Helping you call Australia home

This article is also available in Spanish. Every 1 July Australian visa fees increase. Often the changes are not announced until the last minute, and sometimes there are surprises. Here are some of the changes for 1 July 2026. Despite the subclass 485 temporary graduate visa increasing significantly in March 2026, it has still increased again on 1 July 2026. It is now $5,750. The bridging visa B has been increased to $195, however this is only for certain Pacific Island count

This article is also available in Spanish. Tax time is about more than simply lodging your tax return. For many migrants, the information you provide to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can also become important evidence in future visa applications. Whether you're planning to apply for employer sponsorship, a partner visa, permanent residency or Australian citizenship, getting your tax affairs right now can save you significant problems later. Here are some important tax

This article is also available in Spanish. Many migrants focus on finding work, studying, or meeting visa requirements while they are in Australia. However, one activity that is often overlooked is volunteering. Volunteering can provide a range of personal and professional benefits, and in some situations it can even strengthen an immigration case. While volunteering alone will not guarantee a visa outcome, it can help demonstrate your ties to Australia and your contributions

This article is also available in Spanish. The subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is one of the most common employer-sponsored visas in Australia. It allows businesses to sponsor skilled workers from overseas or from within Australia when they cannot find a suitable local worker. If you are an employer looking to fill a role, or a worker hoping to stay in Australia long term, understanding how the 482 visa works is essential. What is the 482 skills in demand visa The subclass

This article is also available in Spanish. Applying for an Australian visa usually requires you to meet the health requirement. If you have been told that you do not meet this requirement or that you have “failed” your visa medical health exam, you may still have options. In many cases, a health waiver Australia (also known as PIC 4007) can allow your visa to be granted despite a medical condition. Understanding how a health waiver works, and what you need to do next, can mak

This article is also available in Spanish. My old mentor used to say that if you are eligible for a visa then you should apply for the visa. This may seem simple but recent events in Australian immigration law show that it is indeed an important principle. The Department of Home Affairs has, in the space of less than 2 weeks, made two changes which, although may seem technical, have in fact made two Australian visas much less viable. Both of these changes were made with almos

This article is also available in Spanish. Bridging visas are a unique feature of the Australian immigration system and can play a crucial role in your migration journey. These temporary visas allow individuals to remain lawfully in Australia while they wait for a decision on another visa application or make arrangements to leave the country. Bridging visas differ from substantive visas (such as subclass 482, 820, or 866), and understanding how they work is essential for anyo

This article is also available in Spanish. Receiving a refusal for a subclass 866 protection visa when you are seeking asylum as a refugee can be devastating, especially when the decision feels unfair. While every case is different, there are a few common reasons why protection applications are refused. Understanding these issues can help you prepare a stronger application or appeal. 1. They do not believe your story One of the most frequent reasons for refusal is that t

This article is also available in Spanish. If you hope to stay in Australia long term, it is important to strengthen your visa pathway wherever possible. You may have a clear visa pathway where you will only need to meet the general eligibility criteria of your visa. However sometimes in Australian immigration law you need to make a strong argument of why your visa should be granted. Examples of this may be: · if you have a health issue that is expensive to treat; ·

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’ve been invited to complete Form 884 – Health waiver (Part A), it usually means your medical results show that you don’t meet the health requirement for your visa. This can be stressful, but it’s also an opportunity — Form 884 gives you the chance to explain why your visa should still be granted despite your health condition. Many applicants focus only on filling out the form, but the most important tip is this: don’t limit yo

This article is also available in Spanish. Most visa applicants must meet Australia’s health requirement, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often considered a condition that could lead to significant health costs. However, for some visas – including partner visas, employer sponsored visas (subclass 482 SID and subclass 186 in the temporary residence transition scheme) – a health waiver may be available. This can allow applicants with HIV to continue their application

This article is available in Spanish. Applying for a partner visa can be an exciting step in building your life in Australia with your loved one. But for some applicants, the PIC4007 health requirement can create challenges. Fortunately, for partner visas, a health waiver is available, allowing you to continue your application even if you don’t fully meet the health criteria. What is the health requirement? All visa applicants must meet Australia’s health requirement. This me

This article is also available in Spanish. Receiving a notice of intention to consider cancellation (NOICC) can be stressful and overwhelming. The Department of Home Affairs has the power to cancel visas for a range of reasons. In this article, we’ll focus on cancellations under section 109 of the Migration Act — and what you should do if you receive a NOICC under section 107. What is section 109 of the Migration Act? Under section 109, the Department can cancel your visa if

By Dr. Andrea Ballesteros Danel, NAATI-Certified Translator & Published Author This article is also available in Spanish. How Cross-Cultural Research Transforms Document Translation When I completed my PhD at the Australian National University on trans-Pacific cultural connections, I never imagined the research would revolutionise how I approach visa translation. But after publishing my recent monograph with Palgrave Macmillan and working with hundreds of Australian visa appl

This article is also available in Spanish. In our blog post “Why you shouldn’t just renew your 461 visa” we described why subclass 461 visa holders should apply for another visa that gives them permanent residence, rather than continuing to renew their 461 New Zealand citizen family relationship visas and remaining only temporary residents in Australia. An obvious option for many 461 holders is the subclass 820/801 permanent partner visa, however if that option is not availab

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’re working in Australia as a mechanic and would like to stay long-term, one of the possible options is to be sponsored by your employer. Motor Mechanic is on the Core Skills Occupation List The occupation motor mechanic (ANZSCO Code 321211) is included on the Core Skills Occupation List. This means that employers across both metropolitan and regional Australia can sponsor qualified/experienced mechanics for work visas. W

This article is also available in Spanish. Congratulations! Being granted the subclass 820 partner visa is a major milestone in your journey to permanent residency in Australia. Now that your temporary partner visa has been approved, you may be wondering what comes next. Here’s a practical guide on what to expect and how to prepare for the next stage of your visa journey. Understand what the 820 visa gives you The subclass 820 visa is a temporary visa, but it comes with many

This article is also available in Spanish. If you are in the cabinetmaking business, and you are struggling with staff shortages, hiring migrants may be the perfect solution for you. This pathway allows you to hire experienced tradespeople from overseas (who might already be in Australia or may even already work for you) and bring stability back to your workforce. Cabinetmaker is on the skilled occupation list Cabinet maker (ANZSCO Code 394111) is listed on Australia’s Core

This article is also available in Spanish. Applying for a visa can be a stressful and overwhelming experience — especially when it involves moving your life to a new country. While some people successfully complete their visa application without help, others find that getting professional assistance makes the process smoother, faster, and less risky. So how do you know if you should do it yourself or work with a migration agent? Here are some important factors to consider: Co

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’ve applied for the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461), there’s an important update from the Department of Home Affairs that could make managing your visa much easier. From 23 July 2025, 461 visa applicants who lodged their application using the paper form can now import their application into ImmiAccount after receiving their application acknowledgment from the Department. This new functionality applie