News: see reports from across the Internet about Australian government immigration law, policy changes and other up to date Australian immigration, visa and citizenship news.

July 2020: Australia offers safe haven to Hong Kongers 

July 2020: Australia drafting plan to offer safe haven to Hong Kong residents, Scott Morrison says

July 2020: Australian businesses prepared to cover quarantine costs to recruit migrants who can fill skill shortages

June 2020: Universities propose COVID-19 tests and quarantine to enable return of international students to Australia

May 2020: Financial Support If you are a small business and struggling in these difficult times, the following article about financial assistance for business may be of benefit to you.

May 2020: Australian borders aren’t opening-up ‘anytime soon’ says Prime Minister Scott Morrison

May 2020: Federal government asks universities for help bringing back international students

May 2020: Coronavirus travel restrictions: When will Australia open its borders to temporary visa holders?

May 2020: Indian students stuck offshore and running out of visas seek exemption from Australia’s travel ban

May 2020: Coronavirus (COVID-19) business support and financial assistance finder

May 2020: Visa rule changes open door to temporary visa applicants with a disability or health condition

May 2020: Australia’s migration intake to fall 85 per cent due to coronavirus, Scott Morrison says

May 2020: Coronavirus has halted immigration to Australia and that could have dire consequences for its economic recovery 

May 2020: May 2020: Coronavirus: Australia likely to face record decline in population 

March 2020: New Mandatory Quarantine for All Travellers to Australia  “From 23:59 AEDT on 28 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival.​” Department of Home Affairs.

March 2020: Federal Government Considers Special Welfare Payments for Temporary Migrants

March 2020: COVID-19 outbreak: Important update for temporary visa holders in and outside Australia

March 2020: Australia Closes Borders to all Visitors Amid Coronavirus Pandemic 

March 16, 2020: Migration Ways Goes Virtual

As a temporary measure because of the Coronavirus threat, the Migration Ways main office in the Melbourne CBD is not staffed in person. Migration Ways is still in full work operation mode to help its many clients with their visa and immigration needs, but currently all our staff are working full-time (and more!) from home.

Please note that this is only a temporary measure for community health reasons and we will announce when our staff has returned to our CBD office space. Be assured that we are still conducting Consultations but only by Skype or phone. You may book a consultation via the contact form on this page.

Thank you for understanding this temporary health related measure. We look forward to continue helping you with your visa and migration needs.

Rebecca Santaera and Alberta Miculan

owners/directors Migration Ways

March 2020: COVID-19 response: International students to be allowed to work additional hours

March 2020: Female seasonal workers gain more than just fruit from their labour 

March 2020: Information re Coronavirus and Australian Travel Restrictions and Visas

March 2020: Government announces South Korea travel ban

March 2020: ‘Very high risk’: Australia adds Iran to coronavirus travel ban

March 2020: Tourism in Australia is taking a hit with the ‘double whammy’ of bushfires and coronavirus travel bans.

February 2020: Migration Ways Newsletter Feb 2020 Coronavirus Travel Ban, IELTS vs. PTE, Bushfire Recovery and Working Holiday Visa, Visas for Nepalese, Student Guardian Visa 590

February 2020: Students from China begin arriving in Australia after coronavirus quarantine time in third countries

February 2020: Australia Relaxes Coronavirus Travel Ban to Allow Some Students From Mainland China 

February 2020: Australia Extends Coronavirus Ban On Travel From China Into Fourth Week.  Ban extended until 29 February.

February 2020: Visa change allows backpackers to contribute to bushfire recovery as part of working holiday 

February 2020: Chinese international student visas halted by Home Affairs

February 2020: China to relax its internet restrictions for 100,000 students hit by Australia’s coronavirus travel ban

January 2020 Why is Australia such a popular destination for Nepalese students?

January 2020 The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business has “published a Traffic Light Bulletin outlining proposed changes to the skilled migration occupation lists and are seeking public submissions.”

December 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 30: Migration Ways Seminar in Vietnam 

November 2019 There is no better chance to live in Australia than now.

November 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 29: Nov Changes to WH & Regional Visas, Hi-Tech Visa Fast-Track, Visas for Dutch

November 2019 Australia and Thailand have agreed to increase the number of annual places available under the Work and Holiday visa program from 500 to 2,000

November 2019 Australia to ‘fast-track’ permanent residency for highly-skilled tech migrants

November 2019 Definition of regional Australia for migration purposes to change: Gold Coast and Perth now regional.

