Australia cracks down on student, backpacker visas to curb migration
Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior minister said yesterday, amid growing debate over high migration levels. The government’s move comes after the hard-right One Nation party, which has been surging in recent polls, said this week that … The post Australia cracks down on…
Australia is implementing stricter visa rules to reduce the number of temporary migrants and bring annual net migration down to around 225,000 by 2028. The government announced that foreign students will no longer be able to bring partners and children to study with them, and working holiday visa rules will be tightened. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that these changes are not politically motivated, despite suggestions from the One Nation party.
The reforms include hiring 100 additional compliance officers and repurposing a pandemic-era quarantine facility in Melbourne for immigration detainees. Visitors will be required to apply for temporary visas if they intend to stay temporarily, while those seeking permanent residency must apply separately. A new ballot system will be introduced for backpackers wanting to extend their working holiday visas, and visitor visas will have a "no further stay" provision.
International students can only renew their visas if they advance in qualification, and some students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will be allowed to bring their partners and children, but secondary applicants will not be permitted on most student visas. The Australian economy benefits from $53.6 billion contributed by international students, but their numbers have been declining since the COVID-19 border reopenings in 2022.
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