Auckland (The NZ Today)
Australia has announced a major overhaul of its immigration system, with changes targeting international student family arrangements, visa switching, overstayers and temporary migration numbers.
The biggest change will affect future international students, who will no longer be able to automatically bring family members to Australia through linked visa arrangements.
Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said new international students would no longer be allowed to attach family members to their visas, while those already in Australia with their families would not be separated under the changes.
“We’re not going to be breaking up families on shore,” Burke said, adding that existing arrangements would continue until people leave Australia or become eligible for permanent residency.
The reform comes as the Australian Government aims to reduce net overseas migration to around 225,000 by 2027–28, after migration levels increased significantly following the reopening of borders after Covid-19.
Official figures show Australia granted more than 337,000 international student visas in the previous financial year, with around 46,000 secondary applicants, including dependants and family members.
The Government is also moving to tighten rules around “visa hopping”, where temporary visa holders move between different visa categories to extend their stay. Changes will also target people who remain in Australia after their visas expire, with increased compliance efforts planned.
Another focus of the overhaul is changing migration settings to give the Government greater control over who enters Australia, who stays and who leaves, rather than relying heavily on demand-driven visa pathways.
The reforms will also include stronger action against migration fraud, including tougher measures targeting migration agents involved in improper applications.
However, some exceptions will remain. Reports indicate students from some Pacific and ASEAN countries, as well as PhD students, will continue to have access to family arrangements under the revised settings.
Australia’s international education sector has warned that tighter student rules could affect universities and the wider economy, with education providers highlighting the financial contribution made by overseas students.
The changes come as governments in Australia face growing debate over housing pressures, infrastructure capacity and the pace of population growth.
Source: Australian Government immigration announcements; ABC News
