Sunday, 9 August 2026 : Working & Skilled Visas
Migrate2Australia’s daily update confirms three important developments for people planning an Australian Skilled Visa or Partner visa Australia application. Tasmania will reopen Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 17 August 2026, Ministerial Directions 119 and 117 continue to place substantial weight on an applicant’s location at lodgement, and the onshore Partner visa application charge is now AUD 11,710 for most applicants. Migrate2Australia’s Eva Abdelmessiah has 20 years’ experience, has been registered since 2006, and holds MARN 0636719.
1. Tasmania ROIs reopen on 17 August 2026
Tasmania’s 2026–27 State Nomination Program is scheduled to reopen to new ROIs on Monday, 17 August 2026. Migrate2Australia understands that Tasmania has received 2,050 nomination places, divided as follows:
| Visa subclass | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa | 1,250 places |
| Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa | 800 places |
| Total | 2,050 places |
Migrate2Australia reports that invitation rounds are expected to commence from Thursday, 20 August 2026, with invitations issued according to the state’s current eligibility requirements, labour-market needs, and selection priorities. An ROI is not a visa application and does not guarantee an invitation or nomination.
Candidates considering a Skilled visa to Australia should review their occupation, English evidence, skills assessment, points position, employment history, residence status, and supporting documents before the ROI portal reopens. Migrate2Australia recommends checking the current Tasmanian skilled migration information and reviewing the detailed Tasmania 2026–27 program update before taking action.
2. The offshore subclass 491 pathway is not receiving invitations
A significant change for 2026–27 is Tasmania’s decision not to issue invitations through the subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway during the program year. Migrate2Australia notes that this affects offshore applicants who do not have a qualifying Tasmanian job offer and were relying on that invitation-only pathway.
This does not mean every offshore applicant is excluded from every Tasmanian pathway. According to the current program settings reviewed by Migrate2Australia, offshore health and education professionals with an eligible Tasmanian job offer may still be considered through the relevant subclass 190 pathway. The requirements must be checked carefully because a general occupation match alone may not be sufficient.
The practical message from Migrate2Australia is direct: do not prepare an application for a pathway that is not issuing invitations. Instead, identify whether you qualify for an onshore pathway, a Tasmanian job-offer pathway, subclass 190, subclass 491 through another available stream, or a different Australian Skilled Visa option.
3. Ministerial Direction 119: onshore status matters
Ministerial Direction 119 commenced on 25 July 2026 and replaced Direction 105 for the skilled visa applications and nomination applications covered by the Direction. The official Ministerial Direction 119 document confirms that it applies to certain skilled visas, including subclasses 186, 189, 190, 191, 482, 489, 491, 494, 887, and 888.
Migrate2Australia highlights that Direction 119 creates a five-level order of consideration. The highest skilled priority generally applies to an applicant in Australia whose occupation supports law enforcement or Defence interests. The next categories include offshore law enforcement or Defence applicants, onshore applicants in specified healthcare, teaching, or construction occupations, other onshore applicants, and other offshore applicants.
This is an important distinction for anyone seeking an Australian Skilled Visa: onshore status provides a structural processing advantage in the relevant comparison, but it is not a visa grant, nomination, invitation, or guaranteed processing deadline. Migrate2Australia also emphasises that the applicant’s location is assessed at the relevant lodgement point. Entering Australia after lodging an offshore application does not automatically convert that application into an onshore-priority application.
Direction 119 does not change occupation lists, points requirements, English requirements, skills assessment rules, health criteria, character criteria, or nomination requirements. Migrate2Australia advises applicants to treat processing priority and visa eligibility as separate questions. A higher priority position cannot compensate for an application that does not meet the legislative criteria.
4. Ministerial Direction 117 and Partner visa Australia applications
Ministerial Direction 117 also commenced on 25 July 2026 and concerns the processing order for family visa applications. Migrate2Australia understands that the new framework generally gives greater processing priority to eligible family applications lodged while the applicant is in Australia and capable of being granted onshore.
For a Partner visa Australia application, this primarily affects the comparison between the onshore subclass 820/801 pathway and offshore partner pathways such as subclasses 309/100. The Department of Home Affairs confirms that applicants for the onshore pathway must be in Australia when applying and that the temporary and permanent stages are lodged together. See the official Partner visas : apply in Australia page for the current framework.
Migrate2Australia stresses that onshore priority is not the same as fast-track processing. Processing remains dependent on the application’s completeness, relationship evidence, identity documents, health and character checks, departmental workload, and any issues requiring assessment. Ministerial Direction 117 changes the order in which cases are considered; it does not remove the legal criteria for a Partner visa Australia application.
5. The AUD 11,710 Partner visa charge
From 1 July 2026, the main applicant charge for most onshore Partner visa applications is AUD 11,710. The Department of Home Affairs lists the current amount on its Partner visa subclass 820 page and provides a visa pricing estimator.
Migrate2Australia notes that the onshore temporary and permanent Partner visa stages are applied for together. The principal charge is paid at lodgement, and the permanent stage generally does not require a second visa application charge. Additional applicant charges may apply, and limited concessions may be available for eligible applicants from certain Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
The fee is determined by the date the Department receives the application, not simply the date an applicant begins preparing documents. Migrate2Australia recommends confirming the exact charge immediately before lodgement because visa pricing can change and payment surcharges may apply.
6. The one-RFI approach requires complete evidence
Current Partner visa processing practice is being described as a one-response approach for Requests for Further Information (RFIs). Migrate2Australia advises Partner visa Australia applicants to assume that an RFI may be their only standard opportunity to address gaps in relationship, identity, health, or character evidence.
The one-RFI approach is separate from Ministerial Direction 117. Migrate2Australia explains that Direction 117 concerns processing priority, while the RFI approach concerns how the Department manages evidence during assessment. If an RFI is issued, the applicant should respond through the requested channel, within the stated deadline, with a complete and organised response.
Applicants should monitor ImmiAccount, maintain current contact details, and request any necessary extension before the deadline expires. Migrate2Australia cannot guarantee that an extension will be granted or that a second request will be issued. Prepare the application as though the Department will assess the file using the evidence provided at lodgement and in one comprehensive RFI response.
7. Migrate2Australia’s practical checklist for 9 August 2026
Migrate2Australia recommends that prospective applicants take the following steps:
- Confirm your location strategy. Determine whether you are lawfully eligible to lodge onshore and whether the relevant visa permits onshore application and grant.
- Check the correct pathway. Do not rely on Tasmania’s offshore subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway for 2026–27 because invitations are not being issued through that stream.
- Audit your evidence. Migrate2Australia recommends checking skills assessments, English results, employment references, identity documents, relationship evidence, and police certificates before lodgement.
- Verify current fees. Confirm the AUD 11,710 Partner visa Australia charge and any additional applicant charges using the Department’s official pricing information.
- Monitor official correspondence. Treat every departmental request as time-sensitive and keep copies of all documents submitted.
- Obtain tailored advice. Eva Abdelmessiah, with 20 years’ experience, registered since 2006, and MARN 0636719, can assess whether your proposed pathway is appropriate before you lodge.
Migrate2Australia provides obligation-free initial guidance for applicants who need to compare a Tasmanian nomination pathway, another Skilled visa to Australia option, or an onshore family pathway. Book a consultation with Migrate2Australia to discuss your circumstances with Eva Abdelmessiah.
Eva Abdelmessiah, Registered Migration Agent MARN 0636719
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Migration laws change frequently, and some reforms discussed are proposed or evolving. Visa outcomes remain at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs.
