The law that is coming, by visa.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: Under regulation 5.42A, if the indexation factor for an indexation day is greater than 1, the core skills and specialist skills income thresholds are replaced on that day by indexed amounts. An indexation day is each 1 July, and the Secretary must publish the replacement amounts on the Department's website. The new amounts are not known until then, and none are stated here. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 288) (F2026C00667), reg 5.42A(1), (5) and (6). Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: Under regulation 5.42A, if the indexation factor for an indexation day is greater than 1, the core skills and specialist skills income thresholds are replaced on that day by indexed amounts. An indexation day is each 1 July, and the Secretary must publish the replacement amounts on the Department's website. The new amounts are not known until then, and none are stated here. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 288) (F2026C00667), reg 5.42A(1), (5) and (6). Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2029

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/051 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2029 under Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 (F2019L00278), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2030

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/210 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2030 under Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019 (F2019L01400), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 October 2035

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 25/016 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 October 2035 under Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) Instrument 2025 (F2025L00905), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced a revised points test under which a housing-trade qualification would attract the same points as a university qualification. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

Takes effect 1 April 2029

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/051 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2029 under Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 (F2019L00278), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2030

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/210 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2030 under Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019 (F2019L01400), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 October 2035

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 25/016 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 October 2035 under Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) Instrument 2025 (F2025L00905), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced a revised points test under which a housing-trade qualification would attract the same points as a university qualification. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced a ballot for second and third working holiday years, limited to 45,000 places for year two and 5,000 for year three. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced a ballot for second and third working holiday years, limited to 45,000 places for year two and 5,000 for year three. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: Under regulation 5.42A, if the indexation factor for an indexation day is greater than 1, the core skills and specialist skills income thresholds are replaced on that day by indexed amounts. An indexation day is each 1 July, and the Secretary must publish the replacement amounts on the Department's website. The new amounts are not known until then, and none are stated here. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 288) (F2026C00667), reg 5.42A(1), (5) and (6). Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2032

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 22/022 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2032 under Migration (Designated regional areas for certain skilled and temporary graduate visas) Instrument (LIN 22/022) 2022 (F2022L00231), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, partly law: The Minister announced that family members will no longer be attached to student or graduate visas, with exceptions described for the Pacific, ASEAN nations and certain courses such as PhDs. No start date was given. For Subclass 500, part of this is law from 2 October 2026 under the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (Schedule 1 items 1 to 6, 9, 10 and 15 to 18): paragraph 1222(3)(da) of Schedule 1 lets a family member apply for a Subclass 500 visa only in the cases it lists, among them a student who is a Defence student or a Foreign Affairs student or holds a passport from a Pacific-regional country or a country specified in subitem 1222(5A), and family members already in Australia in the circumstances subparagraphs (ii) to (v) set out. For Subclass 500, part of this is law from 2 October 2026 under the Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/087) (Schedule 1 item 13, inserting sections 20 and 21 of LIN 20/158): sections 20 and 21 of LIN 20/158 specify the family of a student whose course or courses are fully funded by a foreign government and the family of a doctoral student, but each is made for the purposes of subparagraph 1222(3)(d)(vi) of Schedule 1, which does not exist, rather than subparagraph 1222(3)(da)(vi). Whether these exceptions operate as intended is unresolved, so a case that relies on one of them needs professional review. The rest (for Subclass 485) is not law: when the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing further implementing it was registered, so the rest is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

Takes effect 1 April 2029

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/051 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2029 under Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 (F2019L00278), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2030

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 19/210 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2030 under Migration (LIN 19/210: Pool and Pass Marks for General Skilled Migration Visas) Instrument 2019 (F2019L01400), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 April 2032

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 22/022 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 April 2032 under Migration (Designated regional areas for certain skilled and temporary graduate visas) Instrument (LIN 22/022) 2022 (F2022L00231), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 October 2035

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 25/016 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 October 2035 under Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) Instrument 2025 (F2025L00905), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced a revised points test under which a housing-trade qualification would attract the same points as a university qualification. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: The temporary skilled migration income threshold may first be indexed under regulation 5.42A on 1 July 2027, and on each later 1 July, if the indexation factor for that day is greater than 1. The new amount is not known until then, and none is stated here. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 288) (F2026C00667), Sch 13 item 16402. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: Under National Code Standard 7.1, which is subject to Standard 7.1A, a receiving provider that Standard 7.1.2 covers must not knowingly enrol an overseas student seeking to transfer from another registered provider's course, on or before 30 June 2027, unless the student has completed at least twelve months of their principal course with the releasing provider. On or after 1 July 2027 Standard 7.1.3 sets that period at six months. Under Standard 7.1A the receiving provider may enrol the student without the waiting period if the releasing provider or the course has ceased to be registered, an ESOS agency sanction on the releasing provider prevents the student continuing there, the releasing provider has agreed to the release, recorded it in PRISMS and followed its Standard 7.2 transfer policy, or a government sponsor has given written support for the change. Standard 7.1.1 sets a separate rule where the releasing provider is an approved school provider: the first six months of the student's first registered school sector course with it must have passed. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students Amendment (Overseas Student Transfers) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01351), s 2 and Sch 1 item 2 (Standards 7.1 and 7.1A). Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 October 2030

