August 2025 wrap-up

• • We were very pleased this month to witness more approvals for our clients in the SID and TSS (subclass 482), Temporary Work (subclass 400) and Partner (subclass 801) visa categories, along with more standard business sponsorship approvals and more successful Australian citizenship applications.

• • The Department of Home Affairs (‘DHA) has released its Temporary Resident (Skilled) report for the financial year ending 30 June 2025, offering fresh insight into the latest trends in skilled migration. The data reveals a sharp rise in demand for the program, with applications jumping from 64,100 in the previous year to 86,420 – an increase of over 34%. The report identifies Accommodation & Food Services (19.6%) and Healthcare & Social Assistance (14.4%) as the top industries tapping into the subclass 482 stream, and reveals that Technicians & Trade Workers dominate the program, making up 41.3% of applications, followed by Professionals at 37%. Some of the most striking year-on-year changes were seen in specific job types. Applications for Community & Personal Service Workers surged by a staggering 149%, while those for Machinery Operators & Drivers rose by 132%. Although the report does not confirm this directly, such spikes may be linked to an increase in the use of labour agreements, which allow for more tailored access to overseas workers in specific industries or roles. The report also sheds light on salary trends, with Western Australia topping the chart for highest average skilled migrant salaries, followed by Tasmania – a notable shift from more traditionally dominant states like New South Wales and Victoria. The top five nominated occupations that received visa grants for the year were: Chef, Resident Medical Officer, Motor Mechanic (General), roles ‘specified in a labour agreement’, and Software Engineer – a mix reflecting both Australia’s ongoing skills shortages and the diverse needs of the economy. If you are considering any employer sponsored visas, including via a labour agreement, get in touch to discover how we can assist you.

• • A report released mid-month by the Commonwealth Ombudsman revealed that at least 11 people were wrongfully detained between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 due to errors by the DHA. Among those affected were an Australian citizen and one individual who wrongfully spent 18 months in detention before being released. The report points to an enduring “act first, check later” culture within the DHA as a key factor behind these failings. According to the Ombudsman, 90% of the wrongful detention cases could have been avoided had existing policies simply been followed. Poor record-keeping and a failure to resolve conflicting information were identified as the main causes of these preventable errors. While such mistakes may seem easily fixable to those outside the immigration system, they can have devastating consequences. In one notable case from 2018, a man was wrongly detained for four years after receiving an invalid visa refusal notice – a mistake repeated in the 2023–24 period, though in that instance, the individual was thankfully released after one week. These types of errors have been recurring since monitoring began in 2005. Under the law, immigration officials are permitted to detain a person if they know or reasonably suspect that the individual is an unlawful non-citizen. However, the report suggests that a culture of procedural carelessness, first identified in 2007, continues to persist. In 81% of reviewed cases, staff assumed someone else had already made the decision to detain and failed to independently form their own reasonable suspicion. Whether the Ombudsman’s findings will lead to systemic change within DHA remains uncertain. For personal accounts from those affected, including Filipino-born Australian citizen Vivian Alvarez, see the Sydney Morning Herald’s full article here.

• • Compassion and common sense have prevailed, as 33-year-old Indian citizen Saurabh Anand has been granted a new visa, allowing him to remain in Australia for ongoing medical treatment after surviving a brutal machete attack in July. The assault, which reportedly took place at a shopping centre in Altona Meadows, Victoria, involved five teenagers – including one as young as 15 – who were later arrested in connection with the incident. Before the attack, Mr Anand was expected to leave Australia when his temporary visa expired at the end of August. However, the Department of Home Affairs granted him a new Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, providing a further two years of stay. The decision was made on compassionate grounds, in recognition of the severity of his injuries and the circumstances surrounding the attack. You can find more detail on Mr Anand’s story via the ABC News article here.

• • Immigration New Zealand has announced the launch of the new Business Investor Visa (‘BIV’), opening for applications in November 2025. The BIV is designed for experienced businesspeople who want to invest in and grow established New Zealand businesses. This new pathway makes residency more accessible than ever, addressing the high investment thresholds that limited previous investor visa options. With two flexible investment tiers, the BIV offers a direct route to permanent residency:
    
    – Invest NZD $1 million or more in an established business and follow a three-year work-to-residence pathway, or
    
    – Invest NZD $2 million or more and gain access to a fast-tracked 12-month pathway to permanent residency.

    This is a significant opportunity for ambitious investors looking to build their future in New Zealand while contributing to the local economy. Contact us today to discuss whether the Business Investor Visa is the right pathway for you.

That’s the Nomos wrap-up for August. 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.