Australia is tightening rules for international students: what will change

Australia is preparing new restrictions for international students. The government plans to prohibit most of them from bringing their partners and children, as well as to tighten the rules for extending student visas. The changes are intended to curb the practice of repeatedly switching between temporary visas and are part of a broader policy to reduce net migration.

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What exactly will change in Australia’s student visa rules?

The Australian government plans to significantly restrict international students’ ability to bring family members to the country. Under the new rules, partners and children will no longer be automatically included on student and graduate visas. However, the changes will not apply to families already in Australia on valid visas.

Exceptions are provided for certain categories of applicants. In particular, the option to relocate with family will remain available for students from the Pacific region and ASEAN countries, as well as for certain educational programs, including PhD programs.

Another important change concerns extending one’s stay after completing studies. The government aims to curb the practice of “visa hopping,” where a foreign national successively switches from one temporary visa to another to remain in the country longer. Therefore, extensions of student visas in Australia will be more closely tied to actual academic progress and advancement to the next level of education.

For international students in Australia, this means that even before submitting their applications, they will need to plan more carefully not only their course of study but also their future visa path, especially if a student plans to move with their family or wishes to remain in the country after completing their studies.

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New restrictions will also affect tourists and Working Holiday participants

The reform is not limited to Australian student visas. The government also plans to tighten rules for holder of visitor visas and Working Holiday program participants to limit the ability to switch from one temporary status to another after entering the country.

A “No Further Stay” condition will be applied to certain visitor visas. While in Australia, a person will not be able to apply for a different type of visa, and to change their status, they will have to leave the country. In this way, the authorities aim to curb the practice of using a tourist visa as a stepping stone to a subsequent long-term stay.

Changes are also being prepared for the Working Holiday visa in Australia. The renewal of such visas is planned to be shifted to a lottery-based selection system, and the processing times for applications may increase. The new rules have already raised concerns in the agricultural sector, where seasonal workers under the Working Holiday program play a significant role during harvest time. About one in seven jobs in Australian agriculture depends on backpackers.

As a result, Australia is gradually closing loopholes for so-called “visa hopping” not only among students but also among other categories of temporary migrants. This is something to keep in mind for those planning to first enter the country as a tourist or Working Holiday participant and then change their immigration status.

In our previous article, we provided a step-by-step guide on opportunities for moving to Australia in 2026.

Why is Australia tightening its immigration rules?

The main reason for the new restrictions is the government’s desire to reduce net migration and ease pressure on housing and infrastructure. Australia plans to reduce net overseas migration from approximately 300,000 people per year to 225,000 by 2028. For comparison, in 2023, net migration stood at around 518,000 people.

The government is paying particular attention to temporary visas. International students accounted for a significant portion of the migration increase after borders reopened following the pandemic; consequently, in recent years, Australia has already tightened requirements regarding English proficiency and applicants’ financial capacity, and has raised the cost of student visas. The current changes continue this trend and are intended to make it more difficult to use education as a means of effectively extending one’s stay in the country indefinitely.

At the same time, international education remains vital to the Australian economy. The sector generates approximately 53.6 billion Australian dollars and is one of the country’s largest export sectors. Therefore, the government will have to strike a balance between reducing immigration and maintaining Australia’s appeal to international students.

Education regulations vary depending on the country, the type of educational institution, and the foreigner’s status. If you need help with enrollment, transfer, document legalization, qualification verification, or protecting a student's rights, contact the education lawyers at Visit World. Our specialists will analyze your situation and propose a legally sound plan of action.

We remind you! Studying in Europe is becoming one of the most realistic paths to a residence permit. We've already covered which countries give you the best odds of staying on after graduation, finding a job, and moving toward permanent residency.

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