Australian Immigration News – December 2025

Major Updates on 189, 190, 491 Visas, State Allocations & 2026 Migration Predictions

The Australian Government has finally released the allocation quotas for the 190 and 491 visas—and the news is significant. Several states, including South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, have experienced major cuts, while Queensland and the Northern Territory have seen increases to their state nomination programs.

If you are planning to migrate to Australia in 2026, or you have a 190/491 Expression of Interest (EOI) sitting in SkillSelect without invitations, this may be one of the most important immigration updates of the year.

This month, we cover:

• The November 2025 189 invitation round
• The new 190 & 491 visa allocation cuts
• Four migration strategies to consider moving forward
• The National Innovation Visa (NIV)
• Visa appeals
• What to expect in Australian immigration in 2026

189 Invitation Round – November 2025

The 13 November 2025 189 round was strong and followed similar trends to previous rounds.

A total of 10,000 applicants were invited across 144 different occupations.

As in recent rounds, the Department is prioritising construction, health and education, with some construction occupations being invited with only 65 points.

Some competitive occupations also received invitations, including Economists and Multimedia Specialists. And once again—similar to the latest rounds—some surprising occupations were invited, such as Tennis Coach and Musician (Instrumental).

In this round, 300 applicants were also invited for the 491 Family Stream, across 36 different occupations.

The Department of Home Affairs has just published the official November 189 invitation round. The full list is available on the Department’s website.

For those still waiting, it looks like the next round may happen in February or March, as the government is planning to run invitation rounds quarterly.

190 & 491 Visa Allocations 2025–26

The Federal Government confirmed the new state nomination quotas, with a 23% national reduction overall.

States with major cuts:

• South Australia: 41% decrease
• Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia: Significant cuts
• ACT: Small cut

States with increases:

• Queensland: 117% increase
• Northern Territory: 3% increase

Even with increases, both QLD and NT remain competitive due to high applicant demand.

These cuts mean:

• Less availability of 190 and 491 visas
• Higher competition
• Fewer occupations available
• More migrants needing alternative visa pathways

Check out our full blog about the state allocations for 2025–26.

Four Options to Consider for Your Australian PR Strategy

If you are not receiving a nomination for the 190 or 491 visas, there are four pathways you may consider:

1. Keep trying for the 190 or 491 visa

This works for certain occupations—especially in construction, health, education, or for applicants with strong government roles.

However, if you work in an oversupplied occupation (e.g. Cook, Accountant, Marketing Specialist), continuing to wait may not be an effective strategy.

2. Move to another state

A change of state may help, but only depending on your occupation and the state you’re moving to.

For heavily oversupplied occupations such as Restaurant Managers, Cooks, or Enrolled Nurses, moving often does not improve invitation chances.

Moving is more realistic if:

• You have a confirmed job offer in the new state
• You are relocating from a highly competitive state (NSW, VIC, SA) to one with better allocations (WA or NT)

Always seek migration advice before relocating—Australia’s distances usually involve travelling over 1,000 km.

3. Consider alternative visa pathways

This is now the recommendation of many state governments.

Possible alternatives include:

• Employer Sponsored visas (482 visa) — no allocation caps
• DAMA or Labour Agreement visas
• Partner visas (if you have an Australian partner)

Finding a sponsor can be challenging, but it remains one of the most reliable PR pathways.

4. Retrain into a higher-demand occupation

This is most feasible for applicants on a 485 Graduate Visa with 2–3 years ahead of them.

Some trade occupations receiving 189 invitations at only 65 points may become attractive pathways.

If you need personalised guidance, you can book a consultation with our team.

Book an Appointment

South Australia Opens the 2025–26 State Nomination Program

SA received:

• 1,350 places for the 190 visa
• 900 places for the 491 visa
• Total: 2,250 places (a 41% reduction from last year's 3,800)

Priority sectors:

• Building & Construction
• Defence
• Education
• Engineering
• Health
• Manufacturing

Check our full South Australia blog to learn more about SA state nomination in 2025–26.

