Join us and our special guest: Lise Williams, A/Manager, Migration Initiatives, Department of Training and Workforce Development (WA) as we discuss how Western Australia’s migration & workforce development programs support the WA construction sector.

Learn about WA’s Construction Visa Subsidy Program

• Employer-Sponsored Stream – up to $10,000
• State-Nominated Stream – up to $10,000
• Skilled Migrant Job Connect Program – settlement services, training/mentoring, and subsidies up to $7,500
• Relocation Incentive – up to $10,000 for construction workers relocating to WA

 

The webinar will provide

• Step-by-step guidance on eligibility and how to apply
• Examples from WA businesses using these programs successfully
• Live Q&A

 

Wednesday, 19 November 2024 – 10:00 AM AEST
REGISTER HERE

The post Western Australia – Subsidies for the Construction Industry first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Visa Services Across Asia-Pacific (APAC)
At Ajuria Lawyers, we understand that moving staff and keeping business flow around the world can be tricky.

As businesses expand across the Asia-Pacific region, keeping on top of different immigration rules requires both expertise and seamless coordination. That’s where we come in.

From various visas to work authorisations, we handle the entire process end to end. Powered by our technology platform, MobilityDesk, and backed by our experienced global immigration specialists, we help your business stay compliant, efficient, and ready to grow wherever opportunities take you.

 

Our Regional Capabilities

Through our trusted network of local partners and immigration specialists, we assist with visa and immigration matters across the APAC region, including:

• New Zealand – Accredited Employer Work Visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas, Partnership and Residence categories.
• Singapore – Employment Passes, Single Passes, Dependant and Long-Term Visit Passes
• Hong Kong – Employment and Dependant Visas, Investment Visas
• Japan – Highly Skilled Professional Visas, Intra-Company Transferee Visas
• South Korea – Work Permits, D-7 and E-series Visas
• India – Employment and Business Visas, FRRO registrations
• China – Z Work Visas, Residence Permits, Family Reunification
• Other jurisdictions – including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines

 

Ajuria can also support businesses with employee mobility into the United States and Europe, ensuring clients have access to a truly global solution.

 

MobilityDesk: Technology to Streamline Global Mobility

Our global mobility management platform, MobilityDesk, ensures that visa processes across multiple countries are coordinated and transparent. With MobilityDesk, clients benefit from:

• Online, simple and secure initiation, document upload and questionnaires
• Centralised tracking of all applications across the APAC region, visible in real time
• Status updates and reminders so deadlines and renewals are never missed
• Data security and compliance with global standards

 

Our Global Team

Behind the technology is our dedicated global immigration team, who coordinate closely with local experts in each jurisdiction. This ensures:

• Consistent, high-quality service across every country
• Single point of contact for HR and mobility managers, reducing complexity
• Practical solutions that align with business priorities and project timelines

 

Call us to discuss how we can help 

If your business is expanding across APAC and you’d like support with visas or work authorisations, get in touch with your usual Ajuria contact or reach out to global@ajurialawyers.com and set up a time to talk.

The post Moving People in APAC? first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

On 2 September 2025, the Australian Government confirmed that the permanent Migration Program for 2025–26 will be maintained at 185,000 places, the same as 2024–25 levels. This decision reflects a “steady as she goes” approach, providing predictability for employers and skilled migrants during a period of broader economic adjustment.

These planning numbers do not apply to the temporary visa programs such as the Skills In Demand (subclass 482 visa), Training (subclass 407 visa) or Short-Term Work (subclass 400 visa) which are all demand driven.

The size of the permanent program correlates to most economic modelling which confirms that Australia needs permanent migration of between 160,000 and 220,000 people per year to sustain and support GDP, sustain workforce numbers, lift productivity, innovation, and regional employment.

Stability in Program Levels
The overall program size and composition remain unchanged, with 132,200 visas (or 71% of places) allocated to the Skill stream.

This should give employers confidence to proceed with sponsorship and recruitment plans, knowing that the migration pipeline will continue at current levels.

Regional and State/Territory Pathways
Regional and State/Territory nominated visas account for half of the Skill stream.

This reinforces the Government’s continued emphasis on addressing labour shortages beyond major metropolitan centres.

