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A number of our team members are attending the Law Council of Australia Immigration Law Conference 2026 in Brisbane this week, where we have received an update from the Department of Home Affairs and the Administrative Review Tribunal on current migration trends and processing pressures.

Department of Home Affairs Update 
Key insights include:

• From 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, over 5 million + visa applications across all categories lodged, with December 2025 lodgements the highest since 2019
• 59% of all applications were Visitor visas, with a record high in November 2025
• 5 million applications finalised during the same period
• 792,000 applications currently on hand awaiting finalisation

On Permanent Residence application through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS):

• 39,000 ENS applications lodged between 1 July and 31 December 2025
• As at 31 December 2025, 75,000 ENS applications remain on hand — a 72% increase year-on-year
• Average processing time for ENS visas at 31 December 2025 approximately 14 months but this is increasing

Administrative Review Tribunal Update
We also received an update from the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which highlighted a significant increase in appeals relating to the Subclass 407 (Training) visa, with lodgements rising by approximately 591%.

This sharp increase appears to be linked to recent changes to the 407 visa program, which came into effect earlier this month. These changes now prevent the lodgement of 407 visa applications without an approved sponsor and nomination in place, tightening eligibility requirements and impacting application strategies.

What this means
These updates reinforce the continued high demand across the migration program, particularly in visitor and employer-sponsored pathways, alongside increasing pressure on processing times and review mechanisms.

The surge in 407-related appeals also signals practical impacts of recent regulatory changes, highlighting the importance of ensuring applications are correctly structured prior to lodgement.

We will continue to monitor developments and share further insights from the conference.

If you would like to discuss how these updates may affect your business or visa strategy, please feel free to contact our team.

Ajuria Lawyers

The post Ajuria Lawyers – some updates from the Immigration Law Conference Update (Brisbane 2026) first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Webinar Recording – 1 July 2026 Immigration Update first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

1 July Immigration Update: 482 Salary Increases & Market Rate, Travel Issues & Key Impacts for Employers and Sponsors

Ajuria Lawyers invites you to join our upcoming webinar covering key immigration changes taking effect on 1 July and what they mean for employers and sponsors.

This practical session will cover:

• Increases to relevant income thresholds impacting 482 and sponsored worker visa applications
• Updates to Market Salary Rate requirements – including clarity on social media discussions on whether it affects pre 1 July applications
• Travel rights and entry considerations for sponsored visa holders
• Current travel disruptions and issues affecting entry to Australia, including timing risks where visa holders must enter by certain dates
• Broader developments and emerging trends in Australian immigration
• What employers should be reviewing now to remain compliant and minimise risk

With income thresholds increasing and evolving travel conditions it is critical for sponsors to understand how these changes may affect recruitment timelines, onboarding, and workforce continuity.

We look forward to you joining us.

Friday, 13 March 2026 – 10:00 AM AEDT

REGISTER HERE

This webinar will be recorded.

 

The post Webinar | 1 July 2026 Immigration Update first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Ajuria Lawyers invites you to join our upcoming webinar covering key immigration changes taking effect on 1 July and what they mean for employers and sponsors.
This practical session will cover:

• Increases to relevant income thresholds impacting 482 and sponsored worker visa applications
• Updates to Market Salary Rate requirements – including clarity on social media discussions on whether it affects pre 1 July applications
• Travel rights and entry considerations for sponsored visa holders
• Current travel disruptions and issues affecting entry to Australia, including timing risks where visa holders must enter by certain dates
• Broader developments and emerging trends in Australian immigration
• What employers should be reviewing now to remain compliant and minimise risk

With income thresholds increasing and evolving travel conditions it is critical for sponsors to understand how these changes may affect recruitment timelines, onboarding, and workforce continuity.
We look forward to you joining us.

This webinar will be recorded.

The post 1 July Immigration Update: 482 Salary Increases & Market Rate, Travel Issues & Key Impacts for Employers and Sponsors first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The new Australian financial year is approaching and, with it, expected changes to immigration income thresholds and increases in government fees. Sponsors need to start taking these considerations into account over the coming months before the 1 July changes come into effect.

Guaranteed Minimum Earnings
The minimum salary to be paid to a 482 visa holder will increase from 1 July 2026. The Department has not yet released the exact figure that employers will be required to pay, however, using the formula set by the Migration Regulations we estimate that the new guaranteed earnings will be:

For Core Skills positions:	$79,499 +/-   (currently $76,515) for 38 hours per week
For Specialist Skills positions:	$146,717 +/-  (currently $141,210) for 38 hours per week

This will apply to all nominations lodged after 1 July 2026, including for 482 visa renewals.

