Australia lifts visa application charges by up to 25 % across all categories
Record student-visa fees draw backlash from education sector
Work and Holiday visa caps reset for 2026-27; ballot opens for China, India and Vietnam
Latest News
First purpose-built metro train arrives for Western Sydney International Airport
A government media release on 3 July confirmed that the first train for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line has arrived in NSW. The bespoke, luggage-friendly driverless trains will cut terminal-to-suburb travel times to 15 minutes and are a key enabler for the airport’s 2027 launch, offering mobility managers a new rail option for staff and visitors.
Qatar Airways to resume ultra-long-haul Doha–Melbourne–Canberra service
A 3 July announcement in Greek City Times says Qatar Airways will restart its Doha–Melbourne–Canberra flights on 8 December 2026, initially four times weekly, giving Canberra direct access to the carrier’s global network and boosting Australia–Europe capacity. The service skirts bilateral flight caps and offers new premium options for corporate travellers.
Home Affairs opens consultation on overhauling the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act
Home Affairs began a consultation on 3 July to ‘streamline and modernise’ the SOCI Act. Proposed amendments would simplify compliance for owners and operators of airports, ports and data centres, with potential knock-on benefits for expatriate assignments in sensitive sectors. Submissions are due by 31 July 2026.
Visa application charges jump 25 % from 1 July, business groups warn of travel-cost shock
From 1 July 2026 Australia increased Visa Application Charges by roughly 25 % across most subclasses. Business and education groups say the unannounced hike will discourage students, tourists and skilled migrants, adding thousands of dollars to relocation budgets. Companies should revise mobility cost forecasts and lodge any urgent applications as soon as possible.
Minimum salary for sponsored skilled visas rises to AUD 79,423
All employer-sponsored skilled-migration streams now require a minimum base salary of AUD 79,423 (or more for specialist roles) for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The indexation protects local wage standards but forces employers—especially in lower-paying regional sectors—to raise salary offers or rethink hiring strategies.
Working-Holiday changes: applications open 2 July and age limit lifts for four EU & Asian nations
First-round Work and Holiday applications open on 2 July 2026 after a one-day system blackout, and the age ceiling for Cyprus, Finland, Germany and South Korea rises to 35. Uruguay’s quota grows to 1,500 and Luxembourg applicants drop the letter-of-support requirement. The reforms broaden Australia’s youth-mobility pool and may relieve labour shortages in tourism and agriculture. ([immi.homeaffairs.gov.au](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/latest-news?fs=e&s=cl))
Indian visa centres shut nationwide as VFS Global contract stalls in court
All Indian consular services outsourced to VFS Global in Australia have been suspended indefinitely after a Delhi court blocked the renewal of the outsourcing contract. The shutdown strands passport renewals and visa applications at the start of the busy July holiday period, disrupting personal and corporate travel plans between Australia and India.
Work & Holiday (Subclass 462) caps reopen today, with higher age limits and more places for Uruguay
Online lodgement for capped Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visas reopened on 2 July. Quotas reset to zero, Uruguay’s allowance has been lifted to 1,500 and several 417-visa partners now enjoy a higher age limit of 35. Employers reliant on backpacker labour should act swiftly before allocations close.
Home Affairs ends maritime "Weipa" operation, removes visa-less arrivals
A Department of Home Affairs statement on 2 July 2026 confirmed the removal of all visa-less individuals intercepted near Weipa, Queensland, and signalled criminal prosecution for those who organised the voyage. The rapid response reaffirms Australia’s hard-line stance on irregular maritime migration and may lead to increased border-force spot checks in the country’s remote north. ([miragenews.com](https://www.miragenews.com/statement-on-operation-in-weipa-1703307/))
Goldfields DAMA extended six months, giving WA employers more time to transition
Home Affairs has pushed back the end-date of the Goldfields DAMA to 31 December 2026, easing pressure on regional WA employers who feared an abrupt shift to the new state-wide DAMA on 1 July. Companies can keep using existing concessions for another six months while transition rules are finalised.
ABF & AFP arrest second suspect in Far North Queensland people-smuggling case
Australian authorities have arrested a second suspect in a Far North Queensland people-smuggling plot, reinforcing the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward irregular migration. The case shows that border-security operations remain a high priority even as legal visa programs reopen for the new financial year.