Skilled Visa Updates

• SkillSelect: 7,000 invitations were issued on 21 August 2025, including 150 subclass 491 (family-sponsored). Further quarterly rounds are expected before year-end.

• Significant Investor Visas (SIV): Recent corporate collapses have impacted some SIV holders. The Department clarified that visa holders remain responsible for their own financial and legal affairs.

• Labour Agreements & DAMAs: Over 4,285 agreements are currently approved, with more than half under DAMAs. Processing averages 4 weeks for complete applications

Family Visa Updates

• Child visas: Processing delays continue, with current timeframes of 22–28 months. Around 3,000 places are allocated for 2025–26, but lodgements already exceed planning levels.

• Unlawful children: System changes now allow applications for babies without passports, with details to be provided before grant

Student and Temporary Visa Updates

• Student visas: Lodgements fell 26.4% (427,000 applications). The government is reviewing the impact of the July 2025 Visa Application Charge (VAC) increase, especially for short courses such as ELICOS.

• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART): The Department noted high levels of remittals due to additional evidence being presented at hearings. A review of Ministerial Direction 111 is underway.

• Bridging visas:

  • BVBs should be lodged 2–4 weeks before travel.

  • Processing delays exist for visas linked to partner applications, but targeted strategies are in place to reduce backlogs.

  • BVA and BVC are currently processed within 1 week

New and Special Visa Programs

• National Innovation Visa: By August 2025, 8,200 applications were received, with 225 invitations issued.

• Pacific Engagement Visa & Falepili Treaty Stream:

  • 1,000 visas were granted in the first year of the Pacific Engagement stream, with 278 more this year.

  • Average processing time: 129 days.

  • Treaty stream has granted 280 visas, though processing is slowed by infrastructure issues in partner countries