National Innovation Visa (NIV) Updates

The NIV replaces the Global Talent Visa and targets highly talented, globally recognised innovators.

Key updates:

• Queensland may open EOIs before the end of 2025
• NSW has received 1,250 EOIs but invited only 5 applicants so far
• Strong demand indicates extremely high competition

With 190 and 491 cuts, it is likely that one state will begin issuing more nomination supports in 2026. Those who act early will benefit most.

If you believe you may qualify, complete our free online assessment.

ART Visa Appeals – Important Reminder

December is a high-volume period for:

• Visa refusals
• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) decisions

If you receive a refusal, be careful with strict appeal deadlines—missing them may remove your right to review.

What to Expect in Australian Immigration in 2026

Based on current trends, we predict:

• State nomination programs will remain selective and competitive
• Priority will continue for construction, health and education
• Demand for 482 and 186 visas will grow
• 186 processing times will remain long
• DAMA and Labour Agreement pathways will expand
• Skilled migrants will increasingly look for employer sponsorship
• States may issue fewer invitations and adopt more targeted criteria

If you're struggling to secure GSM invitations, read our blog “How to Find a Sponsor in Australia”, which offers practical steps.

Need Personalised Migration Advice?

If you want tailored guidance about your Australian PR options, you can book a consultation with or migration agents or immigration lawyers.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

You can also check out our YouTube channel to learn more about Australian visas, permanent residency, and citizenship.

South Australia Opens 190 and 491 Visa Programs for 2025–26

South Australia (SA) has officially opened applications for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas and released its updated criteria on the Move to SA website.

For the 2025–26 program, including interim allocations, South Australia has received:

This year brings one of the biggest changes in recent years:

• SA has removed 71 onshore occupations from the skilled list
• Reducing the number of eligible onshore occupations from 464 last year to just 393 this year
• There are 278 offshore occupations available

Combined with significant allocation cuts, the 2025–26 program will be far more competitive than previous years.
With a 41% overall cut, South Australia now faces the largest reduction in nomination places across the country.

If you work in construction, health, teaching or have a high salary, you may have a better chance of being invited by SA.

South Australia Skilled Migration Streams

South Australia continues to operate four key nomination streams:

1. South Australian Graduates
2. Skilled Employment in South Australia
3. Outer Regional Skilled Employment
4. Offshore

The eligibility and competitiveness within each stream have shifted significantly, and it will be more difficult to receive a nomination.

Onshore Applicants: ROI Required

Onshore applicants must now submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).
SA will consider a mix of factors from your ROI when deciding whether to invite you for nomination.

Key assessment factors include:

• English language level
• Years of skilled experience
• Skills and qualification level
• Salary level
• Employer assessment (for those employed in SA)

Tip: For onshore applicants, points do not matter.

Minimum Work Requirement – SA Onshore Applicants

All onshore applicants must be working at least 30 hours per week for a set period based on their stream.
This means most international students will not be eligible, as student visa work rights limit them to 24 hours per week or 48 hours per fortnight.

Occupations – 491 Visa Only (Not Eligible for 190)

A significant number of occupations have shifted to the 491 visa only, reducing access to the 190 visa pathway.

Examples include:

• Accountant
• Dentist
• Motor Mechanic
• Marketing Specialist

Occupations No Longer Eligible for the SA Graduate Stream

• Chefs
• Cooks
• Cafe or Restaurant Managers
• Enrolled Nurses

Occupations Keeping 190 or 491 Options

Despite the major reductions, some high-priority occupations still retain 190 eligibility, including:

• Engineers
• Teachers
• Registered Nurses

These align with South Australia’s priority industry needs.

South Australia Priority Sectors for 2025–26

The state will prioritise applicants in:

• Building and Construction
• Defence
• Education
• Engineering
• Health
• Manufacturing

Applicants in these sectors may remain competitive for 190 nominations, depending on experience, English level and employment arrangements.

