Australia-India Migration Deal Streamlines Process To Only 11 Forms, 3 Interviews, 2 Biometric Scans, And One Blood Oath

Officials from both countries celebrated the landmark agreement, which they say will reduce the average visa processing time from 14 months to a far more reasonable 13 months and two weeks. Under the new framework, applicants will no longer need to submit a notarized letter from their childhood dentist, a requirement both governments acknowledged had been included by mistake in 2019 and never removed. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs confirmed the deal also introduces a new 47-page digital form that replaces the previous 48-page paper form, calling it a historic leap toward modernization. Indian officials praised the agreement's mutual recognition clause, which allows citizens of either country to have their paperwork lost by both bureaucracies simultaneously rather than one at a time. The deal is expected to take effect once both parliaments complete a ratification process estimated at 18 to 24 months.

Riffing on real coverage: Australia and India have signed a new migration deal. Here's what we know