Employers with operations in regional areas should remain engaged with regional programs such as Designated Area Migration Agreements, as these are now central to the government’s skilled migration intake.

National Innovation Visa
The formal introduction of the National Innovation visa with 4300 visas will be focused on individuals who can demonstrate they are leaders in national innovation.

Employers in advanced industries, technology, and research should monitor this visa closely as a potential avenue to secure top-tier expertise.

Family Migration and Retention
The Family stream remains unchanged at 52,500 places, with Partner and Child visas continuing on a demand-driven basis.

Clients wanting more information about the program announcement and what this means should reach out to their Ajuria team.

The post Migration Program Planning Levels for 2026 Announced – Steady as She Goes first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) have begun consultations to review the occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for 2025.

The CSOL applies to the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). If an occupation is not on the CSOL then it cannot be sponsored unless the earnings are more than $135,000 p/a (excluding trades) or the company has an approved Labour Agreement. For the current CSOL, see The Core Skills Occupation List.

The annual review of the CSOL is designed to ensure the skilled occupations available for migration stay relevant to Australia’s workforce needs and labour market shortages and JSA’s review will inform advice to Government on possible changes to the makeup of the CSOL.

Clients wanting to make submissions on the CSOL, including adding occupations to the list (for example Restaurant and Café Managers) can do so here: MAKE A SUBMISSION.  These must be received before Friday, 26 September 2025.

Clients wanting our assistance with their submission or advice as to the process should reach out to their account partner or team. 

The post Make a submission to include an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Increase in Government application fees, Core Skills Income Threshold & Fair Work High Income Threshold

Government fees
Government fees will increase as follows:

	Pre 1 July 2025	From 1 July 2025
482 visa applications	$3115	$3210
482 secondary applicant 18+	$3115	$3210
482 secondary application u18	$780	$805
400, 407 and 408 visas (Temporary short stay term specialist, Training and Entertainment visas)	$415	$430
400, 407 and 408 secondary applicant 18+	$415	$430
400, 407 and 408 secondary application u18	$105	$110
ENS 186 visa (PR)	$4770	$4910
186 secondary applicant 18+	$2385	$2455
186 secondary application u18	$1190	$1230

 

CSIT
As a reminder, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) will increase on 1 July 2025 to $76,515. New nomination applications from this date will need to meet the new threshold or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.

The CSIT for existing 482 visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2025 remains at $73,150 however, the earnings must still be reviewed and increased to meet the market rate if that is higher.
Labour Market Testing requiring a salary now needs to be for at least this new CSIT amount.

FWHIT
The Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) will increase to $183,100.

Super Increase
From 1 July 2025, the superannuation guarantee rate has increased to 12%.

EOFY staff reviews & visa holders
The new financial year means staff review time for a lot of businesses. It is an important reminder that 482 visa holders have been approved to work in their nominated occupations only. While a promotion within the same occupational stream (and any associated salary increase) will generally comply with their 482 visa conditions, a move into a different role must be carefully considered and may require a new nomination or adjusted market rate. If a new role for a 482 visa holder would fall into a different occupation, a new 482 nomination and visa application will need to be lodged.

Please discuss any proposed role changes with your Ajuria adviser to ensure that your visa holders will continue to be compliant.

Employers are also reminded to ensure 482 visa holders are paid according to their approved salary and at the Australian market rate for the role.

 

DISCLAIMER This information is current as of 30 June 2025 and is subject to change with little notice. This publication is of a general nature only and should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

The post 2026 Financial Year – Australian Immigration Updates first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA) have unveiled their eligibility requirements for the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858), a permanent residence visa that targets individuals with internationally recognized records of exceptional achievement in their respective fields.

Expression of Interests (EOIs) supported by a State or Territory Government are afforded second-highest processing priority by the Department. Given this, we anticipate both the NSW and SA nomination programs to be highly competitive and of interest to globally talented individuals.

 

New South Wales (NSW) Eligibility Criteria

NSW has introduced five nomination pathways, which targets attracting top-tier talent that will contribute substantially to the State’s innovation ecosystem.

A summary of the eligibility criteria is below:

1.      Academic and Researcher Pathway: For individuals with a distinguished record in academic or research fields. The applicant must show a strong track record of original and impactful research relevant to NSW’s current or future economic or social needs.

