Big changes are coming for families planning to reunite in Australia. From 22 April 2026 , applications for four permanent Parent visa subclasses will move to online lodgement via ImmiAccount . What’s changing? Paper applications will no longer be the standard. From this date, they will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances , such as verified technical issues with ImmiAccount through the official support channels. Why this is good news Online lodgement brings clear ad

The Department of Home Affairs has released the April 2026 Partner visa processing update, highlighting stricter expectations and a clear shift towards decision-ready applications. The Department is now placing much greater emphasis on submitting complete and well-prepared applications from the start. Incomplete or weak applications are increasingly leading to delays or refusals, and in many cases applicants may only be given one opportunity to provide additional information

As of 24 March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs expanded the app to 13 additional countries, giving more applicants access to a simpler way of completing part of their visa process. This expansion means more people can now submit their facial biometrics and passport details directly from their smartphone, without needing to attend a biometric collection centre in many cases. To use the app, applicants must have previously provided their biometrics to the Department and