Immigration Updates

From 3 November 2026, the danger test for the Referred Stay (Permanent) subclass 852 visa moves from a validity rule to a grant criterion tied directly to the applicant's cooperation with an investigation.

Media report (not official): ABC reports the Prime Minister intends to seek changes to working holiday arrangements for UK nationals, who can currently stay up to three years without regional work under the free trade agreement. The report notes UK backpacker numbers have grown sharply and that farm groups want broader action on agricultural labour.

Protection visa merits reviews now carry a fee at lodgement for decisions made from 1 November 2026, and people with pending Protection matters can no longer get a Bridging B travel visa.

From 12 November 2026, Training visa (subclass 407) applicants must be outside Australia both when they apply and when the visa is granted. Onshore applications lodged from that date will be invalid.

Media report (not official): ABC reports the government is reviewing student visa financial requirements and preparing a replacement for the current ministerial direction, after high refusal rates appeared to deter genuine applicants. Consultation with universities and education agents is reportedly planned for November, amid forecasts of a sizeable drop in new university enrolments.

Western Sydney International Airport is the first to offer the web-form Australia Travel Declaration for all airlines from 26 October 2026, with a national rollout planned over 12 to 18 months.

Media report (not official): ABC reports aged care providers and CEDA want an essential skills visa pathway so that proposed migration cuts do not deepen workforce shortages. Home Affairs is reported as saying aged care workers already receive priority processing.

Media report (not official): ABC reports on a Commonwealth Ombudsman finding that an Australian citizen was detained for 945 days due to repeated citizenship assessment errors. The report also said 30 people detained in 2024-25 were held unlawfully and recommended an apology and process improvements.

Media report (not official): ABC reports advocates are concerned that tougher action on visa overstayers would give perpetrators more leverage over victims on temporary visas. They are calling for a dedicated temporary visa for victim-survivors, while government and opposition say the policies are not aimed at victims.

Home Affairs has updated its guidance and released a new factsheet on adequate health insurance. Most temporary visa holders and visitors cannot use Medicare, so the right cover matters.