Australia tightens visa rules for students, visitors and workers: Key changes explained

Australia has announced a new set of migration policy changes covering student, visitor, skilled migrant and working holiday visas, with the measures being phased in over the next 12 months.

The changes aim to preserve the integrity of Australia’s migration system while helping the government meet its net overseas migration estimates of 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28.

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

The government also plans to crack down on migration agents who knowingly assist with visa applications that are not justified.

New condition for visitor visas

A no-stay condition will be introduced on all visitor visas.

According to the government, the measure is to ensure that visitor visas are used by genuine visitors and not used as a way to extend their stay in Australia.

Skilled migration is a priority in key sectors

Australia is updating Ministerial Order 119 to prioritize processing of eligible skilled migration applications across several sectors.

These include healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defense, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.

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

Working holiday visa to use the voting system

The Working Holiday Maker program will introduce a voting system for second and third year visa applicants.
Applicants for these additional years will also be subject to a regional work requirement.
Australia also plans to stabilize Working Holiday Maker application processing times at three months.

Other migration measures

The Government will strengthen compliance measures to ensure people leave Australia without valid visas.

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

Australia said the measures would be phased in over the next 12 months, meaning applicants could see the changes rolled out in stages rather than a single implementation date.