Immigration Act: First Amendment of the Regulations on Fees

What changed

The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has withdrawn a directive about taking asylum seeker applications. This directive was initially issued on 28 September 2026. The withdrawal, announced on 9 October 2026, was made because of unexpected problems that came up after the directive was put in place, such as Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) being overwhelmed and risks to public safety. The original directive was an attempt to put into practice a Constitutional Court judgment from 7 July 2026 concerning the Scalabrini of Cape Town case. Its withdrawal means the DHA will now create a new operational approach to follow the court's order.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has published an updated list of immigration and nationality fees. These new fees start on 8 October 2026. This document, called 'Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026', states that all application fees for visas and nationality routes will stay the same. This applies whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. This means the fee structure that started on 8 April 2026 will continue to be used.

What changed

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has published adjusted fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 for several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) forms when filed with the EOIR, including Form I-485, Form I-589 (Annual Asylum Fee), Form I-601, and Form I-821. This statutory inflation adjustment takes effect on 1 October 2026, as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Applicants must ensure all relevant filings submitted on or after this date include the new fee amounts, otherwise applications will be rejected.

What changed

Starting from 1 October 2026, the Immigration Services Agency in Japan will put new rules into practice for reducing or exempting residence permit fees. These changes, introduced through an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, apply to fees for changing your residence status, extending your period of stay, and getting permanent residence. The aim of these measures is to help people who are struggling financially, as well as those with diplomatic or official statuses, and certain 'Designated Activities' residents.