OMARA has been asked by Transport NSW to share information regarding recent changes to the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) policy, which may affect clients seeking to transition overseas car or motorcycle licences to Australian licences. Austroads has updated the Recognised Country Scheme, introducing revised arrangements for the assessment and conversion of overseas licences. These changes may impact eligibility and testing requirements for some licence holders. The full communication is provided below. “As announced by Austroads on 21 October 2024, changes have been introduced to the Recognised Country Scheme for Experienced Driver Recognition status for car and motorcycle licences. NSW was granted an extension and from 1 February 2026, Experienced Driver Recognition status has now ceased for individuals who were previously captured on List B in NSW (below): From 1 February 2026, drivers from these countries will now need to pass the Driver/Rider Knowledge Test and the Rider/Driving Test to obtain a NSW driver licence. Penalties will continue to apply for a temporary visa holder who has resided in NSW for a continuous period of six months or more, and who continues to drive in NSW on their overseas licence. They will be considered to be driving a vehicle unlicenced. Please note that some regions will experience increased wait times for booking the Driving Test. Appointment availability is published and updated weekly for the next eight weeks. Bookings are open online, can be made via the contact centre or a service centre. For more information, please refer to the attached factsheet. Details on these changes and others under the Recognition Status Scheme can also be accessed via the Austroads Website.
VETASSESS has introduced Migration Digital Badges for applicants who receive a suitable outcome for their nominated professional occupation skills assessment. These digital badges are issued in addition to the traditional outcome letter and are supported by My eQuals, a trusted digital credential provider. The badges are instantly verifiable and can be easily shared on professional platforms such as LinkedIn or with employers, providing skilled migrants with a powerful tool to showcase their qualifications and support professional networking. Selected occupations will receive co-branded badges developed with leading industry peak bodies, offering greater transparency and consistency in recognising a skilled workforce. Each digital badge includes: If you have received a positive skills assessment, watch for an email from VETASSESS and My eQuals with details about your digital badge and how to use it to enhance your professional profile. Click here: VETASSESS
OMARA has issued a reminder to all Registered Migration Agents RMAs to ensure that their National Police Check (NPC) is current at the time of lodging an application for registration. Agents are encouraged to review the full email below for detailed guidance and to ensure compliance with registration requirements. “Dear Registered Migration Agent, This is a friendly reminder to ensure that your National Police Check (NPC) is current when you are lodging your application. In assessing an application for registration, the Authority must consider whether applicants have met the fit and proper and person of integrity requirements as per section 290 of the Act. An NPC must be provided every five years; the date of issue of the certificate must be in the 12 months before we receive your application. Decision ready applications with current police checks will ensure timely application processing. Details about this requirement are available on our website before you apply (mara.gov.au) You can apply for an NPC from the AFP website Australian Federal Police website Please note when you apply for a national police check: Thank you for your close attention to this matter. Regards Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA)”
The WA Community Engagement Team has released its January newsletter, featuring several important updates and new resources from the Department of Home Affairs. Key highlights from this edition are outlined below. Status Resolution Service – Online Appointment Form and Translated Resources The Department’s Immigration Status Resolution Service has introduced an online new online appointment request form, enabling clients to book meetings with a Status Resolution Officer at a convenient time. Appointments can be conducted either: In addition, the Department has released translated communication materials in 19 languages to support client understanding of visa status and available resolution pathways. Translated Support for Visa Holders Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence The Department’s Domestic violence and your visa webpage provides information on support services available to visa holders experiencing domestic and family violence. To improve accessibility, this information is now available in 16 languages, ensuring affected clients can better understand the assistance and pathways available. Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot – Program Extension The Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, which began on 1 July 2021, has been extended for a further 12 months under existing program settings. Key details include: Further information on eligibility and arrangements is available on the Department’s website. Free Australian Citizenship Preparatory Workshops – Ellenbrook and Bentley Multicultural Futures, in partnership with local councils, is offering free Australian Citizenship Workshops in Ellenbrook and Bentley. These sessions help participants prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test and include:
The Minister for Home Affairs has announced a new visa package designed to support the entry of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chiefs into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028. The visa package will support travel to Australia for PNG Chiefs-related personnel, including players, coaches, officials, media and fans. Visitor visas linked to PNG Chiefs travel will: The Department of Home Affairs has launched a dedicated webpage with visa information and resources for all PNG Chiefs stakeholders. Further updates will be added as the team’s NRL commencement approaches. To support timely processing, dedicated officers within the Pacific Service Centre will manage visa applications associated with the PNG Chiefs’ participation in the NRL from 2028. Click here: Australia welcomes Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chiefs to National Rugby League!
OMARA has provided the following update to all registered migration agents concerning the closure of the Department of Home Affairs’ immigration operations at the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai, the Australian High Commission in Singapore, and the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. The full communication is included below for your reference. “This email has been sent on behalf of the Overseas Immigration Projects and Planning Team Effective 31 December 2025, the Department of Home Affairs has ceased immigration operations at: These decisions affect the immigration functions in these locations only. Ceasing immigration operations in these locations will not impact visa applicants, as visa applications are lodged via digital platforms. There is no need for clients to attend one of our overseas missions in person to lodge a visa application. The Home Affairs website has been updated to reflect these changes. As is the case now, visa applications in these regions will continue to be processed anywhere in Home Affairs’ global immigration network. If you have any further questions, please contact us using this web form: Registered migration agent and legal practitioner enquiries and feedback.”
OMARA has advised that all registered migration agents must migrate their accounts to the new Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) system before 2 February 2026 to ensure continued access to the OMARA portal. Agents who do not complete the migration by this deadline may face difficulties renewing their registration or logging into the portal. The system will not automatically link existing records with new MFA records, which could result in delays due to manual processing. Video and written guides are available to support agents through the migration process. Agents who have already migrated do not need to take any further action and should have uninterrupted access from 2 February 2026 onward. For quick reference, click here.
The UK Government has announced changes to its entry requirements for dual citizen British and Irish nationals. From 25 February 2025, dual citizen British and Irish nationals must enter the United Kingdom using a valid British or Irish passport, or a passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement. Entry will no longer be permitted using another nationality’s passport alone. While these changes do not relate to Australian migration law, they may be relevant for individuals who hold British or Irish citizenship in addition to Australian citizenship, or for those seeking general information about international travel requirements. View the full guidance on the UK Government website.
LEGENDcom has implemented updates to its Migration and Citizenship stacks to reflect recent legislative amendments introduced by the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026. Migration Stack Update On 22 January 2026, LEGENDcom was updated to reflect amendments to the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994 made by Schedule 2 of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026. Citizenship stack update The Citizenship stack on LEGENDcom was also updated on 22 January 2026 to incorporate amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 introduced by Schedule 1 of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026.
The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026 introduces amendments to Australia’s migration and citizenship framework, strengthening measures across criminal, migration and citizenship laws. The Act amends the Migration Act, Migration Regulations and the Australian Citizenship Act. Amendments made during the parliamentary process did not affect the migration-related provisions contained in Schedule 2 of the Bill. The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 20 January 2025 and was passed by both Houses on the same day. It received Royal Assent on 21 January 2026 and commenced on 22 January 2026, the day following Royal Assent. Click here: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026