However, employees holding 482 visas that were nominated before 1 July 2026, will still need to earn the higher of:

• The amount approved in their original nomination; OR
• The market salary for that position in the business at any given time, even after the nomination has been approved.

This means that the earnings of all 482 visa holders are not ‘locked in’ as claimed by many commentators on social media forums, and still need to be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with your obligations as a sponsoring employer.

If an employer nominates a position after 1 July 2026, at the new higher rate, any existing employee on a 482 visa performing the same role, would need to be reviewed and also paid at this rate if that is the current market rate for an Australian performing the same work at the same location at that time. This will need to be a case-by-case assessment.

Failure to increase 482 visa holders to the correct market rate, or underpaying those workers based on a 38 hours week can result in very significant financial penalties and possible suspension or cancellation of sponsorship rights.

Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT)
The FWHIT is the annual income level above which certain employment law and visa-related exemptions can apply (for example, for age exemptions in the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 visa) will also increase from the current level of $183,100 per year but the exact amount has not yet been announced.  Based on the previous 5 years, an increase of around 4% should be expected.

Government Fees 
Likely to increase on 1 July 2026. The exact amount will be announced after the budget but based on the previous 5 years an increase of 4-5 % should be expected.

We will be hosting a webinar to discuss these changes, have a look at the year ahead, processing times and some best practice suggestions.  Details will be released next week.

The post 482 Visa Guaranteed Earnings, High Income Threshold and Government Fees to Increase on 1 July 2026 first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The new Australian financial year is approaching and, with it, expected changes to immigration income thresholds and increases in government fees. Sponsors need to start taking these considerations into account over the coming months before the 1 July changes come into effect.

Guaranteed Minimum Earnings

The minimum salary to be paid to a 482 visa holder will increase from 1 July 2026. The Department has not yet released the exact figure that employers will be required to pay, however, using the formula set by the Migration Regulations we estimate that the new guaranteed earnings will be:

For Core Skills positions:	$79,499 +/-   (currently $76,515) for 38 hours per week
For Specialist Skills positions:	$146,717 +/-  (currently $141,210) for 38 hours per week

This will apply to all nominations lodged after 1 July 2026, including for 482 visa renewals.

However, employees holding 482 visas that were nominated before 1 July 2026, will still need to earn the higher of:

• The amount approved in their original nomination; OR
• The market salary for that position in the business at any given time, even after the nomination has been approved.

This means that the earnings of all 482 visa holders are not ‘locked in’ as claimed by many commentators on social media forums, and still need to be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with your obligations as a sponsoring employer.

If an employer nominates a position after 1 July 2026, at the new higher rate, any existing employee on a 482 visa performing the same role, would need to be reviewed and also paid at this rate if that is the current market rate for an Australian performing the same work at the same location at that time. This will need to be a case-by-case assessment.

Failure to increase 482 visa holders to the correct market rate, or underpaying those workers based on a 38 hours week can result in very significant financial penalties and possible suspension or cancellation of sponsorship rights.

Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT)

The FWHIT is the annual income level above which certain employment law and visa-related exemptions can apply (for example, for age exemptions in the Employer Nomination Scheme 186 visa) will also increase from the current level of $183,100 per year but the exact amount has not yet been announced.  Based on the previous 5 years, an increase of around 4% should be expected.

Government Fees 

Likely to increase on 1 July 2026. The exact amount will be announced after the budget but based on the previous 5 years an increase of 4-5 % should be expected.

We will be hosting a webinar to discuss these changes, have a look at the year ahead, processing times and some best practice suggestions.  Details will be released next week.

The post 482 Visa Guaranteed Earnings, High Income Threshold and Government Fees to Increase on 1 July 2026 first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Visa Processing Update – Delays for Temporary & Permanent Residence Applications first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Ajuria Lawyers wishes you and your loved ones the best for the festive season and new year.

This year, our donation in lieu of gifts is being made to the Heart Foundation which does vital work funding heart research and supporting healthier hearts in our community.

Please follow this link to make a donation.

A reminder our office will be closed from 24 December 2025 and will reopen on 5 January 2026.
During this period we can be contacted for urgent matters at urgent@ajurialawyers.com

AJURIA LAWYERS TEAM

The post Best Wishes for the Festive Season first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Ajuria Lawyers wishes you and your loved ones the best for the festive season and new year.

This year, our donation in lieu of gifts is being made to the Heart Foundation which does vital work funding heart research and supporting healthier hearts in our community.

Please follow this link to make a donation.

A reminder our office will be closed from 24 December 2025 and will reopen on 5 January 2026.
During this period we can be contacted for urgent matters at urgent@ajurialawyers.com

AJURIA LAWYERS TEAM

The post Ajuria Lawyers Best Wishes for the Festive Season first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.