News & Info

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Navigating your way through Australia's current travel restrictions Australia continues to impose strict border controls that limit the ability of many travellers to arrive in Australia.  The following article answers…

Far North Queensland DAMA: 2021 Changes Announced Significant changes have been made to the Cairns-based, Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA). Several of the main changes that…

The DHA's new Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) A Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) was created by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), based on expert advice from the…

Australia implements various visa initiatives to help Regional Australia during the COVID 19 Pandemic Australia’s regional economy has been hit hard by the COVID 19 Pandemic.  This is mostly because…

Now you can request your Australian - International Movement Records online. It is now possible for you to request your International Movement Records from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA)…

Major Partner Visa Program Changes announced in 2020 Federal Budget Several significant changes to the Australian partner visa program were announced by the federal government in last nights 2020 Budget. …

How do I get married in Australia? There are important procedures you must follow to ensure that your big day goes to plan and your marriage is legal. Whether you…

Long-distance relationships bloom – or bust Long-distance dating makes up an increasing chunk of today’s relationship demographic pie. You only need to look at the increase in internet dating and…

  Regional Visa changes Following on from pre-election announcements the Department of Home Affairs are moving forward with implementing a swag of changes to various visa programs. There is a…

  On July 1st the federal government announced changes to the Visa application Fees, Working Holiday Visas(Subclass 417)  and Working and Holiday Visas (Subclass 462). These changes reflect growing relationships…

Far North Queensland DAMA We are very pleased to announce the arrival of the latest DAMA, the FNQ DAMA. After months of advocating, research, information sessions and the preparation and…

It’s the luck of the Irish, and the Canadians, in recent changes to working holiday visas On November 1, the Federal Government announced an increase in the age limit to…

In a win-win for working holidaymakers and Australian farmers, the Australian government has just announced it will allow certain working holidaymaker (WHM) visa holders to stay in Australia for three…

Nursing shortage is good news for migrants and international students Nurses are the life blood of our health system. But unless there is a transfusion of new blood, the Australian…

With recent sweeping changes to several skilled visa processes, you may be asking "Is my job on the list?".  Immigration have introduced a combined occupation list covering all eligible occupations…

Choosing the right course for your future in Australia. If you want to live and work in Australia after you complete your higher education course, it is important you choose…

The Employer sponsored Skilled visa programs have all faced some fairly significant changes of late with one of the major introductions being mandatory relevant work experience. The Mandatory minimum work…

The wait is over After a nervous wait since the announcement of proposed citizenship law reforms in June, future Australian Citizens can now rest knowing their applications will be processed…

Thousands in Citizenship queue The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have over 81,000 citizenship applications awaiting processing as proposed changes are discussed in parliament. The new law, 'The Australian Citizenship…

A hub for travellers and locals alike After 15 years in the share accommodation business, Cairns Sharehouse is the place to stay. With different locations all within easy reach of the…

In June 2017, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) announced that they will be raising the age limit for working holiday makers (417 and 462 visa subclasses) from…

417 & 462 Visa Rumours Come to Life Whispers about immigration reform are reaching fever pitch around Australian backpacker hostels. From Cairns to Broome, Byron Bay to St. Kilda, the usual chatter about…

So far, 2017 has proven to bring a whirlwind of changes to temporary and permanent visa streams, with major citizenship reforms on the table as well. With all that is…

All Indian passport holders will have the option to lodge Visitor visa applications online from 1 July 2017, as part of the continued expansion of online access to Visitor visas…

The Department of Immigration and Border Protections (DIBP) have plans for a new temporary sponsored parental visa in the near future. This is good news for migrants hoping to sponsor…

The 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa is a permanent residence pathway for skilled migrants who want to work in regional Australia. The RSMS program is only available outside…

The recently announced 457 changes have spilled into the transition to permanent residency program. Current 457 visa holders can transition onto a 186 or 187 permanent visa after two years…

How to calculate specified subclass 462 work A question we get asked a lot is "How much work do I need to do in order to extend my 462 visa?",…

