Australia Tightens Migration Rules for International Students and Working Holiday Makers

Australia announced stricter migration rules on Thursday targeting international students, “visa hoppers,” and backpackers as part of a broader effort to curb immigration levels.

Under the changes unveiled by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, foreign students will no longer be permitted to bring family members with them, while those seeking to extend their stay must enroll in a higher-level qualification. The rules also introduce a ballot system with reduced caps for working holiday visas — a vital labor source for agriculture — though British nationals remain exempt under the UK-Australia free trade agreement.

Burke acknowledged immigration as a “strength” of Australia but emphasized the need for a “high level of control.” The government aims to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.

Regarding student visas, Burke said the government would crack down on “visa hopping” — where graduates enroll in lower-level courses, sometimes with questionable providers, to prolong their stay. Students advancing to higher qualifications, such as progressing from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree, will still be permitted.

Exemptions apply to students already in Australia, applicants from Pacific and Southeast Asian nations, and PhD candidates, whom Burke noted face different life circumstances than undergraduates.

The working holiday visa program, which allows people aged 18 to 30 to work in Australia for up to three years, will see significant changes. Currently, visa holders must complete three months of regional work in their first year for a second-year extension, and six months for a third. Under the new system, second-year extensions will be capped at 45,000 via ballot (down from 57,000 last year), and third-year extensions at 5,000 (down from 31,000). British citizens are unaffected.

The announcement coincides with Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the population grew 1.4% to 27.9 million in the year to March 2026, driven by net overseas migration of 292,100.

Migration remains a flashpoint in Australian politics amid cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, and strain on public services. The populist One Nation party, which recently won its first lower house seat, has proposed cutting temporary migrant visas by 750,000 over three years and capping net overseas migration at 130,000. Burke warned such measures would risk “smashing parts of the Australian economy.”

In July, the government prioritized onshore family and skilled visa applications over offshore ones and paused working holiday visas from 24 countries, excluding the UK.

Violet Roumeliotis of Settlement Services International criticized the direction of the debate, saying it is increasingly driven by “short-term politics rather than what is best for the country.” She warned that restricting family visas for international students would undermine Australia’s ability to compete for “future talent.”

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