October 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 28: WH Visas Numbers Increase, Victorian Occupation List, Visas for Japanese and Over 45s, Regional Visas Increase in SA

October 2019 Migration appeals tribunal struggling with workload and clearance targets

October 2019 Regional visa changes mean more skilled migrants moving to South Australia

October 2019 Australia Inc.’s Campaign for Australia’s Working Holiday Visas. 

September 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter:  Skilled Occupation Lists Overhaul, Australian Occupation Ceilings, Shortage in Tech Workers, QLD DAMA Begins

September 2019 Immigration success: Half of top CEOs were born overseas

September 2019 The Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement

September 2019 Australia’s permanent migration levels have dropped to the lowest level in a decade

September 2019 Australia to overhaul occupations eligible for skilled migrants to boost slowing economy

August 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 26: Visas for Hong Kongers, WVisas for Ecuador and Peru, New Countries Proposed for WHVisas, Global Talent Programs 

August 2019 Flood of wealthy Hong Kong residents hopeful of buying Australian property

August 2019 Tech jobs are waiting for Australians but not enough people have the skills, companies say

August 2019 Upcoming closure of subclass 489 visa nominations

August 2019 Current Skilled Occupations Wanted in Australia!

August 2019 Occupation ceilings for the 2019-20 program year.

August 2019 Work and Holiday Visa for Peru and Ecuador (subclass 462)

August 2019 French Citizens can now apply for working holiday visa up to the age of 35

August 2019 India to be Included in Australia’s Working Holiday Visa Program 

August 2019 Indians, Mexicans set for Aussie work under backpacker visa expansion backed by farm lobby 

July 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter July 2019: MW fifth anniversary, changes to Victoria’s Business Innovation & Investor Program, Malaysian and Vietnamese visas

July 2019 Australian Visas and What’s Changing from July 1, 2019

July 2019 Important Changes to Victoria’s Business Innovation & Investor Program

July 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter June 2019: New 870 parent visa, working holiday visa changes, job sites for doctors and farm workers 

July 2019  Changes to Australian Working Holiday Visa for Israelis

June 2019  South Americans to call Australia home amid massive humanitarian crisis

June 2019 Victoria’s Skilled and Business Migration Program launching new online application system 

June 2019 Skilled Filipinos eyed for migration to Australia

June 2019 Single Australian-visa applicants to benefit from new points system

June 2019 Australia a leading destination for migrant millionaires

May 2019 The Northern Territory DAMA

May 2019 Job Site for Harvest Work 

May 2019 Job Site for Doctors

May 2019 Greece-Australia Working Holiday Visa to Begin July 1, 2019 

April 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 22: Australian Government 2019 Budget re Visas, New Regional Visas Announced

April 2019 Migration Ways Alert New Partner Provisions now NOT commencing 17 April, 2019

April 2019 Migration Ways Alert re Budget Visa/Migration Changes

April 2019 Short Video of Key 2019 Budget Changes to Visa/Migration  

April 2019 MIA Bulletin re 2019 Federal Budget Visa/Migration Changes

April 2019  Greece-Australia Working Holiday Visa to Being July 1  

March 2019 Two New Regional Visas Proposed

March 2019 Coalition relaxes visa rules to make it easier for farmers to hire skilled workers

March 2019 New skilled occupation lists announced

March 2019 We did the Visas for this Film: “Never too Late”, starring James Cromwell, Dennis Waterman and Jack Thompson

March 2019 New temporary Sponsored Parent visa to be available from April 

March 2019 Expansion of Expedited Work Visa Scheme 

February 2019 Victoria will begin issuing invitations and assessing nomination applications for affected business and investor visa subclasses from Monday 18 February 2019

February 2019 Live in Melbourne Information in Chinese 

January 2019 Migration Ways Newsletter 19, January 2019

January 2019 Read the list of 117 occupations eligible for sponsorship under the Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement (NT DAMA)

January 2019  117 occupations open for skilled migrants willing to migrate to Northern Territory

December 2018 MEAA strikes new deal for crew working on international features

December 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 18, December 2018

December 2018 Door opens for permanent migration to Australia for low-skill workers without great English

December 2018 Which Australian Visas Have Work Rights? 

December 2018 Migrants to now Wait Four Years for Welfare

November 2018 Australia’s migrant intake could be slashed

November 2018 Citizenship Review Government Agenda

November 2018 Regions mine talent from overseas

November 2018 Immigration minister’s stern warning to Australian citizenship applicants

November 2018 Age limit for working holiday visas to Ireland, Canada extended to 35

November 2018 The story of the Indian diaspora in Australia and New Zealand is 250 years old

November 2018 Immigration and population levels in NSW to be assessed by ‘expert panel’

October 2018 Age limit for Irish people seeking Australian working visa increased by five years to 35  

October 2018 New Graduate Stream for Western Australian State Nomination

October 2018 Focus to be on Skilled Migration

October 2018 It looks like immigration to Australia is starting to increase again 

October 2018 South Australia introduces a new visa

October 2018 Australia marks 50 years of Turkish migration

October 2018 NSW Premier calls for immigration slowdown

October 2018 Foreign students left out of Government’s regional migration push

October 2018 Migrants to be forced into regional Australia under government population plan

October 2018 A List of Many Australian Visas 

October 2018 Sort farm visas before summer, Nationals tell Morrison

October 2018 2018 Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List​ 2018 & Graduate occupation list 2018

September 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 15: New Government Regional Push for Migrants 

September 2018 Australia’s new immigration minister reveals visa priority, Regional Visas

September 2018 To deal with labour shortage, Australia may soon start a new visa

September 2018 New Govt to Hire More Staff to Process Backlog of Citizenship Applications

September 2018 New Immigration Minister hails migrants’ contribution to Australia

September 2018 Live in Melbourne Changes to the Skilled Migration Program operations

September 2018 Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Regions for Students and Migrants

September 2018 Melbourne population hits 5 million and the migrants who helped shape the city

September 2018 More Indonesians Can Come to Australia on Working Holiday Visa

September 2018 Australian Partner Visa: Important Changes to Processing Times 

August 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 14: New govt charge, regions need migrants 

August 2018 New visa could keep migrants in regional Australia

August 2018 Government Imposes New Charge on Businesses for Nominations 

August 2018 Asia accounts for 56 per cent of Australia’s migrant

August 2018  Australian economy winning thanks to migrants

August 2018 As Australia’s population hits 25m, regions cry out for skilled migrants

July 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 13: Govt Charges Increase, SkillSelect Changes, Mining Jobs 

July 2018 Overseas migration to Australia hits record high 

July 2018 Thousands of mining jobs are waiting in Western Australia 

July 2018 Where Australia’s permanent migrants come from

July 2018 The number of millionaires streaming into Australia has surged to 7260 in the past year. 

July 2018 Receive the Migration Ways Newsletter

July 2018 Are Women the Answer to Australia’s Chef Shortage?

July 2018 Australian Work and Holiday Visas Open Now for Israelis

July 2018 Australian visas: Applicants face new hurdles to meet toughened requirements

July 2018 Spanish Speakers working in Australia

June 2018 Visa Application Charges to Increase

June 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter Occupation Lists, Chef-Connect, Working in Australia

June 2018 Australia’s immigration rate to fall again as work visa approvals drop

June 2018 “Combined current list of eligible skilled occupations” list

June 2018 Tips for Aspiring Chefs from Chef Connect

June 2018 Australia Safest Place for a Woman

June 2018 Australia remains preferred destination for millionaire migrants

June 2018 Proposed Changes to Australia’s Skilled Migration List

May 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 11 Budget News, 408 Visa, Entertainment Visas

May 2018 Migrant Workers Helping Regional Australian Communities

May 2018 Migrants own one-third of small businesses in Australia

May 2018 Push for more permanent migrant workers to regional Australia

May 2018 Migration the key driver behind 1 million jobs

May 2018 Entertainment Visa News for Australian Producers and Overseas Talents and Crew  

May 2018 From the Migration Institute of Australia: Immigration highlights from the 2018 Australian Federal Budget  

May 2018 Che Cos’è Il Visto 186? Just Australia Italian Interview of Alberta Miculan of Migration Ways re the Employer Nomination 186 Visa

May 2018 India has emerged as the fastest growing market for Australian tourism 

April 2018 Alberta Miculan of Migration Ways interviewed by Ilaria Gianfagna of Just Australia

April 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 10. TSS Work Visa & Tradesman Info

April 2018 TSS Work Visa Interview of Rebecca and Alberta by Just Australia 

April 2018 TSS Work and Regional Visas Seminar in Melbourne, for Italians

March 2018 Trial for New Highly Skilled Visa Scheme

March 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 9, Migration Ways Newsletter No. 9. Urgent information re TSS visa! And other Visa, Migration & Citizenship News

March 2018 Visitor Arrivals from India to Australia cross 300K

March 2018 The Federal Government has revived its push for migrants to face tougher language tests.”