Offshore Applicants: No ROI Required

Offshore applicants do not need to submit an ROI.
Invitations will be issued directly from SkillSelect based on your EOI.

For offshore candidates, the primary assessment factors remain:

• Your occupation
• Points score
• Competitiveness within your occupation group

Not all occupations have offshore pathways. Some are onshore-only, and others are 491 only.

Tip: Points matter for offshore applicants.

Numbers and Competition

Last year (2024–25), South Australia had about 60,000 EOIs and ROIs for only 3,800 places. This means the chance of getting an invite was very low — about 6.33%.

This year (2025–26), if there are still around 60,000 applications but only 2,250 places, the chance of getting invited will be even lower — around 3.75%.

Tip: If you are not receiving an invitation, consider other visa options such as employer-sponsored visas (482 visa, 186 visa, 494 visa or DAMA) or a partner visa if you have an Australian partner.

What These Changes Mean for Applicants

• Expect fewer invitations overall
• Many occupations will now only access the 491 visa
• SA employment is becoming a key factor
• Offshore candidates will likely need high points to stay competitive
• Some occupations require SA employment even for Graduate pathways
• Employer sponsorship pathways (482 → 186) may be more reliable

If you intend to apply through South Australia, early planning and strategy are more important than ever.

You can book an appointment with one of our migration agents or immigration lawyers.

Book an Appointment

Big Cuts to Australian Migration: 190 & 491 State Nomination reduced by 41%

Major changes to Australian skilled migration have now been officially confirmed — and the impact on the State-nominated Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas is significant.

Across Australia, state and territory nomination allocations have been reduced. While most states received a significant reduction, two states received an increase in the 190 and 491 visa.

At Work Visa Lawyers, we stay up to date with every policy announcement so you can understand how these changes affect your visa options. Below is a full breakdown of the new numbers, what they mean for skilled migrants, and the alternative pathways you may need to consider.

Australian Skilled Migration Cuts: Overall less Australian visas in 2025-26

The Federal Government has announced a 23% overall cut to state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025–26 program year.

But these cuts are not evenly distributed — some states have been hit much harder than others.

While Queensland and the Northern Territory received increases, every other state experienced reduction, with some receiving major cuts.

These changes affect thousands of skilled migrants who have already invested heavily in their journey, including skills assessments, English tests and Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

Australian businesses relying on skilled migrants to fill labour shortages will also fell the impact. 

Even though the Migration Program planning levels for this financial year are the same as last year, the state nomination allocations still dropped.

This strongly suggests that the Government has reduced state and territory allocations because of the large number of visa applications already in the system, ongoing processing backlogs, and the high volume of EOIs submitted over the past year.

In practical terms, this means the number of invitations issued in 2025–26 will be lower, even though the overall program size has not changed.

State-by-State Breakdown: From the Biggest Cut to the Biggest Increase

Below is a clear summary of how each state and territory has been affected.

1. South Australia — 41% Cut

South Australia is the hardest hit jurisdiction in Australia. A 41% reduction in the 190 and 491 visas means far fewer invitations, particularly for competitive occupations. Expect very high competition.

South Australia 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 3,000
• 491 visa: 800
• Total: 3,800

South Australia 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 1,350
• 491 visa: 900
• Total: 2,250

Difference: –1,550

2. Tasmania — 35% Cut

Despite a large cut to its 190 and 491 visas, Tasmania remains transparent with its invitation system, offering clearer expectations for applicants.

Tasmania 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 2,100
• 491 visa: 760
• Total: 2,860

Tasmania 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 1,200
• 491 visa: 650
• Total: 1,850

Difference: –1,010

3. Western Australia — 32% Cut

As expected, WA had a 32% cut. Premier Roger Cook tried to prevent this by asking the Federal Government not to proceed with the reductions, given the state’s strong need for skilled migrants — but the attempt was not successful.

Western Australia 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 3,000
• 491 visa: 2,000
• Total: 5,000

Western Australia 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 2,000
• 491 visa: 1,400
• Total: 3,400

Difference: –1,600

4. Victoria — 32% Cut

Victoria’s reductions in the 190 and 491 visas will now limit options for many general skilled migrants.

