CANBERRA: Australia has announced new restrictions on international students and working holidaymakers as the government moves to reduce migration levels amid growing public concerns over immigration and the cost of living.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Thursday that most international students would no longer be allowed to bring their partners or children to Australia while pursuing their studies.
The government will also introduce stricter rules for working holiday visa extensions and step up enforcement against visa overstayers.
Burke rejected suggestions that the reforms were politically motivated by the rising popularity of the right-wing One Nation party, which has called for a major reduction in temporary migration.
“It’s simply demonstrably wrong to suspect that somehow this is a recent bit of work done to deal with a political climate — it’s not,” Burke told reporters.
Migration Target Set for 2028
The reforms are expected to bring Australia’s annual net migration down to approximately 225,000 by 2028, compared with around 300,000 currently.
The government also plans to recruit 100 additional compliance officers to deal with visa overstayers and is exploring the use of a former pandemic quarantine facility in Melbourne to accommodate immigration detainees.
“If you want to come on a temporary basis to Australia, apply for a temporary visa. If you want to come to Australia permanently, apply for a permanent visa,” Burke said.
New Rules for Students and Backpackers
Under the proposed measures, Australia will introduce a ballot system for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas.
Visitor visa holders will also face a “no further stay” condition, preventing them from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category, including a partner visa.
Most international students will no longer be permitted to bring their spouses or children, although exemptions will apply to students from certain Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries.
International students seeking to renew their visas will generally be required to progress to a higher level of qualification.
Concerns Over International Education
International education contributed approximately A$53.6 billion to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, making it the country’s fourth-largest export.
However, the government has increasingly focused on international students as part of its efforts to reduce migration.
Student visa application fees have risen to A$2,500, while English-language requirements and financial thresholds for certain graduate visa applicants have also been tightened.
Luke Sheehy, chief executive of Universities Australia, warned that the new measures could undermine confidence in the country’s international education sector.
Australia’s net overseas migration reached a peak of 518,000 in 2023 before declining to approximately 306,000 in the year to June 2025, with international students accounting for more than half of the total.
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