Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 11 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 29 Nov 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025

Effective 29 November 2025, technical amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 aligned the operational mechanics of the Skills in Demand visa — extending the Minister's power to cancel SID visas where sponsorship obligations are breached, updating sponsored-person definitions under labour agreements, clarifying employer-sponsor obligation termination circumstances, and ensuring overseas SID refusals are reviewable.

Who it affects: Technical compliance for SID 482 sponsors and applicants.

Parliament of Australia ↗ · Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Core Skills Income Threshold indexed to AUD 73,150 for 2025-26

The Core Skills Income Threshold rose to AUD 73,150/year for 2025-26 (indexed from AUD 70,000 initial) — an approximately 4.5% uplift. Specialist Skills threshold (AUD 135,000+) remains unchanged. Annual indexation is now the established pattern under the SID framework.

Who it affects: SID Core Skills applicants sponsored from 1 July 2025.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Core Skills Occupation List replaces legacy skilled lists

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — maintained by Jobs and Skills Australia — replaced the multiple legacy occupation lists (MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL) for SID Core Skills purposes. CSOL is designed to respond dynamically to labour-market-shortage indicators. Jobs and Skills Australia publishes updates at least annually; reconfirm before lodging.

Who it affects: Employers and applicants navigating the SID Core Skills stream.

Jobs and Skills Australia ↗ · Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Condition 8107 allows 180 days with other employers

The reformed Condition 8107 now allows SID 482 visa holders to cease work with their sponsor and work for any other employer for up to 180 days (or up to 1 year cumulatively over the visa's duration). Materially reduces the historic tied-to-sponsor vulnerability of employer-sponsored visa holders.

Who it affects: All SID 482 visa holders.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Work-experience requirement reduced from 2 years to 1 year

As part of the SID visa reform, the required prior work experience was reduced from 2 years to 1 year. Opens the SID pathway to applicants who would previously have been ineligible on work-experience grounds — particularly recent graduates and early-career specialists.

Who it affects: All SID 482 applicants.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaces TSS 482

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa replaced the former TSS visa on 7 December 2024 — the largest overhaul of employer-sponsored migration since 2018. Three streams: Core Skills (AUD 73,150 CSIT), Specialist Skills (AUD 135,000+), Essential Skills (Labour Agreement, rebranded for 2026). 4-year validity, direct path to PR via ENS, enhanced worker mobility.

Who it affects: All employer-sponsored temporary skilled migration from December 2024.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · Jobs and Skills Australia ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Global Talent visa (858) priority sectors realigned under SID

The Global Talent programme's priority sectors were realigned under the SID transition — confirmed focus on tech, health industries, agri-food, resources, defence/space, financial services, education. Salary benchmark updated in line with Fair Work High Income Threshold indexation. Core operational framework of the programme unchanged.

Who it affects: Exceptional-talent applicants in emerging priority sectors.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Business Innovation and Investment programme paused pending review

Most streams of the Business Innovation and Investment programme (subclass 188) were paused to new applications from 1 July 2024 pending a broader review. Remaining approvals continue to be processed for applications already in the pipeline. The review is expected to substantially reform the programme; timeline for reopening unclear as of April 2026.

Who it affects: Prospective Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188/888) applicants.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Post-Study Work visa (subclass 485) eligibility narrowed

The Post-Study Work visa's eligibility was narrowed from July 2024 — age limit reduced from 50 to 35 for most applicants, duration standardised (2 years for bachelor's/master's coursework, 3 years for master's research, 4 years for PhD), and the additional 2-year regional-extension removed for most recent graduates. Reverses several pandemic-era expansions.

Who it affects: International graduates of Australian higher-education institutions.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

International student visa compliance and eligibility tightened

A series of measures tightened international-student visa compliance from mid-2024: higher "genuine student" test threshold, increased financial capacity requirements, tightened Post-Study Work (subclass 485) eligibility, and provider-level caps on international enrolment via the ESOS Act amendments. Part of the Migration Strategy's broader response to post-pandemic student-visa volume surge.

Who it affects: International students and the higher-education sector.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · Parliament of Australia ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Working Holiday Maker (417/462) programme continuing structural changes

The Working Holiday Maker programme continues to operate through reciprocal bilateral agreements with 40+ countries. 2024–2025 changes include expanded age-eligibility (under 35 now standard for several countries, up from under 30), updated visa caps for several reciprocal partners, and refined second/third-year extension rules tied to designated regional employment.

Who it affects: Young travellers from eligible countries considering Working Holiday in Australia.

Department of Home Affairs (Australia) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19