Key Takeaways
- Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while studying.
- A ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas.
- The government aims to reduce annual net migration to about 225,000 by 2028.
Australia has announced significant changes to its visa policies, targeting student and backpacker visas as part of a broader crackdown on immigration. The measures are aimed at reducing the number of temporary migrants and addressing voter concerns over the cost of living and immigration levels.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the reforms are not politically motivated, dismissing suggestions that they are a response to the rise of the One Nation party, which has proposed slashing temporary migration by 750,000 over three years. Burke emphasized that the goal is to bring annual net migration down to about 225,000 by 2028, aligning with pre-pandemic levels.
The government plans to toughen enforcement on visa overstayers, including hiring 100 additional compliance officers and exploring the repurposing of a pandemic-era quarantine facility in Melbourne to house immigration detainees. This move underscores the government's commitment to ensuring that only those with valid visas remain in the country.
Under the new measures, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas. All visitor visas will carry a 'no further stay' provision, preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category such as a partner visa. This change aims to streamline the visa application process and reduce the number of overstayers.
International students will only be permitted to renew their student visas if they move up the qualification scale. Some students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will be able to bring their partners and children, but secondary applicants will not be allowed on most student visas. Spouses and partners of international students can currently work in Australia, although the number of hours they are permitted varies depending on the course of study.
The reforms also include increased scrutiny of student visa applications, with application fees rising by nearly 300 per cent to A$2,500 over the past four years. Additionally, English-language requirements and minimum savings thresholds for graduate visa applicants have been tightened. These changes are seen as a way to reduce the number of students who may not be able to meet the new standards.
Despite the tightening of visa policies, international education remains a significant contributor to Australia's economy. The sector contributed A$53.6 billion to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, making it the country's fourth-largest export. However, the changes are part of the Labor government's broader strategy to reduce migration levels and address voter concerns.
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy expressed concern over the proposed policy shift, stating that it is 'chipping away the confidence in what has been a great national asset for this country — international education.' The changes are expected to impact both students and backpackers, potentially affecting the number of international students and working holiday makers in Australia.
It is chipping away the confidence in what has been a great national asset for this country — international education.
Luke Sheehy, Chief Executive Officer of Universities Australia
