DHA Australia issue EOI invitations – August 2025

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Subclass 189 visa invitations issued 

On the 22nd August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) issued invitations for Skilled Indepedent (Subclass 189) visa.

Occupations

As of posting, the DHA haven’t released the formal details of the occupations or points required.  We will provide these, when they are.

However from our experience,  client feedback and our industry collegaues  the occupation categories that recieved invitations include:

  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Construction professionals
  • Engineering
  • Trades
  • Scientists
  • Business professionals

Our take away 

After a significant period of time since the last Subclass 189 invitation round — November 2024 – this news is highly welcomed and a long time overdue.

It is understood that there is still room in migration cap numbers for further invitations during the 2025-26 financial year. The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June.

Whilst the date of the next invite round is not known, if you want to be considered for the next invitation round, you should look at act promptly.  There are some steps that need to be undertaken. Which, on average, can take a number of months.

In addition, applicants may also be considered for state/territory nominated visa. These are the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa.

As reported recently, 8th August 2025, these  state nomionated visas haven’t opened yet for 2025-26. However they are likely to soon.

If you want to be considered for any further invitation rounds, or state nominted visas,  then please Contact Us for an assessment and assistance.

#189 #GSM #EOI #invitations #occupations #Australia

Update – Australia state nominated skilled visas for 2025-26

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State/territority skilled occupation lists still to be confirmed 

The states & territories are still to release their occupation lists for their state nominated skilled visas for 2025 to 2026.

The state nominated visas  include the following:

  • Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) Visa – Nomination by a state/territory

As mentioned previously, these programs have been closed for a a number of months.

When  any of the states confirm thier skilled occupation lsits we will  post on this website  as soon as we can.

Do you want to register your interest for a state nominated visa? 

If you have any questions, would like  to dicuss if you may be eligible for a state nominated visa please Contact Us.

” Ban on Australians leaving the country will be dropped as early as November 2021″

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UPDATE: Australian Business & Investor visa programs – July 2020

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UPDATE: Business & Investor visa visa program – July 2020 

As with the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program the business and investor program is currently being reviewed by the DHA. It is expected that it will re-open in the coming weeks & months.

At the stage it there have been no changes announced to the visas themselves, just when the program will reopen. If you are interested in knowing what your business or investor visa options are please get in touch.

We can still provide visa options, discuss your plans, confirm what is required by applicants, introduce you to our partners, (eg. VC ensure Capital providers) and look to prepare submissions upon re-opening of the visa program.

An overview of the states/territories nomination status as of now is below:

ACT – The ACT nomination program is currently suspended.  Any submitted applications will not be processed until further notice. 

NEW SOUTH WALES – NSW is currently closed to applications for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP). NSW will open to new nominations once the DHA provides NSW with an allocation of positions for 2020-21

NORTHERN TERRITORY – At this stage all Business Investment and Innovation Program nomination applications will continue to be accepted and assessed, but no nominations can be issued until the Northern Territory has been allocated quotas.

QUEENSLAND  – The business migration program will remain closed until further notice. Please note:  BSMQ are not accepting any Expressions of Interests and look forward to opening the business program as soon as is possible.

TASMANIA – The Tasmanian Business Nomination Program is currently being reviewed. Tasmania have confirmed with us that they hope to have this review completed and new requirements published by the end of August 2020.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Business Migration programs are scheduled to re-open from early August. This will be dependent on the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for program year 2020-21. 

VICTORIA 

The Victorian Government’s state nomination program will remain temporarily closed while we await the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for 2020-21.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – All State nomination places from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for Western Australia have now been allocated. They are not accepting any new applications for subclasses 188 or 132 until further notice.

If you want to discuss how you are effected, your current visa application or your visa options going forward please Contact Us. 

  • Office: +44 (0)800772 0570
  • Mobile: + 44 (0)7710 649194
  • Email: mark@cargilmigration.com

 

UPDATE: General Skilled Migration (GSM) program – July 2020 

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UPDATE: General Skilled Migration (GSM) program – July 2020 

In recent times there has been significant reduction in number of invitations issued to applicants to apply for a GSM visa. This has been based on a general reduction in visas invitations offered by the DHA and – understandably – the effects of COVID19. 

Whilst there appear to have been no formal announcements by the DHA, the GSM program has to a certain extent been put on hold as of 1st July, 2020. This date marks the new Australian financial year.

It is understood that the Australia government is considering how best to shape the migration program post COVID19.

A key part of the post COVID19 GSM program will be the state/territory nominated visas, namely the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) & the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491).

If you are an applicant who has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), or you hope to apply in the future, you can however be confident that the program will re-open soon and states/territories will be able to provide clarification about their programs. 

An overview of the states/territories nomination status as of now is below:

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT) 

The ACT have advised that the guidelines for for any nomination applications submitted for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa after 1 July, 2020  are “To be advised”. 

NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW)

NSW is currently closed for accepting any nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491).

NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT)

At this stage, onshore GSM nomination applications will continue to be accepted and assessed, but no nominations can be issued until the Northern Territory has been allocated quotas for the 2020/21 financial year. 

QUEENSLAND 

The Queensland State Nomination Skilled Program is closed. This includes both the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) (subclass 190) visas. Queensland has not yet received advice fromDHA in regards to their nomination allocation for financial year 2020/21 and when we they be able to re-open the skilled program.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA)

SA is currently closed for accepting any nomination applications for the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). It is scheduled to re-open from early August. This will be dependent on the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for program year 2020/21. 

TASMANIA

Tasmania is currently not issuing any nominations under the Skilled Migration program, for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) as the nomination quotas are yet to be allocated to the States by the Commonwealth Government for the 2020/21 program year.

VICTORIA 

The Victorian Government’s state nomination program will remain temporarily closed while they await the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for 2020/21.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia have made no specific comments with regards to their nomination program. 

If you want to discuss how you are effected, your current visa application or your visa options going forward please Contact Us.

Australia – New arrangements for travellers from overseas

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Australia introduce new measures to reduce community transmission of COVID-19

Australian have continued to develop their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Australian travel restrictions announced last week the Australian government have announced further measures

All travellers entering Australia are now be required to undertake their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities. These facilities will be determined by each state and territory and may be hotels.

The details provided on the DHA website are as below.

  • From 23:59 AEDT on 28 March 2020 all people entering Australia will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival
  • Travellers will be transported directly to designated facilities after appropriate immigration, customs and enhanced health checks.
  • Designated facilities will be determined by the relevant state or territory government and will ordinarily be in the city of entry where the traveller has cleared immigration, but facilities in other areas may be used if requireFor further information see New arrangements for arrivals from overseas​.​​

          Restrictions in place until: Further notice

If you want to discuss how this may effect your Australian travel plans, current visa application or current visa status please Contact Us.

Australian Travel Restrictions as of 20th March 2020

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COVID-19 and Australian travel restrictions

Due to the worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic we are all living in unprecedented times.

As a response the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) have been constantly changing their policies to reflect how the pandemic is evolving and who can travel to Australia.

Current Travel Restrictions

Initially restrictions were limited to applicants who were travelling from, or had recently travelled to China, South Korea, Iran & Italy.

As of 9pm, 20th March 2020, the restrictions were expanded to the below:

Australian Permanent Residents & Australian Citizens can continue to enter Australia. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

  • New Zealand Citizens who are usually reside in Australia are not restricted from entering. They will need to show proof of residency such as a drivers licence or other documents showing an Australian address. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
  • Immediate Family members of citizens or permanent residents can enter as long as they hold or obtain a valid visa for entry. In addition, visa holders will also need to seek exemption form the DHA to travel. They must self isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
    • Without visa – You can’t come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and include proof (such as your marriage certificate, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children). If the DHA allow you to travel, you will need to self isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
    • With a temporary visa (except for Partner and Child visa holders) – Attach proof (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your de-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children) and request an exemption. Do not travel until the DHA advise that you can. You will need to self isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
  • Partner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) & Child (subclasses 101, 102, 445) visa holders can come to Australia. You do not need to request an exemption. You will need to self-isolate for 14 days, at home or in a hotel.
  • Temporary Residents and Temporary Visa Holders who are currently outside of Australia and are not a family member of a citizen or permanent resident, will not be able to re-enter Australia. Their visas will not be cancelled unless they attempt to enter.
  • Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can’t travel to Australia at present.

If you want to discuss how this may effect your Australian travel plans or current visa status please Contact Us.