This Week’s Key Migration News
- 1. Subclass 407 processing speeds up — is renewal still worth considering?
- 2. Debunked: the extra +35% tax on temporary visas is fake
- 3. Tasmania keeps issuing invitations — green pass holders invited for Subclass 491
- 4. Ban in effect! The Immigration Minister bars Iranian visitor-visa holders from entering
- 5. This week’s grants, invitations and skills-assessment data round-up
1. Subclass 407 Processing Speeds Up — Is Renewal Still Worth Considering?
Over the past two to three weeks we have had a run of successful Subclass 407 cases. Since the reforms, processing of the Subclass 407 seems to have come back to life. Our recent Subclass 407 success stories are summarised in the chart below:
At a glance, the volume has gone up, with fresh approvals across nominations, sponsorship status and visas. On top of that, processing times have shortened. Typical examples include a Subclass 407 nomination lodged on the 25th and approved on the 26th, and another nomination lodged on the 20th and approved on the 23rd.
While our data does not represent the whole picture, we are now seeing some positive signals and wanted to share them. We will keep watching and hope this proves to be a lasting trend, and that Subclass 407 processing times eventually settle into a stable, short turnaround. So for now, the Subclass 407 reforms have not turned out as badly as feared. For those who have almost no other renewal option, if you need to apply, you should still apply, and you should get ready and start as soon as possible.
2. Debunked: the Extra Tax on Temporary Visas Is Fake News!!!
This week a lot of people came to us asking about a report claiming that a special tax rate would be imposed on temporary visa holders such as student visa and Subclass 485 holders, and not a small one either, with the rate starting at 35% even at the lowest band. It also said the bill was in the late stages of debate and could be implemented as early as 1 July. Because the report was originally posted on Facebook by our old friend Iscah and then deleted, and because they have broken many exclusive stories before that were all later verified, it immediately spread across other platforms too.
When we saw this report, what struck us as most outrageous was the tax-rate scale: 35% on annual income between AUD 10,000 and AUD 18,200, and 65% on income between AUD 45,000 and AUD 135,000, which is just absurd. So we contacted them straight away to verify it, but strangely heard nothing back for several days. Finally, mid-week, Iscah replied to us and, at the same time, clarified on Facebook that it was fake!
Over the past year or two, the Department of Home Affairs has not been friendly towards temporary visa holders, international students or recent graduates, hemming them in with fee increases and visa reforms. Against that backdrop, even news this outrageous starts to look almost plausible. But it is precisely at times like these that we need to scrutinise whether news is true or false. We will be even more careful to trace the source of any information and do our best not to mislead anyone.
3. Tasmania Keeps Issuing Invitations — Green Pass Holders Receive Subclass 491
Tasmania issued its invitations on schedule this week! This round saw 19 Subclass 190 and 20 Subclass 491 invitations. For the Subclass 190, only gold pass holders were invited; for the Subclass 491, the lowest to receive an invitation was a green pass on 502 points.
This round, 19 Subclass 190 and 20 Subclass 491 invitations were issued
The current backlog of ROIs stands at 462 for the Subclass 190 and 374 for the Subclass 491
There are 450 Subclass 190 places and 396 Subclass 491 places remaining
ROI invitees awaiting nomination processing number 332 for the Subclass 190 and 223 for the Subclass 491
Around 80 ROI invitations have not yet been accepted
Processing has currently reached applications lodged on 18 December 2025
That is, as at 26 March, once the places that the invitations already issued will consume are counted, around 120 Subclass 190 places and about 170 Subclass 491 places remain. Tasmania has previously said it will, for now, only issue Subclass 190 invitations to gold pass holders.
4. Ban in Effect: the Immigration Minister Bars Iranian Visitor-Visa Holders from Entering
After unrest in the Middle East, the government urgently introduced and quickly passed an amendment granting the Immigration Minister a new power: for a defined period of up to 6 months, the Minister can issue directions barring entry even to people who already hold an Australian temporary visa. This legislation is aimed mainly at war-affected regions. In effect, it is designed to stop temporary visa holders from certain regions from entering and then exploiting the current situation to apply for refugee protection visas, and to keep undesirable individuals out of Australia, thereby effectively safeguarding national security.
On 26 March, the Minister used this power for the first time, imposing a 6-month entry ban on Iranian citizens holding the Subclass 600 visitor visa. Iranian citizens offshore who hold a visitor visa will be unable to enter Australia for the next 6 months. The ban is expected to affect 7,000+ Iranians.
