India Restarts Visa and Passport Services Across Australia After 23-Day Suspension
Indian Passport, Visa and OCI Services Resume Nationwide Through VFS Global
Commonwealth Games Kick Off: Smartraveller Urges Early Planning for UK Travel
Latest News
Record visa-application fee surge makes cost a new gatekeeper for migrants
Aitken Partners’ 22 July analysis confirms visa-application fees have risen between 150 per cent and 252 per cent across key categories, effectively turning cost into an additional selection criterion. The move risks deterring talent, shrinking a $53 billion export sector and raising hiring costs for Australian businesses, while delivering the Treasury a forecast AU$764 million windfall.
VFS Global suspension creates paperwork bottleneck for Indian-Australian visa applicants
Collins Quarters’ 22 July explainer shows that VFS Global’s suspension of Indian consular services in Australia does not halt Australian visa processing but can still delay applications that rely on Indian passports, PCCs or OCI cards. Employers are urged to secure deadline extensions and factor greater document-procurement risk into mobility timelines.
Opposition outlines five-point plan for a ‘successful’ Australian immigration program
In a major policy speech, the Coalition outlined a five-pillar framework that would link visa numbers to housing supply, lift skills and English benchmarks, tighten employer sponsorship rules and strengthen compliance. If adopted, the ideas would reshape how companies source talent and manage temporary assignments.
Can sawdust power your next business flight? Government invests AU$32 million in home-grown sustainable aviation fuel
Australia committed AU$32 million to a forestry-waste-to-jet-fuel project that could supply 140 million L of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2030, helping airlines meet emissions targets and giving corporates a domestic source of SAF certificates.
International student charged over $5 million Tourist Refund Scheme fraud at Sydney Airport
AFP and ABF arrested an international student for allegedly making AU$5 million in fake GST refund claims on luxury watches, exploiting the Tourist Refund Scheme via rapid overseas trips. The case signals tougher border-fraud enforcement and could lead to stricter TRS controls affecting departing travellers.
Australia tops regional Digital Government index, paving way for fully online border and visa services
A 22 July Digital Transformation Agency release confirms Australia now leads the Asia-Pacific in digital-government maturity. The same cloud and identity platforms underpin planned upgrades to ImmiAccount, Digital Passenger Declarations and subclass 400 processing—pointing to faster, paper-free business-mobility workflows later in 2026.
Smartraveller update reminds Australians to file New Zealand Traveller Declaration before passport control
DFAT’s 22 July Smartraveller revision emphasises that Australians must file the online New Zealand Traveller Declaration before reaching NZ passport control, or risk fines and delays. With trans-Tasman corporate travel rebounding, firms should integrate NZTD prompts into booking workflows and brief staff on stricter biosecurity questions.
Procurement opens for Tiaro Bypass, promising faster Bruce Highway trips for freight and holiday traffic
The AU$1.1 billion Tiaro Bypass on the Bruce Highway entered the procurement phase, aiming to cut congestion, boost freight efficiency and strengthen flood resilience on Queensland’s main north–south road corridor.
Border Force webinar to unpack July Goods Compliance Update for traders and logistics firms
An ABF-hosted webinar scheduled for 22 July will decode the latest Goods Compliance Update, covering Trusted Trader changes, counter-proliferation targeting and upcoming customs-regulation reforms. Logistics and mobility managers can use the briefing to pre-empt border delays and align systems with Australia’s evolving single-window strategy.