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Visa & Residency

Australia's Minimum Wage Is Rising to $26.44 an Hour From 1 July 2026: What Every Migrant Worker Needs to Know

The Fair Work Commission handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review decision on 2 June 2026. Australia's minimum wage rises to $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026 — a 4.75% increase for award workers and nearly 6% for the lowest-paid. Here's what this means for every migrant worker in Australia, how to check if you're being paid correctly, and what to do if you're not.

3 Jun 2026Read article

Visa & Residency

Australia's Next 189 PR Invitation Round Is on 4 June 2026: Here's Everything You Need to Know

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed the next Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa invitation round will be held on 4 June 2026 — the final round of the 2025–26 program year. Here's what this means, what cutoff scores to expect, what to check in your EOI before the round runs, and what happens if you don't receive an invitation this time.

30 May 2026Read article

Visa & Residency

Australia's PR Points System Is Changing: What Every PR Applicant Needs to Know in 2026

Australia's points test — used to select almost two-thirds of all permanent skilled migrants — is undergoing its biggest review since 2012. The 2026–27 Budget confirmed it will be "optimised." Here is how the current system works, what proposed changes look like, and what to do right now if you are on a PR pathway.

19 May 2026Read article

Visa & Residency

Apply for the 485 Graduate Visa in Australia Without a Consultant: A DIY Guide for 2026

Just finished your degree in Australia? The 485 Temporary Graduate visa is your next step — and you can apply for it yourself. SettleMate's 2026 DIY guide covers eligibility, the three streams, documents, the OVHC vs OSHC health insurance distinction most applicants get wrong, and the six mistakes that cause refusals.

16 May 2026Read article

Immigration

Australia's 2026–27 Federal Budget: Everything Migrants Need to Know

Australia's 2026–27 Federal Budget landed on 12 May 2026. Tax cuts, cheaper medicines, faster skills recognition, working holiday maker reforms, migrant worker protections — here's every announcement that directly affects migrants, visa holders, and new arrivals, explained in plain English.

15 May 2026Read article

Visa & Residency

The Rising Cost of Living in Australia: What Migrants Need to Know in 2026

Australia is one of the world's most liveable countries — but it's also one of the most expensive. With CPI hitting 4.6% in March 2026, rents still at record highs, and electricity bills surging, here's an honest, city-by-city breakdown of what life in Australia actually costs in 2026 and practical tips to manage it smartly.

10 May 2026Read article

Visa & Residency

485 Visa Fee Doubled to $4,600: What International Graduates in Australia Need to Know

From 1 March 2026, the Australian Government doubled the 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee from $2,300 to $4,600 — overnight, with no warning. SettleMate breaks down the new fees, who is exempt, the full 2026 eligibility rules including age, English requirements and the 6-month lodgement window, and what every international graduate needs to do next.

5 Apr 2026Read article

Immigration

Australia's New Migration Law 2026: What Temporary Visa Holders Need to Know

Australia's Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act became law on 14 March 2026 — creating a new power called an Arrival Control Determination that can temporarily suspend the travel rights of entire classes of temporary visa holders during international crises. SettleMate explains who is affected, who is protected, what the safeguards are, and the critical risk if your visa expires during a restriction.

22 Mar 2026Read article

Practical guides for Migrants in Australia.

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Australia's Minimum Wage Is Rising to $26.44 an Hour From 1 July 2026: What Every Migrant Worker Needs to Know

Australia's Next 189 PR Invitation Round Is on 4 June 2026: Here's Everything You Need to Know

Australia's PR Points System Is Changing: What Every PR Applicant Needs to Know in 2026

Apply for the 485 Graduate Visa in Australia Without a Consultant: A DIY Guide for 2026

Australia's 2026–27 Federal Budget: Everything Migrants Need to Know

The Rising Cost of Living in Australia: What Migrants Need to Know in 2026

485 Visa Fee Doubled to $4,600: What International Graduates in Australia Need to Know

Australia's New Migration Law 2026: What Temporary Visa Holders Need to Know

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