Australia announced new immigration regulations on September 17, 2026, aiming to reduce net overseas migration (NOM) to 245,000 for the 2026/27 financial year and 225,000 in 2027/28, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said at the National Press Club in Canberra.
Targeted Groups and Visa Caps
The new policies particularly restrict international students from bringing family members, with most students now required to arrive without dependants. In 2025-26, Australia granted 337,400 student visas, about 46,000 to dependants. Exemptions remain for PhD students and overseas Government-sponsored scholars, who may still bring family members. The changes also address visa overstayers and backpackers, with backpacker visa rules now including
a ballot system for second and third years alongside a regional work requirement.
Enforcement Measures and Visitor Visa Conditions
The government plans to repurpose a former quarantine facility in Melbourne as a detention center for foreign nationals found without valid visas. An additional 100 compliance officers will be hired to enforce departures. A new “no further stay” condition will be imposed on all visitor visas to deter misuse and ensure visitors do not overstay or transition to other visa classes. Minister Burke highlighted that current bridging visa practices for onshore applicants create inconsistencies and have enabled visa abuse.
Visa Processing and Exemptions
Processing times for working holidaymaker visas will be
stabilized at three months. Working holidaymakers from the UK are exempt from caps and regional work requirements under an existing free trade agreement. The government also intends to prioritize visa applications for in-demand skills in healthcare, education, construction, law enforcement, defense, resources, agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
Reactions From Industry and Advocacy Groups
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy expressed concern that high student visa charges, slow processing, and other hurdles are already causing a decline in international student commencements, which dropped 8% from the previous year. He stressed that achieving government migration targets requires more supportive conditions for universities. Studymove managing director Keri Ramirez pointed out
that South Asian countries—Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka—accounted for over 70% of dependent visas last financial year, increasing the impact of the new restrictions on this group.
Business Chamber of Australia CEO Bran Black welcomed the reforms but warned that new rules might slow skilled worker visa processing. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre criticized unclear policies on time restrictions for asylum seekers, framing migrants and refugees as politically vulnerable.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, “The government supports immigration but is opposed to anyone rorting the immigration system.” He emphasized fairness in migration control and acknowledged the challenges
of managing rapid working holidaymaker growth, particularly from the UK, where numbers have risen to nearly 80,000, more than double the pre-pandemic figure.
