On 17 September 2026, Australian Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced new immigration regulations aimed at reducing net overseas migration (NOM) to 245,000 for the 2026/27 financial year and 225,000 in 2027/28. The announcement at Canberra’s National Press Club outlines restrictions on family visas for international students and intensified measures to address visa overstaying, according to the Department of Home Affairs.
Restrictions on International Student Family Visas
Under the new policy, most international students will be required to study in Australia without their dependants or family members, except for PhD candidates and those sponsored by overseas governments. Last year, Australia issued over 337,000 international
student visas, approximately 45,000 of which were granted to family members. Keri Ramirez, Managing Director of Studymove, noted that over 70% of these secondary visas were issued to dependants from South Asian countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka.
These visa restrictions are intended to curb long-term migration linked to student families staying beyond their initial visa periods.
Enforcement Measures Against Visa Overstayers
The government plans to expand its compliance workforce by adding 100 officers tasked with ensuring foreign nationals without valid visas depart Australia. A former quarantine facility in Melbourne is being repurposed as a detention centre for those who overstay visa
conditions. Additionally, all visitor visas will now carry a ‘no further stay’ condition to prevent extensions and restrict visits strictly to short-term stays.
Minister Burke emphasized that the enforcement approach differs from operations seen in countries such as the United States, stating, “This is not the sort of operation that some people have seen on TV happening in other countries.” He criticized the prior system where people applying onshore were routinely granted bridging visas, calling it “a double standard that really has no logic attached to it.”
Changes to Backpacker and Working Holidaymaker Visas
The backpacker visa program will introduce a ballot for the second and third
visa years, with mandatory regional work requirements to support local economies. Processing times for working holidaymaker visas are expected to stabilize at around three months. However, working holidaymakers from the United Kingdom will remain exempt from these caps and regional work obligations due to terms established in the Australia-UK free trade agreement. As of the announcement, nearly 80,000 UK working holidaymakers reside in Australia, more than double the pre-pandemic figure of 35,000.
Skilled Migration Prioritization and Industry Reactions
The government will prioritize skilled visa applications for professions in healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors. Tony Burke outlined this directive intending
to align migration intake with Australia’s economic needs.
Industry groups have expressed mixed views on the reforms. Bran Black, CEO of the Business Chamber of Australia, welcomed the policy but warned about potential delays in processing skilled worker visas. Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy cautioned that the new restrictions could hinder reaching the government’s international student target of 295,000 commencements annually, especially given that enrolments are currently 8% below the previous year. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre criticized the government for unclear policies affecting asylum seekers.
Official Statements on Immigration Changes
Tony Burke summarized the government’s stance: “The government supports immigration but is opposed to
anyone rorting the immigration system.” He stated that enforcement reforms aim for better targeted migration aligned with Australia’s current priorities.
Luke Sheehy remarked on policy challenges, saying, “You can’t set a sustainable level with one hand and make it harder to get there. If 295,000 is the right level for Australia, the settings need to give universities a realistic chance of getting there.” Meanwhile, Keri Ramirez highlighted the impact on South Asian student families, noting, “South Asian countries accounted for more than 70% of all dependent visas granted last financial year offshore, with 10,448 visas granted to student dependents from
Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka.”
Current Migration Statistics and Targets
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, net overseas migration fell to 292,000 in the year ending March 2026, down from 299,000 six months earlier. The government aims to further lower NOM to 245,000 for the 2026/27 financial year and 225,000 in 2027/28.
International student visa arrivals are targeted at 295,000 commencements per year, though current rates show an 8% decline. The student visa charge of $2,500 and policy instability have been cited as factors diminishing Australia’s appeal compared to other destinations like France, Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand.
The new policies prioritize
workforce needs and address abuse of the visa system, while imposing stricter controls on family members accompanying students and on visa overstayers.
