Major Migration Changes in March

March was a significant month for Australian migration, with a number of major changes introduced across different visa categories and travel settings.

Subclass 485 Visa Fee Officially Doubled

From 1 March 2026, the application fee for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) increased from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600 for primary applicants. This change now appears across the Department of Home Affairs’ Subclass 485 streams, including the Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work streams.

This is one of the most significant fee increases seen for this visa in recent years and is expected to place added financial pressure on international students and recent graduates already managing high living costs in Australia. The increase applies to applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026, making timing more important than ever for those nearing eligibility or preparing their documents.

For many graduates, the Subclass 485 visa is a key stepping stone that allows them to remain in Australia temporarily after study, gain local work experience, and plan their longer-term migration pathway. A sudden rise of this scale may force many applicants to reconsider their timelines, budgeting, and next steps.

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Important Changes to the Subclass 407 Training Visa

The Subclass 407 Training Visa has undergone an important procedural change, with new rules taking effect from 11 March 2026. Under the updated requirements, applicants must now have both an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor and an approved nomination before they can lodge a valid visa application. The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that applications submitted after this date without those approvals in place will not be considered valid.

This marks a significant shift from the previous process, where sponsorship, nomination and visa applications could often be lodged at the same time. That concurrent lodgement option is no longer available for new applications made on or after 11 March 2026, which means applicants, sponsors and migration advisers now need to plan the process far more carefully.

The change is designed to strengthen the integrity of the Training Visa program and ensure that the Subclass 407 pathway is used for genuine occupational training purposes. For onshore applicants in particular, this may create added pressure where an existing visa is close to expiry, as a bridging visa will only become available once a valid Subclass 407 application has actually been lodged.

In practical terms, this means applicants can no longer rely on a last-minute lodgement strategy. Sponsors must first secure their approval, then obtain nomination approval, and only after that can the visa application be submitted. Failing to follow this sequence may result in an invalid application and unnecessary delays.

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New Travel Restrictions for Certain Temporary Visa Holders – 84B section

Australia’s migration framework has introduced a significant new border control mechanism through the Arrival Control Determination (ACD), enabled by the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026. The new power allows the government to temporarily stop specified classes of offshore temporary visa holders from travelling to Australia, even where their visa remains valid and has not been cancelled.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the measure is designed to give the government a rapid, class-wide response where changing international conditions may affect visa compliance, border management, or the broader integrity of the migration system.

The first use of this new mechanism has already been announced. The Australian Government has temporarily restricted Iranian Visitor (Subclass 600) visa holders who are outside Australia from travelling to Australia.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, stated that the Arrival Control Determination comes into force on 26 March 2026 and will remain in effect for six months. During this period, affected visitor visas temporarily cease to have effect for travel purposes unless an exemption applies.

Importantly, this restriction does not apply to everyone. Home Affairs has confirmed that exemptions include people who were already in Australia when the determination commenced, as well as the spouse, de facto partner, or dependent child of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent visa holder, or eligible Australian resident. Parents of a child under 18 already in Australia may also fall outside the restriction, along with people who hold a valid Permitted Travel Certificate.

For visa holders, sponsors, and family members, the key message is clear: before making travel arrangements, it is now essential to confirm whether any temporary travel restriction applies to your visa class or passport-linked status. In a changing global environment, staying informed and seeking timely migration advice has become more important than ever.

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Navigating migration changes can feel overwhelming, especially when multiple updates happen at once. Whether you are a student, graduate, visa holder, sponsor, or family member planning your next move, the right advice can make all the difference.