Australia Specifies Visas Precluding Student Visa Applications

What changed

Australia has made a new migration instrument defining the activities that cannot qualify as a complying entrepreneur activity for the purposes of the Migration Regulations 1994. The Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Excluded Activities) Instrument 2026, identified as LIN 26/056 and registered as F2026L01259, was made by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on 18 September 2026 and registered on 24 September 2026. The instrument commences on 25 September 2026, one day after registration. The instrument operates under paragraph 5.19E(6)(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994. Regulation 5.19E establishes the meaning of a complying entrepreneur activity and requires the activity to relate to an innovative idea that is proposed to lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of an enterprise or business in Australia. It also provides that the activity must not be an activity specified by the Minister as excluded.

What changed

Australia has replaced an expiring document, the Specification of Fields of Education 2016/076, with a new one called the Migration (Fields of Education) Instrument 2026 (also known as LIN 26/057). This new document was formally created on 18 September 2026 and registered on 24 September 2026. It will officially start on 25 September 2026, the day after it was registered. Its purpose is to define which fields of education can meet the 'specialist education qualification' requirement found in the Migration Regulations 1994.

What changed

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has enacted the Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity—Funding Entities) Instrument 2026, which specifies new entities for the complying entrepreneur activity under the Migration Regulations 1994. This instrument repeals the earlier Specification of Entities 2016/074, impacting individuals seeking to meet entrepreneur visa requirements in Australia.

What changed

Australia's Department of Home Affairs has updated the Migration (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026. This amendment, effective from 22 September 2026, revises the instrument's official citation and introduces a new provision explicitly addressing the application of changes made by Legislative Instrument LIN 26/100. The primary instrument, authorised by the Migration Regulations 1994, continues to govern the form, manner, and place for making child visa applications.