 2025-26 Program Year
The Australian Government has announced that the 2025–26 permanent Migration Program will keep the same total of 185,000 places, continuing the same structure as the 2024–25 program. The 2025–26 Migration Program is designed to support Australia’s working-age population by increasing labour force participation and addressing skill shortages across the country. The program is structured as follows: While most visa category allocations remain unchanged from 2024–25, the Global Talent and Distinguished Talent visa categories have now been consolidated into the new National Innovation visa. Existing applicants under these categories will continue to be assessed under the eligibility criteria in place at the time of their original application, ensuring the transition does not negatively affect them. State and territory nomination allocations for 2025–26 have not yet been released and will be shared once available. Click here: Migration Program planning levels
The Australian Government has revised the list of Approved Destination Status (ADS) travel agents for the Visitor (subclass 600) visa. The update comes into effect from 12 September 2025. The recent amendment — Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) visa applications) Amendment (Approved Destination Status) Instrument 2025 — revises the official list of approved ADS travel agents. Key changes include: This update replaces the previous Schedule 1 table under LIN 21/056, ensuring that only verified and compliant agents remain part of the ADS program. Click here: LIN 25/101 Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) visa applications) Amendment (Approved Destination Status) Instrument 2025
The consultation period for the 2025 Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) is open from 25 August to 26 September 2025. This consultation covers over 800 skilled occupations at Skill Levels 1 to 3, which are under review for potential inclusion in the 2025 CSOL. A targeted group of occupations has been identified for focused stakeholder engagement, while all Skill Level 1 to 3 occupations remain open for feedback. Consultation activities include: All stakeholder feedback collected during this period will be considered by JSA before finalising its recommendations to the Government. Participation in this consultation is essential for influencing the future skilled occupation framework and workforce planning in Australia. Click here: Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) Consultations