Australia tightens visa rules for students, visitors and workers

AUSTRALIA has announced a fresh set of migration policy changes affecting student, visitor, skilled migration and working holiday visas, with the measures being introduced progressively over the next 12 months.

The changes are aimed at maintaining the integrity of Australia’s migration system while helping the government meet its net overseas migration forecasts of 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28.

Student visa rules tightened

Australia will introduce tighter restrictions on student visas, including measures to stop “visa hopping” and limit secondary applicants on most student visas.

The government also plans to take action against migration agents who knowingly assist with visa applications that do not have merit.

New condition for visitor visas

A No Further Stay condition will be introduced on all visitor visas.

According to the government, the measure is intended to ensure visitor visas are used by genuine visitors and are not used as a route to extend stays in Australia.

Skilled migration gets priority in key sectors

Australia will update Ministerial Direction 119 to give processing priority to eligible skilled migration applications in several sectors.

These include healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.

However, the government clarified that priority processing only affects the order in which eligible applications are processed and does not guarantee that an applicant will receive a visa.

Working holiday visas to use ballot system

The Working Holiday Maker Program will introduce a ballot system for applicants seeking second- and third-year visas.

Applicants for these additional years will also be subject to a regional work requirement.

Australia also plans to stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications at three months.

Other migration measures

The government will strengthen compliance measures aimed at ensuring people without valid visas leave Australia.

It will also update Ministerial Direction 110 to provide greater protection for child victims of crime and victims of domestic and family violence, while addressing hate and criminal behaviour.

Australia said the measures will be progressively implemented over the next 12 months, meaning applicants could see changes introduced at different stages rather than through a single implementation date.