Breaking Australian Immigration Update – Insights from the Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs has released the 15th Edition of the Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs, offering a comprehensive overview of how Australia’s migration and citizenship systems performed during the 2024–25 financial year. This period marked significant reform, stabilization, and recalibration following the disruptions of the pandemic years.

Key Highlights

• Visa Applications: A total of 9.48 million visa applications were lodged, a 1.7% increase from 2023–24. The Department finalized 9.45 million applications, with a 7.3% refusal rate.

• Temporary Visas: The number of temporary visa holders grew by 3.5%, reaching 2.78 million, driven by high demand for skilled and working-holiday programs.

• Net Overseas Migration (NOM): NOM eased to 316,000 by March 2025, a sharp decline from the post-COVID peak of 556,000. Forecasts suggest a gradual moderation to 225,000 by 2028–29.

• Student Visa Reforms: Reforms including the genuine-student test, higher English and financial thresholds, and the end of COVID concessions resulted in a 26% decrease in student visa lodgements.

• New Visa Pathways: The Skills in Demand (SID) and National Innovation visas launched on 7 December 2024, replacing the TSS program and directly addressing critical workforce shortages.

• Working Holiday Surge: Working-Holiday Maker visas increased by 37%, while bridging visa holders rose 24%, reflecting ongoing transition and processing adjustments.

• Migration Program Quota: The 2024–25 Migration Program achieved its full target of 185,000 places, comprising 71% Skilled and 28% Family streams.

• Top Source Countries: India, China, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka led as the main contributors to Australia’s migrant intake.

Policy Directions

The report emphasizes a shift toward balance and integrity in the migration system, focusing on:

• Reducing Net Overseas Migration through the closure of pandemic-era visas and managing “permanent temporariness” pathways.

• Strengthening international education quality and compliance.

• Prioritizing targeted, fast-tracked skilled migration to fill verified labour shortages.

• Expanding regional migration and labour-agreement programs such as Aged Care ILA, PALM, and the MATES scheme.

• Upholding migrant worker protection and community safety under integrity and character programs.

Looking Ahead

For 2025–26, the Migration Program will maintain its level at 185,000 places—132,200 Skilled and 52,500 Family. Long-term reforms will align visa planning with advice from Jobs & Skills Australia, expand essential-skills pathways, and refine regional migration policies to better meet local workforce needs.

Australian immigration update is entering a new phase of balance, prioritizing global talent attraction, economic resilience, and policy integrity to support sustainable national growth. For further assistance contact Asif Consulting.