Australia’s immigration landscape saw several key announcements in September 2025, focusing on maintaining stable migration levels while prioritizing skilled workers, innovation, and regional needs. These changes build on the government’s strategy to align migration with economic priorities, housing, and infrastructure. Below is a breakdown of the major updates, based on official and recent sources.
1. Migration Program Planning Levels for 2025-2026
The Australian Government confirmed the permanent migration program will remain at 185,000 places for 2025-2026, unchanged from the previous year. This includes:
• Skills Stream: 132,200 places (approximately 71% of the total), aimed at addressing workforce shortages in key sectors like healthcare, engineering, and technology.
• Family Stream: 52,500 places (about 28%), primarily for partner and parent visas.
• Special Eligibility Stream: 300 places for other categories. Within the skills stream, allocations include:
• Employer-Sponsored: 44,000 places.
• State/Territory Nominated: 33,000 places.
• Skilled Independent: 16,900 places.
• Talent and Innovation: 4,000 places.
• Business Innovation & Investment: 1,000 places (reduced focus here).
A multi-year planning model was introduced to better align migration with long-term housing and infrastructure demands, providing more predictability for applicants and states.
2. Introduction of the Talent and Innovation Visa (National Innovation Visa – Subclass 858)
Launched as part of the 2025-2026 program, this permanent visa targets exceptionally talented individuals, including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, and creatives, to boost innovation and job creation in priority sectors. It offers 4,000 places for the year (slightly less than the 4,300 mentioned in some early reports).
This visa consolidates and replaces previous programs like the Global Talent Visa (which closed to new applicants in December 2024), Distinguished Talent Visa, and elements of the National Innovation stream. Eligibility requires an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) demonstrating internationally recognized achievements. It’s invitation-only and focuses on high-impact contributions to Australia’s economy. States like New South Wales and South Australia have outlined support for nominations under this visa.
3. State Nomination Quotas and Program Updates
States and territories began releasing their nomination allocations in September, with many starting with small interim quotas while awaiting full federal distributions. These support visas like Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional).
• Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Both received limited interim allocations of 165 places each. For Tasmania: 85 for Subclass 190 and 80 for 491. For ACT: Similar split (85 for 190, 80 for 491). These are prioritized for pre-approved applicants from the previous year, with full programs expected to open soon. Tasmania’s program remains closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) until the full 2025-26 allocation is confirmed.
• Queensland: Opened its Skilled Migration Program on September 19, 2025, for ROIs. Key changes include removing the onshore work requirement, reducing minimum work hours to 20 per week, and accepting casual employment. A new onshore pathway was introduced for construction workers to address shortages in building and infrastructure. However, the Small Business Owner pathway was closed for businesses purchased after September 19, 2025, to prevent exploitation and focus on genuine contributions. Applicants can submit only one ROI.
• Other states like Western Australia and South Australia also issued small interim allocations for backlog processing, with full details expected in the coming weeks.
4. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Invitation Round
The first invitation round for the 2025-2026 program year occurred on August 21, 2025 (technically pre-September but referenced in September updates). Results included:
• 6,887 invitations for Subclass 189 (Points-Tested).
• 150 invitations for Subclass 491 (Family-Sponsored, regional). Minimum points scores reached as low as 65 in some occupations, providing opportunities for lower-scoring applicants in high-demand fields. This round followed a 9-month pause and signals increased activity for skilled independent pathways.
5. English Language Test Rule Changes
Effective September 13, 2025, Australia expanded accepted English tests from 5 to 8 (or 9, per some reports) for most visas, including the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482). New additions include tests like LanguageCert and certain TOEFL variants, all requiring completion at secure test centers (no fully online options accepted).
For the Skills in Demand Visa, benchmarks were raised to Vocational English standards, with minimum scores varying by test (e.g., IELTS 5.0 overall, no band below 4.5). Tests taken before August 7, 2025, remain valid for up to 3 years if they meet prior criteria. These changes aim to ensure higher proficiency while broadening options for applicants.
6. Updated Visa Processing Times
As of late September 2025, processing times vary by visa and stream (based on 90% of applications):
• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): Median of 8 months.
• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): 17-25 months, depending on state and complexity.
• Temporary Skilled Visas (Subclass 482/Skills in Demand): Short-term stream: 19 days median; Medium-term/Specialist Skills: Up to 5 months (90 days median for some). Legacy Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) cases are being cleared, with backlogs expected to resolve by December 2025.
Times can fluctuate due to application volume and scrutiny for fraud. Applicants should check the official global processing tool for real-time estimates.
These updates emphasize skilled migration, regional settlement, and higher standards to support Australia’s growth. If you’re applying, review your eligibility via the Department of Home Affairs website and consider consulting our registered migration agent. For personalized advice, provide more details about your situation.
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