In a bid to reduce the number of people living unlawfully in Australia, the Department of Home Affairs on 28 October 2025 quietly switched on a new self-service portal that lets individuals with expired visas book confidential appointments with a Status Resolution Officer (SRO).
The tool—accessible through the Home Affairs website—offers a safe channel for people on expired visas or Bridging Visa E to discuss pathways to regularise their status without immediate enforcement action. Unlike past practice, users do not have to call a hotline or present in person; they can choose an appointment slot online and discuss options ranging from a substantive visa application to voluntary departure.
Home Affairs says the program is designed to “support voluntary compliance over forced removals”, aligning with recommendations in last year’s Parkinson migration review, which urged the government to replace a punitive overstay regime with incentives for self-reporting. The launch also follows a 2024 pilot in Western Sydney that reportedly closed 1,100 overstay cases within six months.
For employers, the portal is significant: overstayers who regularise quickly reduce the risk of Fair Work penalties for unlawful employment, while universities worry it may spur a rush of on-shore status checks from former students. Immigration lawyers, meanwhile, welcome the transparency but warn that applicants still need professional advice to avoid inadvertent breaches.
Practically, companies with large casual workforces have been advised to update VEVO checks regularly and direct concerned staff to the new portal rather than informal “migration agents.” The government is expected to run a multilingual outreach campaign through community radio and social-media channels over coming weeks.
The tool—accessible through the Home Affairs website—offers a safe channel for people on expired visas or Bridging Visa E to discuss pathways to regularise their status without immediate enforcement action. Unlike past practice, users do not have to call a hotline or present in person; they can choose an appointment slot online and discuss options ranging from a substantive visa application to voluntary departure.
Home Affairs says the program is designed to “support voluntary compliance over forced removals”, aligning with recommendations in last year’s Parkinson migration review, which urged the government to replace a punitive overstay regime with incentives for self-reporting. The launch also follows a 2024 pilot in Western Sydney that reportedly closed 1,100 overstay cases within six months.
For employers, the portal is significant: overstayers who regularise quickly reduce the risk of Fair Work penalties for unlawful employment, while universities worry it may spur a rush of on-shore status checks from former students. Immigration lawyers, meanwhile, welcome the transparency but warn that applicants still need professional advice to avoid inadvertent breaches.
Practically, companies with large casual workforces have been advised to update VEVO checks regularly and direct concerned staff to the new portal rather than informal “migration agents.” The government is expected to run a multilingual outreach campaign through community radio and social-media channels over coming weeks.
