New Zealand First wants to scrap the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and replace it with a “shortage-led” Skilled Work Visa, arguing that migrant recruitment should be restricted to jobs where New Zealand genuinely needs overseas workers. Announced on October 11, 2026, the proposal would make access to migrant labour more closely dependent on occupation,…
New Zealand has introduced a major change to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process, replacing the previous fully random selection model with a hybrid system from 5 October 2026. Under the new system, approximately 90% of eligible Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be selected according to the date they were submitted, while the remaining…
A technical fault in the Immigration New Zealand ADEPT system allowed some visa and immigration applications to be automatically approved without the required manual assessment by an immigration officer, according to information released by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). More than 55 applications, including Job Check applications and Visitor Visa applications, were approved through the affected…
Australia has introduced new restrictions preventing certain temporary visa holders from applying for a Student visa or Student Guardian visa while they are inside the country. The Australian Government registered the Migration (Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/068) on September 24, 2026. The instrument…
Four families paid tens of thousands of dollars for study and immigration packages in New Zealand, only to discover that many of their student visa applications had never been submitted. The case has resulted in convictions for two individuals accused of providing immigration advice without the required licence. On September 15, 2026, Paola Walker-Rodriguez was…
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is making a major change to the way most visitor visa applications are submitted. From 24 September 2026, new applications for most visitor visas will have to be submitted through INZ’s enhanced Immigration Online system rather than the older online application system. The change is part of INZ’s longer-term transition toward…
Australia has introduced a new skilled visa processing framework that changes the order in which many temporary, provisional and permanent skilled visa applications are assessed. The Australia skilled visa processing rules changed on 19 September 2026, when Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 came into effect and replaced the processing priorities previously established under Ministerial Direction…
Australia is preparing to increase immigration compliance operations as the government responds to a growing number of people remaining in the country after their visas have expired. The federal government says the new approach will focus on encouraging people to leave voluntarily while restoring the capacity to detain and remove people who remain without a…
New Zealand has released the New Zealand Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan 2027-2031, setting out a five-year framework to strengthen prevention, victim identification, protection, enforcement and coordination against trafficking. The plan forms part of New Zealand’s Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Strategy 2026-2030 and is designed to strengthen the existing system rather than…
Australia has announced major changes to its temporary migration system, introducing tighter conditions for international students, graduate visa holders, visitors and working holiday makers. The Australia student visa family restrictions 2026 reforms are particularly important for Indian students, who represent one of the largest international student groups in the country. Under the announced changes, most…
