Blog
Deadline changes, policy updates, and application news, as they happen.
Allapplicationsaustraliaemployer sponsoredfeesgraduateskilled migrationuniversitiesvisasWhat we're watching
- March 18, 2026
What we're watching: pressure to overhaul the points test
The Migration Strategy flagged the points test as outdated. What a redesign might reward, and why we are not expecting it soon.
- February 2, 2026
What we're watching: the next 189 round and where the cut-off lands
Our read on the timing and likely points cut-off of the February to March 2026 subclass 189 round. Analysis, not official.
- August 22, 2025
The 189 invitation rounds are now quarterly, not monthly
For the 2025-26 program year the Department shifted subclass 189 invitation rounds to a roughly quarterly cycle, with larger batches each time.
- July 15, 2025
2025-26 state nomination allocations: 20,350 places for the 190 and 491
The Department confirmed 12,850 places for the subclass 190 and 7,500 for the 491 across all states and territories for the 2025-26 program year.