Application fee for Australia’s Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa doubles overnight
DFAT raises Kuwait travel advice to ‘Do Not Travel’ following Middle-East escalation
Pacific Engagement Visa: Penny Wong tells Samoa quota is ‘yours to set’
Latest News
Fast-track legacy caseload falls below 3,000 as Refugee Council publishes February update
New data published 28 February 2026 shows Australia’s legacy fast-track asylum backlog has fallen below 3,000, with more than 18,000 former TPV holders already granted permanent Resolution of Status visas. The trend expands the available workforce but spotlights remaining processing delays.
Operation Epic Fury prompts Australian firms to reroute travel and review crisis plans
ABC News reports following Operation Epic Fury prompted Australia to issue broad Middle-East travel warnings on 28 February 2026. Businesses now face rerouted flights, potential insurance gaps and renewed duty-of-care obligations for staff travelling through Gulf hubs.
New Biosecurity Reporting Rules Hit Charter Flights Arriving in Australia
Australia’s charter and private-jet sector is now caught by the same pre-arrival biosecurity rules as airlines. From 27 February 2026, operators must file a Non-Scheduled Pre-Arrival Report before departure and meet stricter in-flight health reporting requirements, or face penalties. Mobility teams using corporate aircraft need new compliance checklists and longer lead-times.
Senate Amendments to Migrant-Exploitation Bill Circulated on Eve of Debate
Final amendments to the Migrant Exploitation Bill were issued on 27 February, raising penalties for rogue employers and giving exploited visa-holders safer pathways to speak up. With Senate debate set for early March, companies must prepare for tougher sponsorship audits and greater information-sharing between regulators.
Data & Digital Ministers Endorse National Digital ID Roll-out – Border Agencies Eye Seamless Travel
Australia’s Data & Digital Ministers have endorsed a national Digital ID strategy that will turn driver licences and other IDs into interoperable, verifiable credentials. Border agencies plan to bolt the technology onto visa and arrival-declaration systems, promising faster clearance and real-time work-rights checks – but also stricter compliance visibility for employers.
Pacific Engagement Visa: First Pre-Departure Workshops Kick Off for 2026 Intake
Mandatory pre-departure courses for the 2026 Pacific Engagement Visa intake started on 27 February, signalling that the first large wave of ‘ballot-selected’ permanent residents will land in Australia over coming months. Employers facing skills shortages should prepare tailored induction and language support to tap this new labour source.
Opposition Flags Criminal Penalties for Aiding Terror Hotspots in Immigration Podcast
A 27 February Guardian podcast reveals the Coalition is drafting laws to criminalise assistance to people connected with terror hotspots, raising the spectre of new liabilities for visa sponsors and employers. The proposal signals a sharper political divide on migration ahead of the next federal election.