2.      Entrepreneur Pathway: For founders and leaders of innovative, scalable  businesses. Applicants must have a proven entrepreneurial track record and ventures with high growth potential that will benefit NSW’s innovation ecosystem.

3.      Innovative Investor Pathway: For individuals with a history of supporting early-stage ventures through capital and expertise. The applicant must demonstrate a history oof providing substantial “angel” investment in innovative ventures.

4.      Sports Professional Pathway: For elite athletes, coaches, and sport specialists with international or national recognition.

Applicants who are athletes must show exceptional achievements at the highest levels (national or international). Coaches and specialists must provide evidence of outstanding success and significant impact within elite sport.

5.      Creative Professional Pathway: For artists and cultural leaders with national or international acclaim. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and artistic distinction in fields such as music, film, literature, design, visual arts, or digital media.

 

South Australia (SA) Eligibility Criteria

The SA nomination framework has introduced five broad nomination categories under its framework, focused on driving innovation and economic growth within the State.

Key eligibility criteria for each category include:

1.      Global Researchers and Thought Leaders: For intellects with achievements that include receiving a national research grant recognized IP or a PhD thesis with high levels of academic influence.

2.      Entrepreneurs: For applicants who can demonstrate their entrepreneurial activities will lead to commercialization of a product in SA or the development of a business that will significantly add value to the local economy.

3.      Innovative Investors: For investors who can demonstrate an established track record of supporting successful innovative ventures or leading internationally reputed companies to their IPO.

4.      Creative Talent: For applicants with significant achievements in their creative field.

5.      Other Globally Talented Individuals: All other applicants who do not fit the above criteria will be assessed on a case by-case basis.

If you believe you may qualify under any of these categories or want advice on preparing a strong Expression of Interest, please get in touch with our team. We can guide you through the nomination and visa application process.

The post National Innovation Visa – NSW and South Australia Release Eligibility Criteria first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

We’re thrilled to share that Ajuria Lawyers has been named Best Immigration Law Firm of the Yearin Australia by BestLawFirms.com. This national award recognises excellence in legal expertise, client service and impact — and we’re honoured to stand out as a specialist firm in a field typically dominated by large, multi-disciplinary and multinational practices.
We’ve always believed that focus matters — and this year, we’ve doubled down on that belief. With Lillian Ajuria, Ron Kessels and Karen Lo already individually recognised as leading immigration lawyers, this firm-wide award is a huge moment for our whole team.
Even better, it comes as we welcome two exceptional lawyers to our partnership Humairaa Haque and Stephanie Nikolovski, both widely respected immigration experts with deep industry experience and a shared commitment to client-focused solutions.
In a year of major visa reform and policy change, we’ve remained focused on delivering:

• Strategic guidance on employer-sponsored visas and compliance
• Clear advice in an increasingly complex policy environment
• Partnership-first support for HR, global mobility, and legal teams

Thank you to our clients and partners — your trust and collaboration make achievements like this possible. We look forward to continuing to support you through what’s next.

We also take this opportunity to congratulate all of the other winning firms.

 

The Ajuria Lawyers BEST Team

The post Ajuria Lawyers Named Best Immigration Law Firm of the Year in Australia first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The re-election of the Albanese Labor Government will allow it to continue its proposed overhaul of Australia’s migration system, tighter compliance controls, and a workplace policy agenda shaped by strong union influence.

 

Migration and Industrial Relations to align 

The Government’s Ten-Year Migration Strategy was released in December 2023. Unless there is a change in direction, the strategy will mean a continued shift away from volume-based migration and toward a more targeted, skills-based system. The focus will be on reducing the Net Overseas Migration number and enhanced protections and flexibility for visa holders.
Labor’s close alignment with the union movement continues to influence both workplace and migration policy. A Government-funded $13.25 million program for unions and community groups to educate migrant workers on their workplace rights will come into effect. The initiative seeks to combat worker exploitation among temporary visa holders by providing “information and education to temporary migrant workers and their employers about migration-related rights and obligations in the workplace”.

