Australia targets student, backpacker visas in immigration crackdown

Australia is tightening rules around student and backpacker visas as part of an immigration crackdown, a senior minister announced on Thursday. The government aims to reduce annual net migration from around 300,000 to about 225,000 by 2028, bringing levels closer to pre-pandemic figures. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed claims that the changes are politically motivated, stating that the move is not a response to the current political climate.

The reforms will include stricter enforcement on visa overstayers, with the addition of 100 compliance officers and the potential use of a Melbourne quarantine facility for immigration detainees. A ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas, while visitor visas will have a "no further stay" provision, preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category.

International students will only be allowed to renew their visas if they advance in their academic qualifications. Some students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will still be able to bring their partners and children, but most student visa holders will not be able to do so. Student visa application fees have increased by nearly 300 percent over the past four years, and English-language requirements and minimum savings thresholds for graduate visa applicants have been tightened.

The move is part of the government's efforts to reduce migration, which surged after Australia reopened its borders in February 2022, driven largely by international students, backpackers, and temporary workers.