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Immigration Blog and Latest News

Our staff have the knowledge to deal with all immigration problems, no matter how complex. Keep abreast of immigration updates with our blog posts below.
What is the Aged Dependent Relative (Subclass 114 and 838) visa?
Immigration blog
Immigration

What is the Aged Dependent Relative (Subclass 114 and 838) visa?

The Aged Dependent Relative visa is a permanent family visa that allows an older person who is single and financially reliant on an Australian relative to live in Australia permanently. There are two subclasses: the Subclass 114, for applicants who are offshore or outside Australia; and the Subclass 838, for applicants who are already onshore in Australia. The visa is…
Immigration blog
26 August, 2026
What are the National Innovation Visa Priority Sectors? (Updated on: 26 August 2026)
Immigration blog
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What are the National Innovation Visa Priority Sectors? (Updated on: 26 August 2026)

On 6 December 2024, the National Innovation (Subclass 858) visa was released – for more information see our article here. While the legislative criteria remains very similar to the former Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa, the visa introduced a mandatory expression of interest (EOI) and invitation process. Individuals familiar with the former Global Talent Independent (GTI) program (see here), would…
Immigration blog
26 August, 2026
The National Innovation Visa (Updated: 5 August 2026)
Immigration blog
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The National Innovation Visa (Updated: 5 August 2026)

On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government released the Federal Budget for the 2024/25 year, which included a raft of Immigration-related measures. Notably, it announced that a new National Innovation Visa (NIV) would be released in late-2024, to replace the Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa and the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP). On 6 December 2024, relevant legislation formally introduced…
Immigration blog
5 August, 2026
Australia’s New Visa Processing Priorities (July 2026)
Immigration blog
Immigration

Australia’s New Visa Processing Priorities (July 2026)

  On 25 July 2026, the Australian Government introduced significant changes to Australia's visa processing framework. These changes included: Ministerial Direction No. 117, replacing Ministerial Direction No. 102 for Family stream visas; Ministerial Direction No. 119, replacing Ministerial Direction No. 105 for Skilled visa applications; and Ministerial Direction No. 120, replacing Ministerial Direction No. 112 for National Innovation (subclass 858)…
Immigration blog
4 August, 2026
Subclass 491 visa conditions: What regional residency really requires (and what happens if you breach it)
Immigration blog
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Subclass 491 visa conditions: What regional residency really requires (and what happens if you breach it)

If you hold a Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa, you have access to a genuine pathway to Australian permanent residency, but that pathway is subject to binding conditions. Three conditions in particular govern how you must live, work, and communicate with the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) while in Australia. Understanding what each requires and where the Department…
Immigration blog
24 July, 2026
A guide to calculating FWHIT earnings for the ENS 186 visa exemption (Updated 21 July 2026)
Immigration blog
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A guide to calculating FWHIT earnings for the ENS 186 visa exemption (Updated 21 July 2026)

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa ordinarily has an upper age limit of 45 years, meaning that once an applicant turns 45 years old, they will need an age exemption to be eligible. We have a separate article that addresses the various applicable age exemptions. This article deals with the most common of the age exemptions, being "Subclass 457/482…
Immigration blog
21 July, 2026