KUALA LUMPUR – Australia will tighten visa rules for the families of international students as part of a broader overhaul aimed at reducing the country’s migrant intake, reported Xinhua.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the changes in a speech to the National Press Club on Thursday, setting a target to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28.
The announcement came as new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed that net overseas migration increased the country’s population by 292,100 people in the year to March, down from 309,500 in the previous 12 months.
Under the new rules, international students will no longer automatically be able to bring their family members to Australia.
Government figures show that 337,427 student visas were granted in 2025-26, including 45,991 issued to dependants or family members of primary visa holders.
Burke said the new restriction would not apply to students whose families are already attached to their visas. International students from Pacific and Asean countries, as well as PhD students, will also be exempt.
The government will also take action against international students who “visa hop” by repeatedly switching courses to extend their stay.
“One of the classic areas of visa hopping is people finish a course, hop to the next course, then hop to the next, and one of the worst examples is they transfer down to a not-so-legitimate educational provider,” he said.
Under the new regulations, students seeking to extend their stay will have to progress to a higher level of qualification.
The government will also recruit 100 additional compliance officers to ensure people who overstay their visas leave the country.
“If you want to come to Australia temporarily, apply for a temporary visa. If you want to come to Australia permanently, apply for a permanent visa,” Burke said.
“And if you no longer have a valid visa, you should leave Australia. That’s all it is.”
The government will also change the order in which skilled worker visa applications are considered, giving priority to migrants with skills in areas facing shortages, including construction and agriculture.
The working holiday visa programme will also be overhauled, with a ballot system introduced for applicants seeking to extend their stay.
Currently, holders of 12-month working holiday visas can qualify for a second year after completing 88 days of regional work, while a third year is available after a further six months of regional employment.
Under the new ballot system, 45,000 eligible working holiday visa holders will be selected for a second year, while another 5,000 will be selected for a third year.
Burke said 57,000 people qualified for a second-year working holiday visa in 2025-26, while 31,000 qualified for a third year. – September 17, 2026