Victoria 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 3,000
• 491 visa: 2,000
• Total: 5,000

Victoria 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 2,700
• 491 visa: 700
• Total: 3,400

Difference: –1,600

5. New South Wales — 28% Cut

NSW still runs one of the largest skilled migration programs, but the state allocation cut means fewer opportunities and much tighter competition.

New South Wales 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 3,000
• 491 visa: 2,000
• Total: 5,000

New South Wales 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 2,100
• 491 visa: 1,500
• Total: 3,600

Difference: –1,400

6. Australian Capital Territory — 11% Cut

A smaller reduction, but still an overall decrease in nomination opportunities.

Australian Capital Territory 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 1,000
• 491 visa: 800
• Total: 1,800

Australian Capital Territory 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 800
• 491 visa: 800
• Total: 1,600

Difference: –200

States With 190 and 491 Increases in 2025–26

Northern Territory — 3% Increase

A small but notable rise in a year dominated by cuts.

Northern Territory 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 800
• 491 visa: 800
• Total: 1,600

Northern Territory 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 850
• 491 visa: 800
• Total: 1,650

Difference: +50

Queensland — 117% Increase

The biggest surprise — and the biggest winner.
Queensland’s allocation has more than doubled compared to last year.
While numbers remain competitive, this offers meaningful opportunities for eligible applicants.

Queensland 190 and 491 visas 2024–2025:
• 190 visa: 600
• 491 visa: 600
• Total: 1,200

Queensland 190 and 491 visas 2025–2026:
• 190 visa: 1,850
• 491 visa: 750
• Total: 2,600

Difference: +1,400

Check our table below with all the numbers and the comparison from 2024-25 and 2025-26.

We also published this in our Facebook, Instragram, and TikTok accounts. Follow us for on the spot short updates.

What This Means for Skilled Migrants

The 23% overall reduction in state allocations means:

• fewer invitations
• higher competition across all states
• many occupations may not receive invitations at all
• applicants need stronger strategies beyond just lodging an EOI

Most states continue prioritising critical industries, including:

• Health
• Teaching
• Construction and trades

Applicants in these areas may still have good chance.
However, for many other occupations, relying solely on the 190 or 491 visa this year may not be realistic.

What to Do If Your Occupation Is Affected

If you are considering skilled migration but your pathway has become more competitive or your occupation is no longer on the state lists, there are still visa options in Australia including:

• Employer-sponsored visas (482, 186, 494)
• Training visa (407)
• Partner visas if you have an eligible Australian partner
• Regional employer pathways, including DAMAs

At Work Visa Lawyers, we help individuals and businesses navigate these changes and choose the best possible pathway toward permanent residency.

How to Apply for an Australian Visa

If you want to understand which state gives you the best chance or whether you should lodge an EOI, discuss your visa options and apply for an Australian visa or permanent residency, our immigration lawyers and registered migration agents can assist you.

Book a consultation with one of our migration agents or immigration lawyers.
The meeting can be held in our office in Adelaide or through a video call.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

Australian Immigration News – Latest updates

Major visa cuts, backlogs, and new opportunities revealed at the MIA National Migration Conference

Big changes have just been announced in Australian immigration — including potentially visa quota reductions and major updates straight from the Migration Institute of Australia’s National Migration Conference in Melbourne.

Are your migration plans about to change? Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening.

Migration Quotas and State Nomination – Up to a 30% Cut

The Federal Government has confirmed a total of 185,000 permanent migration places for the 2025–2026 financial year — the same overall number as last year.

However, there’s growing concern that state and territory allocations will be significantly smaller, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) continues to face backlogs from unprocessed visa applications.

For example, Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook is fighting to prevent a reduction from 5,000 to 3,400 skilled migration places. He has formally written to the Federal Government, urging them to reconsider the cuts.

