October 2025 Australian Immigration Updates: Victoria Opens, Tasmania Follows, and Student Visa Changes You Should Know

🔥 Victoria Migration Program Is Now Open — Even Without a Full Quota

Big news this month! Victoria has officially opened its 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program. What’s unusual is that the federal government still hasn’t released the full migration quota for each state and territory.

But instead of waiting, Victoria decided to go ahead and open its doors early.

It’s like they are saying, “Look, we’re going to open. We might change these in the future depending on the quota, but let’s go ahead and get your Expression of Interest in.”

So, if you’ve been waiting to lodge your Expression of Interest (EOI) or Registration of Interest (ROI), you can now get the process underway for both the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas.

🧭 Quick Guide: How to Apply for a Victorian Nomination

Here’s a simple breakdown of what you’ll need to do:

1. Check your eligibility for skilled migration.
2. Submit an EOI via SkillSelect.
3. Register your interest with the Live in Melbourne website.
4. Wait for an invitation from Victoria Migration.
5. Once invited, submit your documents and apply for your visa through Home Affairs.

Victoria’s requirements this year are quite broad which is both good and tricky. While it’s great that more people can apply, it also means a lot of applications may be submitted without realistic chances.

You can still technically apply even if you’re not working in your nominated occupation. But honestly, being employed in your field gives you a much stronger chance of being invited.

For the 190 visa, living and working in Victoria (even outside your field) might still make you eligible. For the 491 visa, you’ll need to be based in a regional area of Victoria. Either way, the safest bet is still to be working in your nominated occupation.

🌄 Tasmania Migration Program Opens Too — But With Stricter Rules

Tasmania has followed Victoria’s lead and opened its migration program as well despite only receiving a small interim quota. However, their approach is more selective.

Tasmania offers several pathways to nomination:

• Skilled Employment Pathway
• Graduate Pathway
• Established Resident Pathway
• Business Operator Pathway

The most common route is the Skilled Employment Pathway which now places a big focus on commitment. Applicants generally need to be working in Tasmania for at least nine months if they’re in a priority occupation, or even longer if not.

Obviously, Tasmania is clearly trying to bring in people who actually want to live and build a life there. They’re encouraging genuine long-term settlement and not just quick migration.

In short, the message is clear: Tasmania wants residents who stay, work, and contribute to the community and not those who leave right after getting their visa.

🎓 Student Visa Assessment Levels: What’s Changed in October 2025

Another major update this month is for international students. The student visa (subclass 500) assessment levels have been revised again.

Every few months, the Department of Home Affairs reviews and adjusts the risk ratings for each country and education provider. These ratings determine whether students need to show proof of English proficiency and financial evidence when lodging their visa.

Here’s what’s new:

• Some countries and schools have moved to Level 1, meaning fewer documents are required.
• Others have been moved to Level 2 or 3, which means you’ll likely need to provide proof of funds and English scores again.

But we suggest preparing these documents anyway even if your country is considered low-risk because immigration can still request supporting evidence. It’s always better to have it ready than risk delays later.

You can check your provider’s level using the Student Visa Assessment Tool on the Department of Home Affairs website.

🌏 How Pathway to Aus Helps You Through It All

With Victoria and Tasmania reopening and other states expected to follow soon, this is a crucial time to plan your next move.

But here’s the challenge — figuring out which option fits you best isn’t always easy. Some students come to Australia to study, only to realise later that their course doesn’t lead to the right visa pathway. Others are eligible for state nomination but miss their chance because they didn’t apply in time.

That’s where we at Pathway to Aus makes a big difference.

We’re not just a migration agency — we’re a complete education and migration partner. Our team helps you:

• Find the right course that leads to a future PR pathway
• Apply for your student visa with confidence
• Transition to skilled migration once you’ve gained experience in Australia

We’ve helped thousands of students and skilled professionals successfully study, work, and settle permanently in Australia. From choosing your course to lodging your PR application, our agents and counsellors guide you through each step — so you can focus on building your future.

🕒 What’s Next?

We believe that other states will follow suit soon like Queensland, New South Wales, and the rest are just waiting on their final quota numbers. Once those are confirmed, their programs will open too.

So if you’re planning to migrate, now’s the best time to start reviewing your documents, checking your points, and preparing your Expression of Interest.