Iscah Australian Migration

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/07/the-new-geography-of-migration-is-reshaping-economic-success/

The new geography of migration is reshaping economic success The world’s geography of migration is changing, and with it our understanding of economic development, national success and the role of public policy.

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/07/government-is-contorting-itself-on-overseas-students/

Government is contorting itself on overseas students High student visa refusal rates and extreme fee increases are blunt, haphazard tools for cutting net migration. Australia needs a long-term migration plan it can explain and defend.

ACT/Canberra State update
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The 2025-26 financial year has drawn to a close and we hit the 1,600 nominations. I would like to acknowledge and thank you for your ongoing support over the last financial year.
As you may be aware, at this stage, the ACT has not yet received an allocation of nomination places for the 2026-27 financial year from the Department of Home Affairs. We will keep you informed as soon as further information becomes available. While awaiting the allocation, I would like to provide you with the following updates.

ACT Migration – Processing Update
With the allocation having been met, we now have an overview of the 2025-26 financial year from a processing perspective, which I have summarised for you below.
Total approvals: 1600 approvals
• 190 Nominations: 800 approvals
• 491 Nominations: 800 approvals
Total refusals: 229 applications
• 190 Nominations: 111 refusals (12.2%)
• 491 Nominations: 128 refusals (13.8%)
Approvals by residency status since the last invitation round
• ACT Resident: 1417 approvals (89%)
• Overseas Resident: 183 approvals (11%)
Average processing time: 18 business days
Nominations by stream:
• ACT Occupation list: 1244 nominations
• PhD Streamlined pathway: 133 nominations
• Small Business Owner pathway: 124 nominations
• 482 Streamlined pathway: 109 nominations
ACT Migration Program - Expected Developments in 2026-27
There are a few developments that may impact migrants and migration agents in the 2026-27 migration program year, which we would like to make you aware of.
• We are reviewing the ACT Nominated Migration Program occupation list and expect to update it early in the new financial year. While some changes are anticipated, I expect the list to remain broadly similar and aligned with ACT labour market needs.
• We will also make minor updates to the ACT nomination guidelines. These changes will focus on clarifying ambiguities that have been raised over the last twelve months as well as some operational improvements, specifically a framework for how requests for priority processing can be made.
• We are implementing a new ACT Nomination Application portal ahead of the 2026-27 migration program year as I also advised in my August 2025 newsletter (more information below). This will also require minor changes to the ACT nomination guidelines.
The aim is to publish updated nomination guidelines in late July, noting that exact dates are subject to change and dependent on operational requirements. Please keep an eye on our website for the latest information.
Implementation of the ACT Nomination Application Portal
As I flagged in the newsletter this time last year, we are upgrading the ACT Migration Portal ahead of the 2026–27 financial year, with a planned launch date of 27 July 2026 (subject to change). The current portal is expected to be unavailable during the week commencing 13 July 2026.

The new portal will:
• Improve security through multi-factor authentication and integration with the ACT Government domain.
• Allow applicants and agents to edit or withdraw Canberra Matrix submissions.
• Provide live application status updates in the portal.
• Offer a more user-friendly experience, including improved mobile access.
• Reduce the impact of non-genuine expressions of interest that have previously affected invitation round scores.
There are a few implications to these upgrades, which I have summarised below.
ACT Migration fee changes
The new system will increase operating costs, requiring an update to ACT Migration fees for the first time in 14 years. A key change is that fees will be split between the Canberra Matrix submission and the nomination application. To ensure fairness between overseas and local applicants, all fees will now be charged exclusive of GST.
From 2026–27, the following fees will apply:
• Canberra Matrix submission: $25 (exclusive of GST)
• ACT nomination application (Subclass 190/491): $325 (exclusive of GST)
• RCB support application for an SESR visa: $325 (exclusive of GST)
The total ACT nomination cost will therefore be $350 (exclusive of GST) for applicants with one Canberra Matrix submission, which is broadly in line with similar other jurisdictions.

Canberra Matrix Validity
Canberra Matrix submissions will continue to be valid for six months. However, applicants who update their Matrix before it expires can extend its validity for a further six months, allowing a maximum validity period of 12 months. This means an applicant could submit a Matrix at the beginning of a financial year and still use it to apply for ACT nomination at the end of that year.
Canberra Matrix edits and claims
Any edit to a Canberra Matrix will be treated as a new submission for assessment purposes. This means all claims must be valid on the date of the most recent update, not the original submission date. For example, if an applicant updates their Matrix, they must meet the employment eligibility requirements at the time of the update.
Where multiple applicants have the same score in an invitation round, rankings will now be based on the date last updated rather than the date originally created. There will be no additional fee for editing a Canberra Matrix.

Existing Canberra Matrix submissions
Due to revised arrangements, existing Canberra Matrix submissions will be transferred to the new portal. Applicants and migration agents will not need to submit a new Matrix. To support this transition, the current portal will be taken offline two week before the new portal launches.
Existing Canberra Matrix submissions should appear in the new portal if the account is created using the same email address associated with the old account or submission. It may take up to one week after launch for submissions to appear. Existing Matrix submissions transferred from the old portal will remain valid, but they cannot be edited. They may, however, be withdrawn if desired.
The new Canberra Matrix submission fee will apply from the day the new portal goes live.
Communication and notifications
This is the first formal notification of these changes. We intend to publish similar information on the ACT Migration website in the coming week. Approximately one week before launch, we will also:
• Email all active Canberra Matrix holders;
• Email Migration agents who have created a Canberra Matrix within the past 12 months; and,
• Publish updated ACT nomination guidelines.
The email to migrants and agents will include instructions for creating a new account and information about existing Canberra Matrix submissions.

Finally, as you might be aware, ACT Migration phone service hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm (AEST). In the weeks following the launch of the new portal, these hours will temporarily be extended to address any questions.
Invitation rounds

The first invitation round for the 2026-27 program year has not yet been scheduled. The earliest ACT migration will conduct an invitation round is one month after the new ACT Nomination Application portal is launched to allow the new system to bed down, provided the Department of Home Affairs has announced state and territory allocations.

When there is more information available about the allocation for the 2026-27 migration program year, ACT Migration will update the website to provide more information about tentative invitation round schedule.

(Source: ACT govt)