Australian Immigration Daily News

This Department’s latest Admin Paper provides a detailed snapshot of how Australia’s migration and citizenship system performed in 2024–25, a year of strong policy reform and stabilisation after pandemic-era disruption.

Highlights

- 9.48 million visa applications were lodged, up 1.7 % from 2023-24, with 9.45 million finalised and a 7.3 % refusal rate
- Temporary visas in effect rose 3.5 % to 2.78 million, driven by strong demand for skilled and working-holiday programs
- Net Overseas Migration (NOM) eased to 316,000 to March 2025, down from the post-COVID peak of 556,000, with forecasts trending to 225,000 by 2028–29
- Student-visa reforms (genuine-student test, higher English and financial thresholds, and the end of COVID concessions) led to a 26 % drop in lodgements
- Skills in Demand (SID) and National Innovation visas launched 7 Dec 2024, replacing the TSS program and targeting critical workforce needs
- Working-Holiday Maker visas surged 37 %, while bridging visa holders rose 24 %, reflecting ongoing program churn
- The Migration Program (2024–25) delivered its full quota of 185,000 places, 71 % Skilled and 28 % Family
- Top source countries: India, China, Philippines, UK, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Policy Themes

- Downward pressure on NOM through closure of pandemic visas and “permanent temporariness” pathways.
- Emphasis on integrity and quality in international education.
- Targeted, faster processing for skilled migration tied to genuine labour shortages.
- Expansion of regional and labour-agreement pathways (Aged Care ILA, PALM, MATES scheme).
- Continued focus on protecting migrant workers and community safety under the Character and Integrity programs.

Looking Ahead

2025-26 planning levels remain at 185,000 places (132,200 Skilled / 52,500 Family). Longer-term reforms include regional migration settings, essential-skills pathways, and integration of Jobs & Skills Australia advice into visa planning

Australia’s migration system is entering a new phase of balance, attracting global talent, protecting integrity, and supporting national prosperity.

Source:  The-Administration-of-the-Immigration-and-Citizenship-Programs---15th-edition-Oct-2025.pdf