The New South Wales Government has closed Subclass 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 for the 2025–26 migration program year. No new applications are being accepted. Applications already lodged will continue to be assessed.

The Australian Government introduced digital evidence of Australian citizenship on 5 December 2025 under the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Act 2025. These changes modernise how citizenship evidence is issued, corrected and replaced, and clarify when physical certificates must be returned.

Australia has allocated 20,350 state nomination places for the 2025 to 2026 program year across subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas. Each state and territory has confirmed its program settings, guiding how employers and skilled migrants should interpret the new allocations when planning long term workforce and migration strategies.

Subclass 186 backlog acknowledged by the Department of Home Affairs; assessing applications lodged March 2024–April 2025 by occupation, sponsor status, and region.

The Department of Home Affairs has outlined current priorities, invitation categories, and processing insights for the National Innovation Visa (subclass 858) program.

If you plan to travel overseas while awaiting a visa decision or holding PR, it is vital to check your visa and travel facility status. Here is what every traveller must understand before leaving Australia.

From 29 November 2025, new rules will tighten 186 TRT employer sponsorship requirements. Unsponsored work will no longer count toward the two-year work experience requirement for permanent residence eligibility.

During National Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, Absolute Immigration’s Health Specialist Team continues to assist Registered Nurses (Mental Health) while emphasising the importance of community connection, mental health awareness, and recognising the vital role of professionals who care for others.

Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 Occupation Shortage List show overall shortages easing to 29%, but key gaps persist across trades, health, and regional roles — determining future skilled migration and workforce planning priorities.

The federal government proposes to reduce Western Australia’s skilled migration allocation by 30%. The change could restrict access to overseas talent, slow housing and infrastructure delivery, and intensify workforce shortages for employers across key industries.

Over 2,000 skilled builders and tradespeople have joined Western Australia’s construction industry through the Build a Life and Construction Visa Subsidy initiatives, helping employers strengthen their workforce and meet housing demand.

Higher-education graduates who studied and lived in Hobart or nearby postcodes can now apply for a two-year Second Post-Higher Education Work (Subclass 485) visa, up from one year.