Blog
For migration & education agents.
Policy shifts, compliance and the day-to-day of running a practice — written for registered agents, not search engines.
11 July 2026
Staying ahead when Australia's migration rules change
Australian migration and student-visa settings change often. Here's how registered agents keep clients compliant — and move fast — when the rules shift under a live caseload.
30 June 2026
Working Holiday Maker changes from 1 July 2026: higher fees, wider ages
The 417 and 462 programs changed on 1 July 2026 — a sharp fee rise, expanded age eligibility for some countries, and new Work and Holiday places. Small matters, unforgiving deadlines.
26 June 2026
Skilled income thresholds rose again on 1 July 2026 — check your nominations
The Core Skills and Specialist Skills income thresholds were indexed on 1 July 2026 in line with AWOTE. Any nomination lodged on or after that date must meet the new salary floors.
24 June 2026
Visa fees jumped on 1 July 2026 — and not evenly
From 1 July 2026, most visa application charges rose around 25%, but a few climbed far more. Here's the shape of the increase, the legislative basis, and why accurate quoting now matters more.
18 June 2026
Temporary Graduate (485) changes in 2026: age, English and offshore transitions
The Subclass 485 tightened in 2026 — a lower age limit, higher English, a higher fee, and the end of some onshore switching. Screening eligibility at intake matters more than ever.
28 May 2026
The skilled points test is being 'optimised' — what agents should watch for
The government has flagged optimising the points test that selects most permanent skilled migrants, with a lean toward younger applicants, stronger English and critical-shortage occupations. Here's how to prepare.
13 May 2026
The 2026–27 Migration Program: onshore priority and where the places went
Announced 12 May 2026, the permanent Migration Program holds at 185,000 places — but the mix shifted hard toward employer sponsorship and onshore applicants, and away from regional. What it means for your advice.
8 April 2026
Australia's education-agent commission ban on onshore transfers, explained
From 31 March 2026, providers can't pay education agents commission for onshore student transfers — a targeted fix for 'course hopping'. Here's the scope, the transition rule, and what it changes for agents.
2 April 2026
The Migration Agents Regulations 2026: what changed for registered agents
From 1 April 2026 the Migration Agents Regulations 2026 replaced the 1998 rules — new CPD obligations, a mandatory Code of Conduct activity, PI-insurance requirements and infringement notices. Here's what it means for your practice.
10 March 2026
The Core Skills Occupation List and the 482 in 2026
The Skills in Demand visa runs on the Core Skills Occupation List — 456 occupations, with a further review expected in 2026. Occupations move on and off, and that changes who's eligible mid-matter.
25 February 2026
The National Innovation Visa (858) in 2026: a different kind of matter
The National Innovation Visa replaced the Global Talent program and works on invitation, not a points test. For agents, the value sits in managing a long EOI-to-grant pipeline for high-calibre clients.
12 February 2026
Student-visa integrity in 2026: Genuine Student, English and financial capacity
The Subclass 500 now turns on the Genuine Student requirement, higher English scores and a higher financial-capacity figure. For agents, the work has shifted to evidencing genuineness up front.
20 January 2026
Ministerial Direction 115 and the student-visa traffic light: what education agents need to know
Since 14 November 2025, offshore student visa applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 115 — a Green/Amber/Red priority model tied to each provider's enrolment cap. Here's how to work with it.