If WA faces a 30% reduction, similar cuts may occur across other states — except for Queensland, which is expected to see an increase after receiving a very small allocation of only 1,200 places last year.

At this stage, only small interim allocations have been released, allowing states to issue a limited number of invitations for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.

Many states have already published their eligibility criteria for this financial year, and some are already open for Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

A detailed update on each state’s 190 and 491 requirements will be published separately soon.

Deportations and Visa Cancellations

According to several news articles, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the first transfer to Nauru under a new agreement has taken place, triggering an upfront payment of AUD 408 million. The deal — expected to cost around AUD 2.5 billion — has faced criticism from human rights groups.

Additionally, the government has made headlines by denying entry to certain individuals, including Dutch athlete Steven van de Velde, a convicted child sex offender, under section 501 visa cancellation powers.

Key Takeaways from the MIA National Migration Conference 2025

In early October, the Migration Institute of Australia’s National Migration Conference was held in Melbourne. Chris Johnston from Work Visa Lawyers attended the event alongside our lawyer Shamsiya Mohammadi, gathering valuable insights about the government’s direction in migration policy.

Visa Processing and Backlogs

According to Damien Kilner from the Department of Home Affairs, the backlog of pending visa applications remains a serious challenge.

As of October 2025, there are:

• 58,000 pending Subclass 186 Employer-Sponsored Visa applications, compared to an annual target of 44,000 places.

• 98,000 pending Partner Visa applications, with an annual target of 40,500.

This means that the partner visa backlog is growing by approximately 25,000 applications per year, and without major reform, waiting times could extend to five years or more.

DAMA Update – More Regional Flexibility Ahead

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that it favours full-state DAMA agreements rather than fragmented regional ones.

This suggests that:

• Tasmania may soon receive its own state-wide DAMA.

• Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria could move toward full-state DAMAs, replacing the current patchwork approach with more consistent coverage.

This would provide greater flexibility for employers in regional areas to sponsor overseas workers under the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program.

Political Debate: Labour vs. Liberal on Migration Policy

The conference also featured a lively political debate between Labour and Liberal representatives.

Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, spoke about rebuilding a coherent migration system after years of inconsistent policies and underinvestment.

Hill confirmed that net overseas migration has fallen by more than 40%, returning to pre-COVID levels, and emphasised the economic importance of international students, who support over 250,000 Australian jobs.

He stated:

“Australia is not facing mass migration — our borders remain tightly controlled.”

Hill also criticised the opposition, saying the Liberals were:

“Both terrified of yet cuddling up to One Nation, calling for ‘massive cuts’ to migration, but never saying how or where that should occur.”

In response, Liberal Senator Paul Scarr, Shadow Minister for Immigration, took a more measured stance.

He argued that:

“Our immigration policy must be in our national interest. But, more than that, the debate in relation to immigration policy must be conducted in a way which is also in our national interest — it must not seek to inflame emotion.”

Scarr called for:

• Greater transparency in the migration program.

• A return to multi-year migration planning (which has not been reintroduced).

• Faster processing times for the new Skills in Demand (SID) 482 visa, which are currently exceeding expectations.

While both sides of politics offered valid points, the ongoing lack of certainty and predictability continues to affect Australian businesses and regional employers struggling with skill shortages — as well as visa applicants themselves seeking confidence in the system.

Where Are the Opportunities for Applicants?

Despite the cuts and backlogs, there are still strong opportunities in key sectors.

Under Ministerial Direction 105, healthcare professionals and teachers are being prioritised for skilled visa processing. 

The federal and state governments are also prioritising construction workers and tradespeople due to the housing crisis. 

For those outside these priority sectors, employer sponsorship or partner visas may be the most practical migration pathways.

Check out our blog “How to find a sponsor”. 

Rising Interest from U.S. Citizens

There has been a noticeable increase in protection visa applications from U.S. citizens between August 2024 and July 2025, according to Department of Home Affairs data.

Work Visa Lawyers has also assisted many U.S. citizens applying for partner visas, reflecting a growing interest in migration pathways to Australia from the United States.