 

What we are likely to see over the next three years: 

• Core Skills Income Threshold will continue to be indexed annually and will increase to $76,515from 1 July 2025.
• Labour Market Testing is set to continue and could even be increased if unemployment rises during the next three years.
• Annual Net Overseas Migration will be reduced to 250,000 by mid-2025. NOM is the difference between the number of people arriving in Australia to live long-term and those leaving Australia to live overseas, over a given period.
• Continued focus on mobility will mean that skilled workers will have more flexibility to move between employers and have independent pathways to permanent residence.
• Industry based Labour Agreements for lower paid workers in sectors suffering severe labour shortages. These will be made with union involvement.
• Increased importance of internation agreements and co-operation including strengthening Indo-Pacific engagement through schemes such as the Pacific Island visa stream.
• Use of technology to help handle the volume of applications and improve processing efficiencies.
• Stronger integrity measures in international education, including caps on student enrolments and higher English requirements.
• More tailored regional visas 
• Higher visa fees (e.g. for international students) and tougher scrutiny for “high-risk” applications

These changes signal more enforcement, more regulation, and a stronger emphasis on wages, equity, and permanent pathways.

 

We’re here to help

Ajuria Lawyers will continue to monitor all changes as they unfold — including legislative amendments and Departmental implementation. We are working closely with clients to ensure migration strategies remain effective, compliant, and commercially aligned in this new policy environment.
For advice or assistance, please reach out to your usual Ajuria contact or email us at info@ajurialawyers.com.

The post What Labor’s Re-Election Means for Immigration first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

The post Webinar Workshop Recording – Understanding Earnings & Market Rates for Sponsored Visa Holders first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.

Employers in regional areas are able to access some additional visa pathways for their employees. Generally, these are not preferred by employers and employees because additional eligibility criteria can add costs and delays to the pre-lodgment process and employees are restricted to working only in a regional area. However, these visas can provide a solution where a 482 visa might not be available and so are worth keeping as an option in the right case.

 

What is considered regional ?

The Australian Government defines “regional” as any postcode outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It divides Australia into 3 categories.

Both Category 2 and 3 qualify for regional visas – 491, 494 and 191, and Category 3 often enjoys extra incentives like more skilled migration points and faster processing.

In addition, Designated Area Migration Agreements cover specific category 2 and 3 areas that can include multiple regional centres and cities.

Regional visa types – key features 

There are specific visa types for regional Australia. They are only for people who will live and work in regional Australia.

Employers must have operations in the regions to be able to sponsor 494 visas.

482 visas are also available under a special Labour Agreement Stream known as Designated Area Migration Agreements. These are regionally negotiated Labour Agreements ‘owned’ by the local region and designed to help those regions attract workers in occupations with labour shortages either because of the location or because of a major infrastructure project draining local talent.

 

Quick comparison of regional to 482 visas 

In most cases 482 visas are preferred by our clients because they are a well-known path. They are generally the most suitable option given the needs of both the employer and employee. However, regional visas can provide some benefits over 482 visas and can be the most suitable option in some cases where a 482 is not available or not preferred.

 

Conditions on regional visa holders (and employers)                                                                                                                                                                

The usual sponsorship obligations apply to the 494 visa.

In addition, businesses must be lawfully operating in a designated regional area of Australia to be eligible to sponsor under this visa. ​

Visa holders are required to live, work, and study exclusively in designated regional areas for the duration of the visa, which is up to five years. Regional visa holders may live and work outside of a regional area for
•    holidays
•    work-related travel
•    work-related training

Visa holders must advise the Department within 14 days of any changes to the personal information or circumstances.

 

Relocating 

The Department understand that it may take a little time for someone to relocate to regional Austalia. Under policy the Department states:

• If the person is already living and working in Australia (not in a regional area) then it is intended to allow a reasonable amount of time for the visa holder to move to a regional area. This will depend on individual circumstances, noting that it may take a number of months for a family to relocate.
• Persons granted a Subclass 491 or Subclass 494 visa while residing outside Australia have more opportunity to make arrangements between being granted their visa and arriving in Australia. While remaining flexible in relation to individual circumstances, it would generally be reasonable to expect that they would establish living arrangements in a regional area within a month of arrival.

 

If you are interested in learning more about regional visa options, just contact your Ajuria team or email info@ajurialawyers.com

The post Regional Visa Options first appeared on Ajuria Lawyers – Leaders in Immigration.