From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer lodge a Subclass 500 (Student) or Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa application onshore; they must apply and be granted the visa from outside Australia. Family members can no longer be added as subsequent entrants after a Student visa is granted. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the prior rules.

The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01347) were registered on 1 October 2026 and commenced on 2 October 2026. The regulations amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to give effect to the offshore-application and family-inclusion restrictions for Subclass 500 and 590 visas announced by Minister Tony Burke on 17 September 2026. A companion instrument, LIN 26/102 (F2026L01348), specifies the categories of visas that now preclude onshore Student visa lodgement.

The Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01255) was registered on 21 September 2026 and commenced on 22 September 2026, replacing the Designated Areas 2016/044 instrument before its scheduled 1 October 2026 sunset. The instrument specifies the postcodes and states/territories that constitute 'designated areas' under regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994, relevant to condition 8549 and Subclass 489 and 887 visa holders. The designated-area framework is remade in substantially the same form as the prior instrument.

On 17 September 2026, Minister Tony Burke announced the next stage of migration reform, including new Ministerial Directions (MD121 and MD122) that remove the standalone processing priority previously given to applications connected with designated regional areas. The reforms are aimed at reducing net overseas migration to 245,000 in 2026–27 and 225,000 from 2027–28. The student visa offshore-application changes that commenced 2 October 2026 form part of the same reform package.

The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874), registered 30 June 2026 and commencing 1 July 2026, raised the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) to $79,423 and codified it into the Migration Regulations. The same instrument increased first-instalment visa application charges by approximately 25% across most Schedule 1 visa classes, lifted the Subclass 500 Student visa base charge from $2,000 to $2,500, and adjusted citizenship fees in line with CPI. Nominations for Subclass 482, 494 and 186 lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must meet the new $79,423 threshold.

The Migration Legislation Amendment (Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/027, F2026L00369), registered 27 March 2026, amends LIN 19/051, LIN 19/260 and the Subclass 186 instrument to replace the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) — which entered liquidation in August 2025 — with the Institution of Surveyors New South Wales Ltd (ISNSW) as the designated assessing authority for Surveyor (ANZSCO 232212). The change applies to applications made but not finally determined on or after 8 October 2025, except where a GCA assessment was dated on or before 21 August 2025. A separate item in the same instrument confirmed ACS as the assessing authority for Data Scientist roles under ANZSCO 224999 from 14 December 2024.

Migration Tasmania opened its 2026–27 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program to new Registrations of Interest on 17 August 2026, with weekly invitation rounds commencing 20 August 2026 via a new portal at apply.migration.tas.gov.au. Tasmania received 2,050 nomination places (1,250 × Subclass 190; 800 × Subclass 491), up from 1,850 in 2025–26. A significant change for offshore applicants: no invitations will be issued under the Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles (invitation-only) pathway in 2026–27, following the Australian Government's decision to prioritise onshore visa processing. The nomination application fee increased to $387 (ex GST).

The Northern Territory Government opened its 2026–27 General Skilled Migration nomination portal on 21 August 2026 for all onshore streams and selected offshore streams, with a total allocation of 1,850 places (850 × Subclass 190; 1,000 × Subclass 491) — an increase of 200 places on 2025–26. Key eligibility changes include: full-time employment redefined as at least 35 hours per week (combinable across part-time roles); remote work for employers based outside the NT generally no longer accepted; and NT Graduate applicants relying on job-search must now demonstrate 12 months of NT residence post-completion, up from 6 months. The offshore NT Priority Occupation stream remains closed due to an existing backlog.

As at 1 October 2026, the NSW Government's Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa nomination places for the current program year are fully allocated and the programme is closed to new applications. NSW has not yet published 2026–27 programme settings or an opening date. Prospective applicants are advised to monitor the official NSW skilled migration page for updates on next-year settings.

As at 3 October 2026, Victoria's official skilled visa pages confirm that the 2026–27 skilled nomination program is not yet open, with the Live in Melbourne portal closed to new Registrations of Interest since 28 April 2026. Migration Queensland similarly states it is awaiting Commonwealth advice on 2026–27 settings and allocations before publishing an opening date. Both jurisdictions had 2025–26 nomination fees withdrawn or pages updated in August 2026, signalling active preparation for the new program year.

The Commonwealth Government has confirmed an extension of the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) until 31 December 2026, allowing Goldfields employers to continue accessing the Goldfields DAMA occupation list and concessions while transition arrangements to the broader WA DAMA framework are finalised. The WA DAMA, established in July 2024, covers the whole of Western Australia and complements the four regional DAMAs in the Goldfields, Kimberley, Pilbara and South West. Employers in the Goldfields region should apply to the relevant Designated Area Representative for endorsement before the December deadline.

Engineers Australia increased its Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) fees by approximately 3–4% from 1 July 2026, with the standard Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) assessment rising from AUD $1,001 to AUD $1,034 (incl. GST) and the fast-track surcharge increasing from AUD $385 to AUD $396. The adjustment is indexed to movements in the Consumer Price Index, Wage Price Index and Producer Price Index, and has been approved by the Department of Home Affairs. All skilled migrants seeking an Engineers Australia assessment for visa purposes are subject to the revised fees.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) revised its Migration Skills Assessment fee schedule from November 2025, with the General Skills Assessment pathway (the primary route for overseas ICT professionals applying for Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas) increasing to AUD $1,498 (excl. GST). The RPL and Temporary Graduate (485) pathways are set at AUD $625, and the Post Australian Study pathway at AUD $1,136. Standard processing is targeted at 4–6 weeks, with priority processing available for applicants with an Australian visa expiring within 12 weeks. ACS also confirmed that up to three ANZSCO codes may be nominated under one standard application fee.