National Innovation Visa Granted – Critical Technology 

The new National Innovation Visa (NIV) continues to show promising results.

In October, Work Visa Lawyers successfully obtained a National Innovation Visa grant for a client working in critical technologies (cyber security).

The processing time was impressively fast, the visa was lodged in August and granted in October, taking just two months.

If you are a global talent or entrepreneur working in high-tech or innovation sectors, you may be eligible for this visa.

You can check your eligibility with our Free NIV Assessment on the Work Visa Lawyers website.

What to Expect Next? 

Australia’s migration landscape is shifting rapidly, with significant cuts to state allocations, extended processing delays, and increasing political debate about migration levels.

While there is uncertainty, opportunities remain strong in healthcare, education, construction, and technology sectors.

At Work Visa Lawyers, we continue to monitor all official updates from the Department of Home Affairs and state and territory governments.

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube for short updates. 

Applying for an Australian Visa

If you want to discuss your specific situation or visa options, please book an appointment with one of our lawyers.

Our experienced team of immigration lawyers and registered migration agents can guide you through your best options.

Contact Work Visa Lawyers today to book a consultation and get personalised advice for your visa pathway.

Book an Appointment

Resicare’s Success Story: How Work Visa Lawyers Helped Solve Regional Workforce Shortages Through the DAMA Program

Finding and keeping skilled staff in regional Australia can be a major challenge, especially in some sectors such as disability care. For Resicare SA, a South Australian disability support provider, this issue became critical when many of their staff began moving back to Adelaide.

Thanks to expert guidance from Work Visa Lawyers, Resicare found a long-term solution through the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program, helping them rebuild their workforce and continue delivering essential care services across the state.

The Challenge: Regional Workforce Shortages

Resicare had been operating in regional South Australia for several years, but staffing became increasingly difficult.

As Finance and Operations Manager Haroon explained:

“Around two years ago, people started moving back to Adelaide. We had no options to ask them to stay or work for us, and our services were very impacted.”

Without qualified carers in regional areas, Resicare’s ability to support clients was at risk.

The Solution: Partnering with Work Visa Lawyers

That’s when Resicare contacted Work Visa Lawyers for help. After assessing the company’s situation and workforce needs, our team identified the DAMA program as the best solution.

The DAMA allows approved regional employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers under more flexible conditions, including occupations not usually available under standard visa programs.

With our support, Resicare successfully applied for and received DAMA endorsement, enabling them to sponsor skilled disability carers and rebuild their workforce.

Haroon shared:

“The biggest help we received from Work Visa Lawyers was to guide us through the right path — the DAMA program. We built our team, and it’s been more than a year now that we’ve been providing services all over South Australia.”

Expanding Services with Confidence

Resicare’s success under the DAMA has not only solved their immediate workforce shortages but also set them up for growth.

“If we had not received that help from Work Visa Lawyers, we would not be operating in regional areas,” Haroon said. “Now, our plan for this year is to expand our services to Mount Gambier and Naracoorte. We are again working with Work Visa Lawyers for our DAMA renewals.”

When asked if they would recommend Work Visa Lawyers, Haroon commented:

“Absolutely 100%. They are very professional, and we truly believe they can help others just as they helped us.”

About Resicare SA

Resicare SA provides a wide range of disability and community support services, including:

• Supported Independent Living (SIL)
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
• In-home and respite care
• Community participation and complex needs support

Their services extend across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Work Visa Lawyers and the DAMA Program

Work Visa Lawyers has extensive experience assisting employers across Australia to access skilled overseas workers through the DAMA program. Our team has supported a range of industries — including disability care, agriculture, hospitality, and construction — to meet their staffing needs and grow sustainably.

Here you can learn more about Labour Agreements and DAMAs.

We also have many videos on YouTube explaining the different DAMAs available in each state and territory. Check out our DAMA playlist.

If you or your business need assistance applying for a DAMA, please contact our team of experienced immigration lawyers and registered migration agents.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer