April at Nomos
As we move further into the year, April has reinforced a number of emerging trends in the immigration space, with a mix of policy developments and operational challenges shaping the landscape across both Australia and New Zealand. Below are some of the key developments from the past month:
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- While processing delays at the DHA continue to slow decisions, April has nonetheless delivered a number of positive outcomes for our clients. Over the past month, we have seen further grants across the Skills in Demand (‘SID’) (subclass 482) and Partner (subclass 820/801) visa categories, along with additional successful Australian citizenship outcomes.
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- The Department of Home Affairs (‘DHA’) held its quarterly stakeholder meeting at the end of March, highlighting a range of ongoing issues across the migration program. A major focus was the Government’s response to the situation in the Middle East, including the introduction of Arrival Control Determinations (‘ACDs’), which may prevent certain offshore visa holders from entering Australia despite holding valid visas, subject to limited exemptions (for further detail, see our March 2026 wrap-up blog). Processing delays remain a consistent challenge, with impacts observed across bridging visas, the addition of newborn dependants, and employer-sponsored visa programs. High application volumes – particularly across the Skills in Demand (‘SID’) and Employer Nomination Scheme (‘ENS’) visa categories – were identified as a primary driver, alongside incomplete applications, with approximately 58% of applications requiring further information requests. This continues to highlight the importance of lodging decision-ready applications. To mitigate travel disruption caused by processing delays, Bridging Visa B (‘BVB’) grants are now being issued with extended validity periods – up to two years for SID (subclass 482) applicants and up to five years for ENS (subclass 186) applicants. Temporary visa programs also face pressure: Subclass 400 processing has slowed following offshore processing changes, while Student visa refusal rates remain elevated at 20–25%, contributing to ongoing backlogs at the Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’). Overall, the system continues to experience high demand, processing delays, and integrity-focused settings, making forward planning more important than ever.
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- At the beginning of April, new legislation came into effect as part of a broader crackdown on misconduct within the migration advice industry. The reforms are aimed at strengthening the regulation of Registered Migration Agents (‘RMAs’), enhancing consumer protections and improving overall system integrity. A key feature of the changes is the expansion of the regulatory powers of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (‘OMARA’), enabling it to take more decisive action against agents who engage in unethical or unlawful conduct. This includes enhanced investigation and enforcement capabilities, as well as improved information-sharing arrangements with other government bodies. The reforms also target unregistered providers of immigration assistance – a longstanding concern within the industry – by increasing penalties and broadening the scope of who may be captured under the regulatory framework. For clients, the changes are intended to provide greater confidence that migration advice is being delivered by appropriately qualified and regulated professionals.
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- In New Zealand, important changes to the conditions attached to open work visas, first announced earlier this year, came into effect on 20 April 2026. Immigration New Zealand (‘INZ’) has formalised a clearer distinction between two categories of open work rights: those that allow visa holders to work for almost any employer in any role, and those that impose employer-specific or role-specific conditions despite being classified as “open” visas. The changes are intended to improve transparency for both visa holders and employers, while strengthening compliance across the labour market. For employers, this provides greater clarity around hiring eligibility and associated obligations, particularly where a visa holder may be restricted to a specific employment arrangement. For visa holders, it underscores the importance of understanding the precise conditions attached to their visa, as assumptions around unrestricted work rights may no longer apply. These updates form part of a broader trend by INZ to tighten oversight of temporary migration settings while maintaining flexibility across key pathways. Employers should ensure that employment arrangements align with visa conditions, and visa holders should seek advice where uncertainty exists. For tailored guidance on these changes, please contact us to arrange a consultation with Victoria Stevenson, who is a New Zealand Licenced Immigration Adviser.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for April. See you next month!
*All information is general information only, as at the date of publication, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. For an accurate and current assessment of your circumstances and visa options, please contact us to receive this advice.
