Crossing Borders

01/09/2026

Onshore applicants first: new skilled visa priorities explained

Welcome to your September visa update.

Spring has arrived, and with it some genuinely encouraging news for anyone already in Australia on a skilled visa. Here's what happened this month and what it means for you.

Onshore skilled visa applicants moved to the front of the queue

In late July, the Department of Home Affairs introduced new processing priorities for skilled visas (Ministerial Direction 119). In plain English:

• Applications lodged from within Australia are now processed ahead of those lodged from overseas.
• Defence and law enforcement occupations receive top priority, followed by healthcare, teaching and construction roles.
• For the first time, Skills in Demand (subclass 482) nomination and visa applications are included in priority processing.

What hasn't changed? Your eligibility. This is about the order applications are assessed, not who qualifies.

The practical takeaway: if you're in Australia on a skilled temporary visa and thinking about permanent residency, lodging a complete, well-prepared application has never been a better move.

State nomination programs are opening for 2026–27

New state skilled migration rounds are underway:
• Tasmania opened to new registrations on 17 August.
• The Northern Territory opened on 21 August.
• More states are expected to follow through spring.

For 482 and 485 holders looking for a pathway to permanent residency, 186, 190 and 491 nominations remain one of the strongest routes and being onshore works in your favour this year.

Spotlight: a reassuring note for partner visa applicants
While skilled visas had the spotlight this month, partner visas are continuing to be processed steadily at around 17 months. If your application is lodged, we'll keep you updated throughout you're in our hands.

Wishing everyone a settled, hopeful spring. If anything in this update raises a question, please ask away (or email us directly [email protected]) and if you know someone here on a skilled visa, feel free to share this with them.

27/08/2026

📢 **Northern Territory Skilled Migration Program 2026–27 is now open**

The Northern Territory Government has confirmed it has received its **full allocation for the 2026–27 General Skilled Migration program year**.

Applications for NT Government nomination opened on **21 August 2026** and are available to:

✅ Eligible applicants currently in Australia
✅ Selected offshore applicants

⚠️ **Important:** Eligibility requirements have been updated for the new program year, so applicants should carefully check the criteria for their relevant stream before applying.

The NT Government has also advised that it **cannot guarantee a nomination decision before your current visa expires**.

If you are in Australia and your visa is approaching expiry, it is important to consider your visa options early so that you can maintain lawful status while your nomination is being assessed.

🌏 **Considering NT nomination?**
Crossing Borders can help you assess your eligibility, understand the updated requirements and plan your visa pathway.

📩 Contact **Crossing Borders** for professional immigration advice.

Apply for Northern Territory Government visa nomination. Discover eligibility, skilled occupation lists, and steps to migrate and work in Australia's Northern Territory.

26/08/2026

25 Years Since the Tampa Affair 🇦🇺

This week marks 25 years since the Tampa affair, a defining moment in Australian immigration and refugee policy.

The events of August 2001 reshaped Australia’s approach to asylum seekers arriving by sea and influenced border policies around the world.

A significant moment in Australia’s migration history, with an impact still felt today.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-26/tampa-affair-anniversary-refugee-asylum-policy-howard/106948294?

In 2001, Australia was criticised on the world stage for its unprecedented hardline policy on asylum seekers. Now, nations around the world are following suit.

25/08/2026

🇦🇺 **Skilled Migration Delays Impacting IT Professionals**

Australia’s tech sector is raising concerns about growing delays in skilled visa processing.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) says many IT professionals are facing lengthy waits, with some skills assessments expiring before applicants receive an outcome.

Recent processing priorities have placed greater focus on sectors such as healthcare, teaching, construction and defence, while many technology occupations are experiencing less certainty.

💡 For skilled migrants, a positive skills assessment does not guarantee a quick invitation or visa outcome. Occupation demand, State nomination options and current processing priorities remain important.

📩 Contact Crossing Borders if you would like advice about your skilled migration options.



https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2026/skilled-migrant-visas--slowing-down-actively-in-it-.html?

Australian tech bodies raise concerns to parliamentary inquiry.

18/08/2026

📢 **VETASSESS Fee Increase – From 9 September 2026**

VETASSESS has announced an increase to fees for **Professional Skills Assessments**, effective **9 September 2026**.

