Migration news
Latest updates on visa changes, immigration policy and migration pathways for healthcare professionals moving to Australia and New Zealand.
On 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 121 commenced, setting a new five-tier processing priority order for Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand and remaining Temporary Skill Shortage) visa applications. Healthcare roles have now been added to Priority 1 processing. – Read more
Changes are coming to the Parent Resident expression of interest (EOI) process on 5 October 2026, and people with EOIs expiring before then must take action to retain their position in the queue. – Read more
Australia's 2026–27 state skilled migration programmes are taking shape. ACT has a new portal and higher fees, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have increased allocations, Queensland is still on hold, and the FNQ DAMA has new employer concessions. – Read more
Deferring a residence application can be costly. Health conditions, family circumstances and rising fees all change over time — and residence is often the most cost-effective pathway from the start. – Read more
The government has quietly paused working holidaymaker visa applications from 24 countries subject to annual caps — less than six weeks after the 2 July opening. – Read more
From 5 October 2026, Parent Resident Visa expressions of interest move to a hybrid selection model — about 90% selected in date order and 10% by random ballot, with the annual cap remaining at 2,500. – Read more
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a new processing order for skilled visa applications, including employer sponsored and Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visas — with priority now based on both occupation and applicant location. – Read more
From 3 August 2026, Immigration New Zealand removed Hepatitis B and C from the list of high-cost health conditions used when assessing whether resident visa applicants have an acceptable standard of health. – Read more
Immigration New Zealand is reviewing the Parent Category visa settings. – Read more
From 24 August 2026, most SMC applicants will only need to meet one SMC wage threshold, rather than one rate for their work experience and a higher rate when they apply for residence. Applicants will still need to meet a wage threshold when they apply for residence, however that wage threshold will generally be the one in effect when they started accruing skilled work experience. – Read more
OET is an English language test commonly used by applicants working in the health sector. From midnight 12 July 2026 NZST, Immigration New Zealand will only accept in-person tests for applications where OET is used as the English language test. This change means that all parts of the English test must be completed in person at a supervised testing facility. – Read more
From 1 July 2026, Australian Immigration fees and financial thresholds were significantly increased. The annual updates affect visa applicants and employers sponsoring workers. – Read more
From 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa, with a three-tiered system. – Read more
Summer months are busy for Immigration NZ, with a surge in visa applications from people wanting to explore or spend Christmas with loved ones. – Read more
NZ visa immigration fees increased on 1 October. Plan applications accordingly. – Read more