March 2018 Trial of new Tech Entrepreneur Visa in South Australia

February 2018 Migration Ways Newsletter 8, Summary of Recent Migration News & Visa Updates

February 2018 Peter Dutton calls for migration cut: ‘We have to reduce the numbers’

February 2018 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa Update from MIA

February 2018 From Dept of Home Affairs: Combined current list of eligible skilled occupations 

February 2018 Australia to give work visas to foreign pilots

January 2018 Migration Ways releases webpage with 24 links to help you during your stay in Melbourne Australia

January 2018  The Turnbull government will have a second go at passing legislation to make it harder to officially become an Australian citizen

January 2018 Australia’s new visa system could use AI to spot dubious applicants

January 2018 Will Australian Citizenship Requirements Change in 2018? 

January 2018 Changes Announced to Australia’s Skilled Occupation Lists

January 2018 Australian Taxation Office to audit visa holders, international students and migration agents.

January 2018  For Australian Visas, What to Expect in 2018.

December 2017 Indians  Now the 9th Largest Market for Visitors to Australia.

December 2017 A motion dumping regulations punishing false or misleading information on visa applications, including mistakes, has passed the Senate.

November 2017 New regulations mean anyone who submits incorrect information as part of an Australian visa application could be effectively barred from reapplying for a decade.

November 2017 Immigration South Australia, the official state government website with plenty of information for potential migrants and workers.

November 2017 South Australia rolls out welcome mat for business migrants The number of foreigners who have been approved by Immigration SA as business migrants has jumped

October 2017 Sudden surge in citizenship applications as Senate blocks proposed overhaul Applications for Australian citizenship spike

October 2017 Visa Nomination for the State of Victoria Visa nomination from the Victorian Government can help you meet the requirements for an Australian visa.

October 2017 Bill to Change Citizenship Requirement Fails in Senate Peter Dutton’s controversial citizen bill has failed to pass the Senate, leaving the package dead in its current form.

September 2017 Website About Living in Victoria
This website has stacks of information about living in the Australian state of Victoria.

September 2017 An Introduction to the Services of Migration Ways Australia
Read our story below and learn how we can help you through the often-onerous Australian visa requirements.

September 2017 Migrants Helping Regional Australia Migrants help to stem the tide of declining local populations and plug skill shortages.

August 2017 Australia’s Investment Visa Program.
The visa program lets applicants travel in and out of Australia, bring their family members and offers a pathway to permanent residency.

August 2017 List of Eligible Post Codes for 187 Regional Visa
See the list of post codes in Australia regarding eligibility for the 187 regional visa.

July 2017 Working Holiday Visa Program for Greeks and Australians Gets Green Light.
The Greek government has granted the approval of a visa program which will allow Greeks and Australian nationals up to the age of 31-years-old to work in each of the countries for a period up to 12 months.

July 2017 Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations for the Employer Nominated Scheme, subclass 186 – Direct Entry Stream, and the
Temporary Work Skilled visa subclass 457
As the occupations available are, however, the same, a single list of these occupations is provided below in alphabetical order (for ease of reference).

July 2017 The Revised 457 Visa Occupation List has been Announced by Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Australian government has updated the occupations lists for a range of temporary and permanent skilled visas, with the new lists effective from 1 July 2017.

June 2017 Melbourne is Australia’s Top Cultural Destination
Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital has been reinforced with a new report ranking the city the top cultural destination in the country, third in the Asia Pacific and twelfth in the world for arts and culture.

June 2017 From July New Online Visa Applications for Indians
Australian High Commission and Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection on Friday announced that all Indian nationals would be able to apply Visitor visa applications for Australia online from July 1.

June 2017 Chefs say 457 policy ‘makes people get up and leave the country’
staff are returning overseas, citing no future in Australia due to the federal government’s drastic changes to 457 visas

June 2017 Information Re New Citizen Test Revealed
Details of plans to tighten-up Turnbull government’s citizenship test revealed

June 2017 Summary and Links re 457 Changes from the Department of Immigration
The key new changes to the employer sponsored migration visas include

June 2017 Farmers Angry About 457 Visa Changes
The horticulture industry is the latest group  to attack the decision to axe the 457 visa scheme

June 2017 Highly Skilled Foreign Workers Turning Down Australian Jobs Because of 457 Visa Changes
Talented overseas scientists have already started turning down prestigious research positions in Australia following the federal government’s changes to 457 visas

June 2017 Could 457 Visa Changes Cause a Brain Drain in Australia?
When Donald Trump stormed to his shock election victory last November, Democrat Hillary Clinton wasn’t the only high-flyer out of a job.

June 2017 Visa Processing Times May Increase
People may have to wait longer for visas or Australian citizenship to be granted because of cutbacks at the Immigration Department

June 2017 457 Visa Changes Hit Indians
The 457 visa allows businesses to employ foreign workers for a period of up to four years in skilled jobs where there is a shortage of Australian workers.

