Australia has introduced stricter migration controls focusing on international students, visa hoppers, and backpackers, the government announced in 2026. These measures target those extending their stay through lower qualification courses and limit backpacker working holiday visa extensions.
Changes to Family Visa Entitlements for Students
International students will no longer be allowed to automatically bring family members except under specific exemptions. PhD students can continue to bring family due to their different circumstances. Exemptions also apply for current students and applicants from Pacific and South East Asian countries. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, “We will no longer be adding to the stock of students automatically being able
to bring family members over.”
The government also clamps down on “visa hopping,” where students enroll in lower qualifications to extend their stay. Students extending their stay must pursue higher level qualifications, such as progressing from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree.
Working Holiday Visa Ballot System and Limits
Working holiday visas, which allow individuals aged 18 to 30 to work in Australia for one year with regional work requirements, will face new restrictions through a ballot system for extensions. The cap for second-year visa extensions is set at 45,000, reduced from 57,000 in 2025. Third-year extensions will be limited to 5,000 places, down from 31,000 last
year.
British working holiday visa holders are exempt from these caps due to Australia’s free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Applications for working holiday visas from 24 countries, excluding the UK, have been paused.
Population Growth and Migration Figures
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s population grew 1.4% to 27.9 million in the 12 months to March 2026. Net overseas migration during this period reached 292,100. The government has set a target to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 people by 2028.
Political Context and Migration Policies
The One Nation party, a right-wing populist group, proposes cutting temporary migrant visas by 750,000 over three years and capping
net overseas migration at 130,000. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned such drastic reduction would risk “smashing parts of the Australian economy.”
Recent policy changes prioritize family visa applications lodged by applicants already in Australia over those submitted from abroad, and skilled migrants applying for permanent residence within the country receive priority.
Impact on Travelers and Official Statements
The migration changes will restrict international students’ ability to bring family unless they qualify for exemptions. Students must enroll in higher qualifications to extend their stay rather than lower. The working holiday visa changes impose quantitative caps on second and third-year extensions, affecting backpackers seeking longer stays.
Settlement
Services International, which assists new migrants, criticized the family visa changes, saying they make it harder for Australia to compete for future talent. Violet Roumeliotis, a representative, said, “Migration was increasingly driven by short-term politics rather than what is best for the country.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described immigration as a “strength” for Australia but argued a “high level of control” was necessary to manage it effectively.