"I want to extend my 462 visa, but where is Northern Australia?!" A questioned echoed throughout the backpacker hostels of Australia. Northern Australia stems across the Northern Territory, Queensland and…

To apply for a second 462 Work and Holiday visa, you must have already completed three months of specified subclass 462 work in northern Australia. This work must have been…

You have filled in all the paperwork, gone through the whole immigration process, finally been granted your visa and arrived in Australia, now what? You are probably looking for a…

Immigration Takes Centre Stage in Australian Politics The Turnbull government made further immigration announcements in the wake of the news to axe the 457 visa program. The government is tightening…

Bold Move to Cut 457 Work Visa Scheme Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced today that the Federal Government intend to abolish the 457 visa and replace it with two new visas. Current…

The Australian immigration system accepts a number of different internationally accepted English testing systems to measure and rank applicants overall English ability. There are multiple testing systems used across the…

The Australian Department for Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have notified that from the 20th February 2017, the ability to lodge certain visa applications in person will the tightened. The following visas…

There are a selection of different pathways available for Australian citizens or permanent residents which to sponsor their foreign partner to reside with them in the land Down Under. The whole…

"How do you become an Australian permanent resident?" That is the golden question asked by many of our previous clients. The answer may take a number of different forms, depending…

Australia's Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton, has called for Australia's citizenship test to be bolstered. Mr. Dutton believes that a stronger test, as well as a greater focus on people’s ability to integrate…

Getting a visa can be a painful and convoluted process. As it happens, there are plenty of places around the world where Australian passports are waved on through with minimal…

On the 19th of November, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) changed the definition of the "Member of the Family Unit"(MOFU). Some Australian visas allow applicants to include…

Bill Shorten says he has a “comprehensive plan” to help unemployed Australians find a job, which includes cracking down on the 457 temporary visa program. The Labor leader said his…

Work and holiday visa holders are now eligible to stay for a second year working in Australia. Visa holders of a Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa can  apply for a second…

Australia, the land of plenty. Many migrants start their life in Australia with next to nothing, with the hope of making a new life full of opportunities. However, a select…

Over 50,000 Partner Visas Issued Annually Over 50,000 foreigners are sponsored by their Australian partners every year, making up a large sector of the annual migrant pool. Top 9 Countries…

The Parent visa allows Australian permanent residents or citizens to sponsor their parents to live in Australia. The federal government has been urged to impose a more substantial visa fee…

What is a Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)? The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) is for people who want to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse. The Subclass…

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) sees value in having skilled people from around the world come to Australia to work and live. DIBP have implemented a…

International students of science, technology, engineering, mathematical disciplines (STEM) as well as information technology (IT) have been afforded an easier pathway to permanent residency. There are also plans to introduce…

A study by Henley & Partners has ranked Australia as having the 8th most powerful passport in the world. Holding an Australian passport will allow you to enter 169 countries…

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has introduced a new, “simplified student visa framework” (SSVF), reducing the number of student visa subclasses from eight to two. The student visa…

Immigration was a frontline issue for many in the UK as the recent referendum called for a “Brexit”, voting in favour to leave the European Union. The Brits are now…

Skilled migrants almost accounted for 70 per cent of the 190,000 places in Australia’s 2014-15 migration programme. Australia’s skilled migration programme controls the range and amount of workers moving to the country, and…

The Australian Government says it will test changes to visa arrangements in key markets in a bid to boost visitor and investor numbers. The announcement was made during this year's federal…

London’s eclectic mayor has called for a visa free migration bloc between “like minded” nations, where residents are free to work and live where they please. The drive to have…

Australia’s population has exceeded 24 million for the first time, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) yesterday. The milestone was predicted to have occurred at 12:50am (AEDT)…

Australia Day 2016 saw one of the largest number of new Australian citizen’s pledge allegiance to the land down under. In fact, over 16,000 people from 154 countries were conferred…

Thousands of workers’ flock to Australia from the far corners of the world to work and travel for a year (or more). As those reading this might know, a popular…

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Subclass 187 visa was a visa available to skilled workers who had been offered sponsorship in regional Australia – outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong,…