Recently, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) held the 2025 Q3 meeting and released the latest updates on policy changes and visa processing.

For applicants preparing to lodge or currently waiting for their visas, these updates are highly important. Here’s a summary of the key highlights:

1. Skilled Migration Visa Updates

On August 21, 7,000 invitations were issued, including 150 for the 491 family-sponsored stream. It is expected that invitations will continue on a quarterly basis, with the next round likely before the end of the year.

Labour Agreements & DAMA: Application volumes have risen significantly, with an average processing time of around 4 months.

Takeaway: The 189 visa remains the main focus, but 491, DAMA, and Labour Agreement streams are becoming important supplementary pathways.

2. 2025–26 Migration Program

The total program ceiling remains at 185,000 places, unchanged from the previous financial year.

State nomination allocations are still being finalized, though small interim quotas have been distributed. Official figures are expected soon.

The National Innovation Visa (NIV) has officially replaced the Global Talent Visa (GTI) and Distinguished Talent Visa, becoming the new pathway to attract top global talent.

Trend Insight: While the overall program is stable, the emphasis is shifting towards “high skill and high contribution.”

3. Visa Processing Times

Permanent Residence (PR): Around 53.42% of cases are finalized within 12 months.

Temporary Residence (TR): Very efficient, with 97.65% finalized within 12 months.

Partner Visa: Significant delays persist due to high application volumes and limited quota. Applicants should expect long waits.

Working Holiday Visa (WHV): Average processing time is 27 days.

Visitor Visa: Despite rising demand, decisions are still delivered within 1 day.

Employer-Sponsored 482 Visa:

High-salary stream: 19 days.

Regular stream: 90 days.

TSS backlog: ~5,000 cases, expected to be cleared by Dec 2025.

Student Visa:

Offshore: processed under Ministerial Direction 111. Priority 1 ~4 weeks; Priority 2 ~8 weeks.

Onshore: currently processing applications lodged in March–April 2025.

Takeaway: Visitor and short-term visas remain efficient. However, Partner and certain PR visas still face backlogs. Student visas are now subject to routine queuing.

4. Family & Child Visas

Child visas are currently taking 22–28 months to process, affected by an increase in appeal cases. The DHA is considering legislative changes to prevent children from becoming unlawful non-citizens during lengthy waits.

Note: Family-related visas remain slow, with potential reforms on the horizon.

5. Student Visa & Bridging Visa Updates

Student visa applications have dropped 26.4%. The DHA is reviewing how higher visa charges may impact short-term courses such as ELICOS.

Bridging Visa B (BVB): Applicants are advised to apply 2–4 weeks in advance. For Partner Visa holders, BVB delays have been reported but are now receiving priority processing.

6. Key Takeaways

The September 2025 immigration update signals three clear messages:

Processing remains efficient for some visas, but Partner and Child visas remain heavily backlogged.

Skilled migration will stay competitive, with 189 and 491 visas as key hotspots.

The new National Innovation Visa (NIV) is now in effect, with policy direction clearly emphasizing high-end global talent.

Recommendations for Applicants

Plan ahead: Particularly for Student and Partner visas, allow extra time for processing.

Track quotas: State nomination and 189 invitation numbers directly affect your chances.

Stay informed: Policies change quickly—monitor official updates to avoid missing opportunities.

If you’d like a tailored assessment of your visa or migration pathway, feel free to connect with us at Newpoint. We’ll provide the most up-to-date and professional guidance for your case.