Introduction

Australia’s Full Border Reopening

The thaw:In late November 2021, Australia announced that PRs and citizens’ parents could enter Australia under an exemption:

Big news! Parents of PRs and citizens will soon be able to enter Australia without an exemption!

Warming up:On 15 December 2021 (originally scheduled for 1 December), eligible visa holders across dozens of common subclasses — including Subclass 500, Subclass 485, Subclass 462, Subclass 482, Subclass 489, and Subclass 491 — were permitted to enter Australia.

Major update! From 1 December, offshore holders of Subclass 485, Subclass 491, Subclass 500 and other visas can return to Australia without an exemption!

Boiling point:On 21 February 2022, all visa holders became eligible to enter Australia — marking the full reopening of Australia’s borders.

Official announcement! From 21 February, Australia opens its borders to all visa holders — everyone can come back!

From March through May, international arrivals and departures gradually recovered, approved vaccines were progressively added to the recognised list, and while the effects of the pandemic meant a full return to pre-COVID volumes remained some way off, Australia’s border — for those seeking to visit, reunite with family, study, work, or migrate — was no longer a barrier.

A Major Boost to the 2022–23 Skilled Migration Quota

This was one of the most genuinely positive structural changes in years. More quota means more state nomination invitations, more accommodating policies, faster visa grants, and much more. This budget was announced before the federal election; the Labor government is due to release a new budget in October. Given the current trajectory, the outlook for at least maintaining — or improving — those numbers looks promising.

Big news! The 2022–23 quota for Subclass 491 and Subclass 189 more than doubled, with significant increases to Subclass 190 and employer-sponsored visas! Parent migration quota increased to 6,000!

Morrison Out — A New Prime Minister and Immigration Minister

A change of leadership, and within just one month we already learned that the new government has pledged to speed up visa processing, increase the certainty of pathways from temporary to permanent residency for temporary visa holders, and commit to improving the parent visa situation. New faces, new direction — not everything will change, but a great many things can.

Labor won! Will Australia’s migration policy improve under the new government?

Suddenly, All of Australia United to Push for Faster Visa Processing”

The chronic backlog under the previous Coalition government — a symptom of years of neglect — came to a head when borders reopened with hundreds of thousands of visa applicants having endured two to three years of limbo. That wait finally received unprecedented, nationwide attention, and brought fresh commitments from the new Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, as well as a level of public concern unlike anything seen before. Of course, the backlog has now grown into a mountain that cannot be cleared overnight — it will take time, step by step. We hope your turn comes soon.

It’s finally happening! The Minister for Home Affairs confirms: processing of the visa backlog has been prioritised, with shorter wait times — especially for skilled migrants!

Compensation for Temporary Visa Holders Stranded Overseas During the Pandemic

Throughout the pandemic, Australia introduced a range of special measures. Among the more significant was the extension of visa validity for Subclass 485, Subclass 489, and Subclass 491 holders stranded overseas. Regional Subclass 489/491 holders have already received their extensions; the legislative details of the Subclass 485 Replacement policy were finalised before the end of the financial year, with applications opening from 1 July.

[Subclass 485 Replacement — Legislative Details Released] Applications can be lodged onshore or offshore! Who can apply for the Subclass 485 Replacement without a skills assessment?

Major Expansion of Work Rights for Temporary Visa Holders

From Subclass 500 student visa holders being permitted to work full-time, to Subclass 408 visa holders being able to extend by 6 or 12 months with full-time work rights throughout, plus refunds of visa application charges for Subclass 500 and working holiday visa holders entering within the specified window — while all of these measures are temporary, they point to an unprecedented labour shortage that the Australian government has had to grapple with and will continue to face for some time to come.

A comprehensive roundup of current concessions across Australia’s work visa subclasses — some offer clearer pathways to PR, many allow substantial extensions, and options exist for both onshore and offshore applicants!

Inspired by New Zealand, Calls for an Australian Amnesty

In late September of last year, most Australian states were nearing the end of their lockdowns, borders had been closed for over a year, and various visa and migration announcements had come and gone without anything concrete materialising. Then news broke that New Zealand’s migration ‘amnesty’ was expected to benefit around 165,000 people — and it shook many Australian applicants out of their seats. Newstars, on behalf of a large number of applicants, sent a petition to the then-Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs. The petition ultimately gathered over 30,000 signatures and attracted coverage in the Australian media. Giving voice to frustration, demonstrating resolve, and winning attention — these may carry more real-world weight than any immediate outcome.

[Join the petition!] Give Australia’s long-waiting temporary residents a one-off amnesty! Restore the original skilled migration PR quota!

A Steady State Nomination Programme and a Consistently Prioritised Employer Sponsorship Stream Throughout the Financial Year

State nomination:On the very first day of the financial year, the Department of Home Affairs officially published the Subclass 491, Subclass 190, and business and investor quota allocations for all states — a first. Beyond the benefit of the quota increase itself, this also signalled something important: state nomination has firmly replaced Subclass 189 as the mainstream skilled migration pathway. It is a signal that state nomination is now taken seriously at every level of government. From issuing invitations and assessing nominations, to pursuing supplementary quota, adjusting occupation lists and policies, and improving administrative processes — while no system is perfect, it is undeniable that every state worked diligently within its means this financial year. Skilled migrants need state nomination, and state governments need skilled migrants.

Employer sponsorship:In particular, the rapid approval of popular occupations such as accountants and chefs under the Subclass 482 — with the entire process from nomination to visa grant completed in as little as 2–3 months — demonstrated the Department’s clear prioritisation of employer-sponsored migration. Conversely, employer sponsorship has gradually become a Plan A or Plan B for a growing number of applicants.

New financial year state nomination updates! NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, and TAS all increased their quotas! Victoria has also eased Subclass 190 requirements and expanded eligible fields!

NSW, Canberra, and South Australia Open the Door to Offshore Applicants

In December 2021 — nearly two years after the pure offshore state nomination channel (excluding the MINT programme) had been closed — and approximately one week after Australia reopened its borders to common visa holders, NSW announced the reopening of its offshore channel. Australia’s most popular and highest-quota state nomination programme led the way; roughly one month later, Canberra announced the same; and a month after that, South Australia — which had already reopened its offshore channel — added a further 259 occupations available to offshore applicants. Offshore options were limited and difficult to access throughout this financial year, but the door has been opened and there is light ahead. All signs now point to a better 2022–23 financial year for offshore applicants.

Breaking news! NSW Subclass 190 opens to offshore applicants — several engineering and trade occupations eligible! Multiple popular accounting and ICT occupations require 3 years of work experience!

Australia Cancels Novak Djokovic’s Visa

A story that dominated world headlines for several days.

Djokovic detained and his visa cancelled — what actually happened? A look through the lens of migration law.

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