Family Migration Updates Explained
What changed in Australia's family migration program — processing priorities, fee increases, policy shifts — and what it means for applications in progress.
Australia's family migration program has seen meaningful changes across 2025–2026, affecting processing priorities, application charges and evidence expectations. Applications already in the queue are largely unaffected in terms of eligibility, but processing behaviour — what gets prioritised, how long things take, what evidence officers look for — has shifted. Staying informed matters for both new applications and those already waiting.
- Application charges for family visas (particularly partner) have increased — verify current fees before lodging.
- Processing priorities have been refined — some categories are moving faster than recent years.
- Biometrics requirements have been extended to additional applicant groups.
- The Department has signalled continued focus on relationship genuineness for partner visas.
Does this affect your application?
Your stage determines what's relevant.
What's changed for 820/801 and 309/100
The partner visa has remained under ongoing Department focus. Processing of partner visas has fluctuated significantly — some periods see backlog clearance; others see queues extend. The current processing environment requires patience but active management: respond to departmental requests within the timeframe given, as failure to respond is a frequent cause of delays and refusals.
Evidence expectations have remained high. The genuineness of relationship test continues to be applied rigorously, particularly for applications where the couple have been together for a shorter period, have age gaps, or where the couple have not lived together for extended periods.
Application charges have increased. The upfront partner visa application charge is among the highest single visa fees in the system and is not refunded on refusal — this makes pre-lodgement evidence quality non-negotiable.
Queue reality in 2026
The parent visa queue has remained long and is not expected to shorten significantly in the near term. The contributory stream continues to move faster than the standard stream, but even contributory processing now extends to multiple years for many applications.
A migration program allocation exists for parent visas each financial year — when places are filled, remaining applications wait for the next year's allocation. This is a structural constraint, not a processing efficiency issue. Families should plan for the long queue rather than assume clearing events.
The government has historically not significantly increased the parent visa program cap. New policy commitments in this area are possible but should not be relied upon for planning purposes.
Family visa application charges are indexed to the Consumer Price Index and increase each financial year (typically July 1). The figure you see in an older article or forum post may no longer be accurate. Check the current charge on the Department of Home Affairs fee schedule before committing to lodgement.
Expanded requirements
Biometrics (fingerprints and a facial photograph) are now required for a broader range of visa applicants than in previous years. For family visa applicants, this typically means attending a VAC (Visa Application Centre) or a collection point in Australia.
Biometrics must be collected within the required timeframe after the request is issued. Missing the biometrics deadline is a common and avoidable cause of application delays — treat any request from the Department as time-critical.
The Department publishes indicative processing times and the current fee schedule. Processing times are updated regularly — check the live figures rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
Home Affairs — processing times and visa costs →Ask MIOS — family migration questions
Context-aware, supervised by a MARA-registered agent.
Family migration updates — common questions
Generally, the eligibility criteria and policy in force at the time of lodgement apply to your application. However, evidence requests and processing behaviours can reflect current departmental practice rather than what applied when you lodged. Staying responsive to requests is always correct regardless of which rules formally apply.
You can check your ImmiAccount for status updates. For a more specific indication of your queue position relative to processing times, the Department publishes indicative timelines. Applications assessed outside these timelines can be the subject of a Ministerial Intervention or a review in some circumstances — discuss with a registered agent if you believe your case is significantly overdue.
No — once an application is lodged, the charge paid at lodgement is the correct amount. Fee increases apply to new applications lodged after the increase date. You should not be asked to top up an existing application due to a fee rise.
The family violence provision for partner visa applicants (which allows a temporary visa holder to continue toward permanent residency after relationship breakdown due to family violence) remains in the legislation. The evidence requirements and process for invoking it are specific — get legal or registered agent advice if this situation applies.
Turn this intelligence into your plan.
Family migration policy and processing dynamics shift regularly. A MARA-registered agent stays across every update so your application is positioned correctly — whether you're planning, already lodged, or approaching the permanent stage.