Migration Choice Pty Ltd

𝟰𝟴𝟮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 (𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱)

We’ve had a very positive week here, with three Subclass 482 visa grants received over the last few days. These clients had been waiting 6–7 months, so we are incredibly pleased to finally see these approvals come through. Congratulations to each of them, and thank you sincerely for your patience throughout this long process.

Unfortunately, these delays are becoming increasingly common. The 482 visa used to be processed in 1–2 weeks, but many applications are now taking over 7 months. This is understandably frustrating for both applicants and employers, especially at a time when businesses across Australia are facing significant skills shortages and urgently need staff in place.

Another challenge is that the Department now processes nominations first and only finalises the visa application 2–4 weeks later, which has added further delays to the overall timeline.

There is one piece of good news for sponsorship transfer applicants (existing 482 visa holders changing employers). If your new employer lodges a nomination within 180 days of you ceasing employment with your previous sponsor, you are allowed to continue working with your new employer while the application is being processed. The Department recognises the delays and has adopted this approach to reduce disruption for both workers and businesses.

Additionally, for those planning to apply for 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) in the future, the two-year employment requirement is counted from the date the nomination is lodged (provided the nomination is eventually approved), rather than from the approval date.

Despite the frustrations, today we want to celebrate the clients who finally received their visas after such a long wait. We are proud to have supported them through the process and are grateful for the trust they placed in us.

Employer sponsored visas continue to make up a large part of our caseload, and we genuinely enjoy working closely with both employers and skilled migrants. Over the years, we have been honoured to assist not only small businesses, but also many large and reputable companies across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Thank you to all the employers and applicants who choose to work with us. We truly appreciate the opportunity and look forward to continuing to support you with your staffing needs and visa pathways.

If your business is considering sponsorship, or if you are a skilled worker exploring employer sponsored visa options, feel free to reach out — we are here to help.

Cheers
Harry

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱

The 2025–26 Skilled Migration State Nomination Allocations have now been released, with a total of 20,350 places across the 190 and 491 visa programs.

Here is the full breakdown for each state and territory:

🔹 ACT: 800 (190) + 800 (491)
🔹 NSW: 2,100 (190) + 1,500 (491)
🔹 NT: 850 (190) + 800 (491)
🔹 QLD: 1,850 (190) + 750 (491)
🔹 SA: 1,350 (190) + 900 (491)
🔹 TAS: 1,200 (190) + 650 (491)
🔹 VIC: 2,700 (190) + 700 (491)
🔹 WA: 2,000 (190) + 1,400 (491)

In comparison, the 2024–2025 program year had a significantly higher allocation, with 26,260 nomination places in total. This reflects the government’s increasing preference for employer-sponsored visa pathways.

Western Australia is clearly the big winner this program year, receiving a generous 3,400 nomination places, while South Australia has been allocated 2,250 places. As a result, SA nominations are likely to remain highly competitive throughout the year.