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 20/158 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 October 2030 under Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Instrument 2020 (F2020L00955), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 October 2036

Due to be repealed (sunset): The Federal Register lists LIN 26/102 as due to be repealed under section 50 of the Legislation Act 2003 (sunsetting), unless it is remade or repealed earlier. It takes effect on 1 October 2036 under Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01348), Legislation Act 2003 s 50. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, partly law: The Minister announced that family members will no longer be attached to student or graduate visas, with exceptions described for the Pacific, ASEAN nations and certain courses such as PhDs. No start date was given. For Subclass 500, part of this is law from 2 October 2026 under the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (Schedule 1 items 1 to 6, 9, 10 and 15 to 18): paragraph 1222(3)(da) of Schedule 1 lets a family member apply for a Subclass 500 visa only in the cases it lists, among them a student who is a Defence student or a Foreign Affairs student or holds a passport from a Pacific-regional country or a country specified in subitem 1222(5A), and family members already in Australia in the circumstances subparagraphs (ii) to (v) set out. For Subclass 500, part of this is law from 2 October 2026 under the Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/087) (Schedule 1 item 13, inserting sections 20 and 21 of LIN 20/158): sections 20 and 21 of LIN 20/158 specify the family of a student whose course or courses are fully funded by a foreign government and the family of a doctoral student, but each is made for the purposes of subparagraph 1222(3)(d)(vi) of Schedule 1, which does not exist, rather than subparagraph 1222(3)(da)(vi). Whether these exceptions operate as intended is unresolved, so a case that relies on one of them needs professional review. The rest (for Subclass 485) is not law: when the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing further implementing it was registered, so the rest is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, partly law: The Minister announced a rule that a student moving to a further course may only move up the qualification scale. No start date was given. For Subclass 500, part of this is law from 2 October 2026 under the Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/087) (Schedule 1 item 13, inserting section 19 of LIN 20/158): section 19 of LIN 20/158 is one of the classes of Subclass 500 holders who may apply in Australia for a further Subclass 500 visa: a holder who has completed their principal course and is enrolled in a further course that, where the principal course has an AQF level, has a higher one. It governs only where that application can be made and is not a general rule on changing courses. The rest is not law: when the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing further implementing it was registered, so the rest is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 17 September 2026

Announced, not yet law: The Minister announced that a no-further-stay provision will be attached to visitor visas issued in future, and said it does not affect people already here. No start date was given. When the Federal Register was last checked (2026-10-02) nothing implementing this was registered, so it is not applied to anything shown here. It may change your position once it commences, so check for a start date before you rely on the current rules for a future application.

Takes effect 1 November 2026

Registered, not yet in force: A registered instrument specifies, for subitem 1227(1) and paragraph 1227(3)(a) of Schedule 1, the approved form and the place and manner for making a Maritime Crew (Temporary) (Class ZM) visa application, and repeals the Specification of Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications 2016/115. It commences on 1 November 2026. It takes effect on 1 November 2026 under Migration (Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/025) (F2026L01300), s 2, s 6 and Sch 2 item 1. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

Takes effect 1 July 2027

Scheduled by registered law: The fees for applying for review of a reviewable migration decision (regulation 4.13A) and of a reviewable protection decision (regulation 4.31BA) increase on each 1 July when the latest CPI number is greater than the earlier CPI number for the period. The new amounts are not stated here. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 under Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 288) (F2026C00667), regs 4.13A, 4.13B(1) and 4.31BA. Until then the current rules apply and are the ones applied here. Checked against the Federal Register on 2026-10-02.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 30 March 2026

A bill before the Parliament, not law: A private member's bill before the House of Representatives would amend the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to provide for a court to order the cessation of a person's Australian citizenship where the person holds two or more citizenships and is convicted of a terrorism offence. It was introduced on 30 March 2026 (Australian Citizenship Amendment (Stripping Terrorists of Australian Citizenship) Bill 2026 (r7460)) and, when this register was last checked (2026-10-02), had not passed both Houses. A bill changes nothing unless it is passed, receives the Royal Assent and commences, so it is not applied to anything shown here.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 1 July 2026

A bill before the Parliament, not law: A government bill, passed by the House of Representatives and before the Senate, would amend the Migration Act 1958 to require applications to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review of certain decisions to be made using an approved form, to require identity verification for certain matters, and to let the Tribunal give reasons for its decisions orally. It was introduced on 1 July 2026 (Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (r7516)) and, when this register was last checked (2026-10-02), had not passed both Houses. A bill changes nothing unless it is passed, receives the Royal Assent and commences, so it is not applied to anything shown here.

No start day fixed; at this stage since 20 August 2026

A bill before the Parliament, not law: A private senator's bill before the Senate would amend the Migration Act 1958 to require persons entering Australia to answer specified questions about organ transplants undertaken outside Australia. It was introduced on 20 August 2026 (Migration Amendment (Overseas Organ Transplant Disclosure) Bill 2026 (s1511)) and, when this register was last checked (2026-10-02), had not passed both Houses. A bill changes nothing unless it is passed, receives the Royal Assent and commences, so it is not applied to anything shown here.