The cost of a **full skills assessment**, including assessments under **DAMA and Industry Labour Agreements (ILA)**, will increase:

💰 **Current fee:** $1,096
💰 **From 9 September:** $1,146

The increase will also apply to Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualifications Verification, non-migration skills assessments and administration fees.

✅ **Trade occupation skills assessment fees are not affected** and will remain at current rates.

⏰ **Planning to lodge soon?** Applications received **before 9 September 2026** will be charged at the current rates, so applicants who are ready may wish to lodge before the increase takes effect.

For the updated fee schedule, visit the **VETASSESS website**.

From September 9, 2026, application fees for Professional Skills Assessments will increase in line with movements in inflation.

18/08/2026

🇦🇺🇮🇩 **Australia–Indonesia Work and Holiday Visa Update**

Australia and Indonesia have agreed that the **Work and Holiday Maker (WHM) program for Indonesian applicants will move to a ballot system**.

The ballot is expected to open **later this year**, giving eligible applicants the opportunity to register their interest in the program.

Further information, including details on how the ballot will operate and when registrations will open, will be released by the Department of Home Affairs once arrangements are finalised.

📌 If you are considering an Australian Work and Holiday visa, keep an eye out for further updates.

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

14/08/2026

Sponsorship costs cannot simply be passed on to sponsored workers.

An NSW aged care provider was recently sanctioned after recovering more than $118,000 in sponsorship-related costs from 13 sponsored workers.

The case is an important reminder that employers must understand and comply with their sponsorship obligations — even after a visa has been granted.

If you are an employer sponsoring workers, or a sponsored worker who is unsure about your rights and obligations, professional advice can help.

Contact Crossing Borders for advice on employer-sponsored visas, sponsorship compliance and immigration matters.

Our team is here to support you every step of the way.

🌐 www.crossingborders.com.au
📞 1300 796 462

12/08/2026

We're so excited to welcome the newest member of our Crossing Borders family! 💛

Meet Thi Thu Hoa Le, our brilliant Graduate Lawyer. Hoa joins Sally and Anna with a deep passion for immigration law, and she fluently speaks Vietnamese, English, and more, so she can support our Vietnamese-speaking clients with real care and clarity.

Hoa is here to advise, guide, and walk alongside clients on every step of their visa journey, from the first consultation to the very last approval.

Welcome to the team, Hoa! We're so glad you're here. 🇻🇳

Ready to start your own visa journey? Book your free eligibility assessment today, link in bio.

11/08/2026

Reminder: Census Night

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is reminding all Australians that they may complete their Census as soon as they receive their instructions, without needing to wait until Census night itself. Census night takes place on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 [TONIGHT] - Don't Forget!

10/08/2026

🇦🇺 **TASMANIA SKILLED MIGRATION 2026–27 – ROI OPENS 17 AUGUST**

Tasmania has announced its **2026–27 skilled migration nomination program**, with a total allocation of **2,050 places**:

🔹 **Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated:** 1,250 places
🔹 **Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional:** 800 places

📅 **Registrations of Interest (ROI) open:** 17 August 2026
📩 **Weekly invitations commence:** Thursday, 20 August 2026

Invitations will be issued progressively throughout the program year to help ensure nomination places remain available.

# # # Key changes for 2026–27

✅ Changes have been made to priority attributes, selection policy and program guidance.

✅ The nomination application fee has increased to **$387 + GST ($425.70 incl. GST)**.

✅ **There is still no fee to submit an ROI.**

⚠️ Tasmania will **not issue invitations under the subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Pathway** during the 2026–27 program year.

However, overseas **health and teaching professionals** who secure employment with a Tasmanian health provider or school may still be eligible for **subclass 190 nomination** through the Overseas Applicant – Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway.

🌐 The Migration Tasmania Application Gateway has also moved to:
**apply.migration.tas.gov.au**

🎥 **Tasmania Skilled Migration Webinar**
📅 Thursday, 13 August 2026
⏰ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm AEST
The webinar will explain the major changes to the 2026–27 program.

If you are considering Tasmania for skilled migration, now is the time to review the updated requirements and prepare for the ROI opening.

📩 Contact **Crossing Borders** if you would like assistance assessing your eligibility and nomination options.