Australia and Papua New Guinea announce a new recruitment pathway into the Australian Defence Force

What changed

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took effect on 20 October 2026, introducing significant new immigration and mobility commitments between the two countries. The treaty creates two new Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa streams—the India Skilled Work Visa and the India Iconic Work Visa—capped at a combined total of 5,000 visa holders in New Zealand at any one time. Most of these places are set aside for jobs on New Zealand's Green List. Visas are granted for three years and require work with an accredited employer. Alongside these temporary work routes, the agreement extends post-study work rights for Indian nationals holding New Zealand doctoral degrees (PhDs) from three years to up to four years, starting on 16 November 2026. The FTA also guarantees in-study work rights of at least 20 hours a week for Indian students if general policies change, and commits New Zealand to introducing an annual 1,000-place Working Holiday Scheme for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 within two years of the agreement taking effect.

What changed

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have finished their 2026 Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue, confirming they will work more closely together on managing migration, justice matters, and serious organised crime. This meeting, held in London on 6 October 2026, builds on earlier agreements. It focuses on shared goals to effectively manage migration and strengthen border systems. Key outcomes include new programmes for checking visa applications, practical cooperation, and working together judicially to tackle organised immigration crime and help with returns. An expert legal meeting is also planned to discuss sentencing for organised immigration crime. This strategic alignment will affect government agencies, legal professionals, and anyone involved in migration between the two countries.

What changed

On 13 October 2026, the Victorian Government announced new service fees for people applying for state nomination under its skilled migration programme for 2026–27. These fees will apply at two stages: when you register your interest (called a Registration of Interest, or ROI) and when you apply for nomination. These changes affect two types of Australian skilled visas: the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), which leads to permanent residence, and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), which is a temporary visa allowing you to live and work in a regional area with a pathway to permanent residence later on.

What changed

Switzerland and India have signed two important agreements: a Migration and Mobility Partnership and a training exchange for young professionals. The Migration and Mobility Partnership formalises their existing cooperation on migration, creating pathways for legal movement and also tackling issues like irregular migration, human trafficking, and document forgery. The agreement for young professionals will help them gain professional and language skills through training placements.