Visa law, explained by the people who lodge it.
Rule changes, thresholds, evidence and the mistakes behind refusals, for the 482, the 186 and partner visas. Written by our lawyers, not a content agency.
What we track
- Government chargesvisa application charges and levieseach July
- Income thresholdsindexed annuallyCSIT, SSIT
- Occupation listsCore Skills Occupation List456 codes
- Processing timesas the Department publishes themmonthly
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Where You Stand on Lodgement Day Decides Everything: 820/801 Versus 309/100
Partner visa pathways for 2026: the onshore 820/801 and offshore 309/100 compared, who can apply, condition 8503, and what the $11,710 charge covers.
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Occupation, Points, Flexibility: The Three Questions That Pick Your Skilled Visa
How to choose between the 189, 190, 491 and sponsorship in 2026: occupation, points and flexibility, charges from $6,135, and a points self-check.
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Netball World Cup Sydney 2027: The 408 Visa for Squads and Officials, and When an Invitation Beats a Sponsorship
408 visa at $535 for Netball World Cup 2027 squads and officials in Sydney. Invitation or sponsorship, family at $535 and $135, and the 2026 timeline.
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Ministerial intervention: when the Minister can step in, and when they will not
Ministerial intervention in 2026: no fee, no duty to consider, a Tribunal decision first, and the guideline thresholds a request must meet. ART is $3,727.
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Labour Market Testing in 2026-27: The Eight Ways a 482 Advertisement Fails
Labour market testing for 482 nominations in 2026: two advertisements, 28 days each, a 4-month window, national reach and the eight errors behind refusals.
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Labour agreements in 2026-27: when the standard sponsorship rules do not fit
Labour agreements in 2026: company specific, industry and DAMA options, the concessions available, and why the $1,200 to $1,800 SAF levy still applies.
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The genuine student requirement: what a 500 visa case officer is reading for
Student visa 500 in 2026: the $2,500 charge, how the genuine student requirement is assessed, the answers officers refuse, and your options after refusal.
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Four Statements That Say the Same Thing: Getting Form 888 Right
Form 888 guide for partner visas in 2026: who can be a witness, a weak and a strong example, and a checklist so declarations support an $11,710 file.
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Endorsement First: The Cairns Employer’s Order of Operations Under the FNQ DAMA
How Cairns employers use the FNQ DAMA in 2026: Chamber endorsement, the labour agreement, the $330 nomination charge and the $1,200 or $1,800 levy.
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Twelve Months or a Certificate: How De Facto Couples Qualify for a Partner Visa
De facto partner visa rules for 2026: how the 12 months are counted, the Victorian registration exception, and evidence that fixes a start date. $11,710.
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Too Old for the 186 at 47? How DAMA Concessions Reopen the Road to Permanent Residence
DAMA age concessions to under 55, English and salary concessions, and the $6,140 labour agreement 186 that follows. The order of steps explained for 2026.
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Is Your Job Really on the CSOL? How ANZSCO Duties Decide a 482 Nomination
How the 456-occupation Core Skills Occupation List works in 2026, why duties beat job titles, and what to do when your occupation is not listed.
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Reading about your own situation?
A consultation with a migration lawyer turns an article into a plan: your pathway, your dates, your costs, in writing.