October at Nomos
October has been one of our busiest months yet! Here’s our snapshot of the key events this month:
-
- Nomos has moved to a new office! We are excited to announce that, after 7 fantastic years in our previous office, we have moved to a new space. In fact, we were so happy in our last office that we’ve stayed in the same building. We can now be found at Suite 601/109 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. We look forward to welcoming our clients, colleagues and friends to our new home!
-
- Throughout the second half of the year, there has been a noticeable slowdown in processing times at the Department of Home Affairs. Despite this slowing down, in October we saw further grants in the SID and TSS (subclass 482) and Resident Return (subclass 155) visa categories, as well as more positive Australian citizenship application outcomes for our clients.
-
- Recently released data has offered insight into current trends in employer-driven visas, particularly the Skills in Demand (SID) and Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) programs. Since its launch in December 2024 to replace the Temporary Skills Shortage visa, the SID program has seen strong uptake, with 110,203 applications lodged and 55,859 visas granted as of 31 August 2025. The Core Skills stream accounts for 77% of lodgements (84,836 applications) with 39,259 grants, while the Specialist Skills stream represents 12.9% (14,221 lodgements, 12,061 grants) and the Labour Agreement stream 10.1% (11,156 lodgements, 4,539 grants). The leading Core Skills occupations, as of August, include Food Trades Workers, Automotive Electricians and Mechanics, and Business and Systems Analysts and Programmers, while the top Specialist Skills occupations are Medical Practitioners, Business and Systems Analysts and Programmers, and Engineering Professionals. Demand has also increased significantly, with ENS Temporary Residence Transition applications also rising, underscoring ongoing demand across key skilled sectors.
-
- Amidst growing national concern about Australia’s immigration framework, Dr Abul Rizvi – journalist for Independent Australia and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration – has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the ongoing visa backlog and broader migration program, describing current policy settings as fragmented and reactive. Dr Rizvi notes that while the Government has maintained the 2025-26 migration program intake at the same level as the previous year, visa backlogs remain a significant issue, particularly in the Partner visa stream, which is projected to reach around 120,000 decision-ready applications by June 2026. In an article that reads as an open letter to both the Department and the Minister, Dr Rizvi outlines several policy options, some of which have been discussed before: increasing Partner visa places without reducing numbers in other categories (politically risky), cutting places from other streams such as skilled migration (economically risky), or separating the Partner visa stream from the broader program entirely. Rather than continuing to defer these challenges – a course that risks legal and administrative repercussions – Dr Rizvi calls for a holistic, long-term strategy that integrates management of both net migration and the permanent program. Without such reform, he warns, Australia faces escalating policy volatility and community tension.
-
- A recent visa refusal involving Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde came to public attention ahead of the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, scheduled for November. The visa was refused by the Minister for Home Affairs on character grounds, citing van de Velde’s prior conviction for child rape in the Netherlands, for which he served a prison sentence before returning to international competition. The Hon Tony Burke MP publicly affirmed the Department’s decision, emphasising that Australia will exercise its discretion to protect community safety and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the immigration system. This case underscores Australia’s strict approach to character assessment in visa decision-making, reinforcing the principle that no individual – including elite athletes – is exempt from scrutiny under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Australian immigration law is complex, and character-related issues add an additional layer of challenge. If you require advice on managing a potential character concern, please contact our office to arrange a consultation with one of our experienced immigration lawyers.
-
- Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has publicly opposed the Federal Government’s proposed reduction in the State-Nominated Migration Program, which would see allocated places decrease from 5,000 to approximately 3,400 in WA in the 2025–26 program year. Premier Cook emphasised that WA’s construction sector and broader economy rely heavily on skilled migrant workers and highlighted the state’s unique labour and infrastructure demands, including large-scale projects such as the upcoming AUKUS shipbuilding hub near Perth. Despite the Premier’s objections, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to prioritising the national interest, noting that the proposed allocation changes will not immediately affect the number of visas granted in 2025–26, but rather the number of new applications that states can invite. This adjustment effectively increases competition for state nomination places, underscoring the need for prospective skilled migrants to present the strongest possible applications. For guidance on navigating the nomination process and maximising your prospects, please contact our team for tailored advice.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for October. 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.