June 2017 New 6 Year Australian Visa for Singaporeans
Singaporeans who travel to Australia can get a new visa that will let them enter the country for up to three months at a time over six years.

May 2017 Migration Institute of Australia Budget 2017-2018
The 2017-18 Budget handed down tonight included the following elements impacting the immigration program, migrants and our work within the immigration sphere

May 2017 Australian Visa Fees to Rise.
All the Australian visas will be more expensive from 1 July this year.

May 2017 New Entertainment (408) Visa Regulations That Apply from November 2016.
Read this Article by Kevin McGrath and Alberta Miculan. Scroll down to second headline: New Entertainment Visas for Overseas Workers Set to Speed up the Application Process

Budget Hits Business
Employers will be slugged at least triple the bill to bring foreign workers into the country under a multi-pronged approach to tightening the screws on visa requirements.

457 Status Re the Hospitality Industry
The Federal Government announced their plans to immediately scrap the 457 visa and instead introduce two new kinds of Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visas.

New Visa for Aged Immigrants
Under a new visa, parents could stay for up to 10 years but would never be allowed to settle in Australia, and their children would need to pay for private health cover.

We Did the Visas for This Film: Bleeding Steel with Jackie Chan
Go to YouTube now and see the trailer.

Modi Calls Turnball re 457 Visa Changes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns over the recent changes in Australian visa regulations for skilled professionals during a telephonic conversation with Premier Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday.

14 Australia-China Co-productions Announced
A delegation of Australian film industry leaders visiting Beijing have announced a series of new feature film co-productions between Australia and China.

The New Occupations List for Skilled Visas
Planning to apply for Australia’s permanent residency? Check the new occupations list…

Italian Restaurateurs Speak Out Against 457 Change
Melbourne restaurateurs say 457 visas were a key ingredient in their recipe for success…

Skills Exit Because of New Visa Changes?
Chefs and restaurateurs around the country are seriously concerned about the impact the federal government’s decision to abolish the 457 visa program will have on the industry’s existing skills shortage.

Major Changes re 457 Visas. Official Govt. Announcement here:
On 18 April 2017, the Government announced that the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457 visa) will be abolished and replaced with the completely new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in March 2018.

You Can Now Check Processing Times for Australian Visas
Global visa and citizenship processing times will be updated monthly, providing you with an indicative time-frame for processing applications. Processing times are available for the majority of visa sub classes and citizenship products, but will exclude..more

Coming Soon: Online Processing Times for Australian Visas
In an unprecedented move, the Department of Immigration has announced that the processing times for global visa and citizenship will be available online from next month…more

Australia & Vietnam Visa Changes
Australia and Vietnam have reached a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement. Under the agreement, 200 individuals aged 18 to 30 from Australia and Vietnam will be able obtain Work and Holiday visas…more

Australian Immigration and Economic Growth
Australia has ridden 25 years of economic growth without a recession. An amazing stretch of prosperity and a badge of honour that governments of all persuasions have tried to claim as their own….more

New 457 Rules
If you are a 457 visa holder, have school-going children and reside in South Australia, this news is for you. South Australia state government has proposed a public education contribution fee for 457 visa holders…more

Australia Needs Skilled Workers
In recent weeks the Labor party has proposed a series of changes to tighten Australia’s skilled immigration policy on 457 visas via a private bill, but its arrival unfortunately comes at a time when the country is desperately seeking highly skilled …more

More Students Come to Australia than Britain
According to the latest JLL research report, Australia is now attracting more international students than Britain. This would mean that Australia is now the second most popular international education destination in the world behind the U.S…more

How Will the Backpacker Tax Work?
The political fight may be over, but the confusion continues for many farmers and working holiday makers about how the new backpacker tax rules apply to them…more

Chef shortages and the 457 visa
There’s an overwhelming amount of talk in the media at the moment about chef shortages – and staff shortages in general – in the hospitality industry and how things are only going to get worse. …more

Consider Australia’s Working Holiday Maker Program 
Australia’s push to encourage more young international travellers Down Under and take advantage of the country’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program is gathering momentum…more

Visa 457 Changes
The Turnbull government will reduce the amount of time foreign workers on 457 visas can stay in Australia following their employment, in a bid to tip the scales back in favour of Australian jobseekers….more

A Documentary That Shows the Success of Italian Migration to Australia
Watch here

What is a 457 Visa?
Labor is pushing for more restrictions on foreign workers coming to Australia on sponsored business visas. The 457 visa is granted to foreign workers for four years…more

Immigration, One Reason Behind Australia’s 25 Years of Economic Growth
If you were designing a nation from scratch, it would look something like Australia. A Eurasian people, boring politicians, and an economy that virtually runs itself…more