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.
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
Businesses that use temporary visa workers will have to fork out up to $1800 a worker per year as part of a new visa tax expected to raise more than a billion dollars towards training local workers.
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