There are exceptions, however. An exemption may apply if the holder is already in Australia; is the spouse or dependent child of an Australian citizen or permanent resident; has a minor child in Australia; or holds a particular permitted travel certificate.
In addition, holders of other temporary visas, such as student visa and Subclass 485 holders, are not affected.
5. This Week’s Grants, Invitations and Skills Assessments
State Nomination
Canberra
Formal nomination
Lodged 13 February 2026, invited for ACT Subclass 190 on 25 March 2026 — External Auditor
Lodged 13 February 2026, invited for ACT Subclass 491 on 25 March 2026 — Engineering Professional nec
Lodged 13 February 2026, invited for ACT Subclass 190 on 26 March 2026 — Management Accountant
Tasmania
ROI invitation
ROI lodged 16 March 2026, invited to lodge nomination on 26 March 2026 — Cook, 65+5, single, with relevant work experience
Formal nomination
Nomination lodged 18 December 2025, formally invited 24 March 2026 — Enrolled Nurse, 60+5
Victoria
Formal nomination
Nomination lodged 17 March 2026, formally invited 26 March 2026 — Statistician, 85+5
Nomination lodged 17 March 2026, formally invited 26 March 2026 — Software Engineer, 95+5
Visa Grants
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Migration
Lodged 17 November 2025, granted 26 March 2026 — onshore, Statistician, single
Subclass 190 State Nomination
Lodged 22 November 2024, Subclass 190 granted 25 March 2026
Lodged onshore for ACT Subclass 190 on 12 Feb 2026, granted 24 Mar 2026 — Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
Subclass 491 Regional State Nomination
Lodged onshore for ACT Subclass 491 on 17 Jun 2024, granted 25 Mar 2026 — Welfare Worker
Subclass 191/887 Regional Permanent Residence
None this week
Employer Sponsorship
Lodged 19 March 2026, Subclass 482 sponsorship status approved 20 March 2026
Lodged 19 March 2026, Subclass 482 sponsorship status approved 23 March 2026
Lodged 3 April 2025, nomination received 4 March 2026, Subclass 407 granted 23 March 2026
Lodged 20 March 2026, Subclass 407 nomination approved 23 March 2026 — Mechanical Engineering Technician
Lodged 12 November 2025, Subclass 407 nomination approved 25 March 2026 — Mechanical Engineering Technician
Lodged 25 March 2026, Subclass 407 nomination approved 26 March 2026 — Mechanical Engineering Technician
Investor Visa / GTI Visa
Lodged November 2025, Subclass 888 granted 23 March 2026
Partner Migration
Lodged 3 February 2026, Subclass 100 granted 25 March 2026, with children
Lodged 7 February 2025, Subclass 309 granted 26 March 2026
Lodged 14 February 2025, Subclass 820 granted 24 March 2026
Parent Visas
Lodged 16 September 2025, Subclass 870 granted 27 March 2026
Lodged 8 October 2018, further documents provided 13 February 2026, Subclass 143 granted 26 March 2026
Subclass 485 Graduate Work Visa
Lodged 12 March 2026, granted 25 March 2026
Subclass 500 Student Visa
Lodged 11 March 2026, 20 March 2026
Lodged 9 March 2026, granted 20 March 2026
Lodged 26 November 2025, granted 24 March 2026
Lodged 2 March 2026, granted 24 March 2026
Lodged 16 February 2026, Subclass 500 granted 24 March 2026
Subclass 600 Visitor Visa
Lodged 3 March 2026, granted 23 March 2026
Lodged 19 March 2026, granted 25 March 2026 — offshore application, parents of a PR, 2
Lodged 5 February 026, granted 23 March 2026 — offshore application, sponsored by a PR relative
Subclass 155 Visa
Lodged 16 March 2026, one-year Subclass 155 granted 24 March 2026 — family of four
Subclass 802 Child Visa
Lodged 24 October 2024, granted 23 March 2026
Skills Assessment
Engineers Australia skills assessment
ACS Skills Assessment
Lodged 5 March 2026, ACS skills assessment approved 27 March 2026
ACECQA
Lodged 2 February 2026, completed 24 March 2026
VETASSESS Skills Assessment
Lodged 26 January 2026, FIA skills assessment approved 26 March 2026
Lodged 3 February 2026, completed 5 March 2026 (non-priority)
