15-Hour Shutdown of Australia’s Online Visa Platforms Set for 28-29 November
Indonesian Applicants Targeted by Scam ‘War’ for Australia’s Work & Holiday Visa
90 Cancellations, 672 Delays: Severe Flight Disruptions Hit Australia & New Zealand
Latest News
UK to Require Electronic Travel Authorisation from Australians From Feb 2026
From 25 February 2026 Australians will need to obtain a £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation before flying to the UK, aligning Britain with US-style pre-clearance programs. Travel managers should integrate ETA checks into booking workflows to avoid denied boarding or trip delays.
Planned 15-Hour Shutdown of Australia’s Online Visa Systems Set for 28-29 November
Australian Border Force will switch off ImmiAccount, VEVO and most other immigration IT systems from 20:30 AEDT on 28 November until 12:00 AEDT on 29 November for maintenance. Visa lodgements, VEVO checks and APEC Business Travel Card processing will be impossible during the outage, so travellers and employers must file time-critical applications beforehand. The downtime will disrupt right-to-work audits and cargo clearances, making advance contingency planning essential for mobility and compliance teams.
DFAT Re-issues ‘Do Not Travel’ Advisory for Russia, Urges Australians to Leave Immediately
DFAT has reconfirmed its highest ‘Do Not Travel’ alert for Russia, stressing the threat of arbitrary detention and limited consular help. Corporations must suspend non-essential travel and update risk registers, while any staff still in Russia should prepare evacuation contingencies.
South Australia Opens 2,250 New Skilled-Migration Nomination Places for 2025-26
South Australia has released 1,350 Subclass 190 and 900 Subclass 491 nomination places for 2025-26, with ROIs open immediately. The quota offers new permanent-residency pathways for in-demand professionals and gives employers in defence and hydrogen projects access to much-needed skilled labour.
Northern Territory Skilled-Migration Portal Re-opens Today After Allocation Boost
From today, the Northern Territory will accept new Subclass 190 and 491 nomination requests after receiving 1,650 skilled-migration places for 2025-26. The move re-opens a key pathway to permanent residency for critical-skill workers and gives employers on major defence and resources projects fresh recruitment options.
Partner-Visa ‘Sham Marriage’ Rorts Back in Spotlight as Commentators Warn of Systemic Loopholes
A MacroBusiness column claims Australia’s partner-visa programme remains vulnerable to sham marriages, arguing that weak sponsorship rules are inflating bridging-visa numbers and prolonging processing queues. The commentary could spur calls for stricter evidentiary standards in the next migration-policy review.