Australian Immigration Daily News

The Migration (Specification of Organisations) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/015), issued under regulation 1.21 of the Migration Regulations 1994, formally repeals the previous instrument IMMI 13/023 and updates the specification of organisations authorised to make independent assessments of non-judicially determined claims of family violence.

This legislative update confirms that LSC Psychology remains the sole specified organisation for this purpose. The previous reference to the now-defunct Department of Human Services has been removed, reflecting the cessation of its agreement with the Department of Home Affairs. The instrument ensures that personnel employed by or contracted to LSC Psychology may continue to act as “independent experts” under the Migration Regulations, particularly for matters relating to family violence claims in Division 1.5.

This instrument commenced the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation and is exempt from disallowance under section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003. No public consultation was required, and no human rights statement was necessary, given its technical and clarifying nature.

The Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2025 implements scheduled adjustments to visa application charges (VACs), effective from 1 July 2025, consistent with the Australian Government’s annual indexation policy. The majority of VACs will increase by 3%, reflecting the 2023–2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI), as announced in the Federal Budget.

Additionally, this instrument introduces a further targeted increase for the Subclass 500 (Student) visa and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa, with the base application charge rising from $1,600 to $2,000. This measure aligns with the Government’s Building Australia’s Future plan, aiming to better support the integrity of Australia’s international education system.

Importantly, visa applicants from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste remain exempt from the uplifted charges as part of Australia’s commitment to regional partnership and equitable access to education opportunities.

On 30 June 2025, the Department of Home Affairs will cease its operations in the Australian Embassy in Berlin and will be closing the visa processing office. 

The closure of the Home Affairs visa processing office will not impact visa and citizenship applicants in Europe as visa applications are already lodged via digital platforms. There is no need for clients to attend the Embassy in person to lodge an application. 

Going forward, their offices in Belgrade and London will share responsibility for immigration issues across the Europe region, as required. 

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a new legislative instrument titled Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025, which comes into effect on 1 July 2025.

The instrument facilitates a significant procedural change by allowing internet-based lodgement of Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) visa applications under the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP). Specifically:

• Applicants using Form 842 (Application for an SHP visa) and proposers using Form 681 (Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal) will now be able to lodge online via the Department’s ImmiAccount portal.

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The Migration (IMMI 18/033) Amendment (Annual TSMIT Increase) Instrument 2025 implements an increase to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), raising it from $73,150 to $76,515, effective 1 July 2025.

This adjustment applies to the following visa subclasses:

• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa

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