Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration
Summary
Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules as the government seeks to reduce migration. The changes are expected to bring net migration down to about 225,000 by 2028, with international education still a major economic contributor.
Key Points
- Australia will ban most foreign students from bringing partners and children and will tighten rules for working holiday visas.
- Visitor visas will include a no-further-stay condition, and student visa renewals will be limited to students moving up the qualification scale.
- The reforms are expected to reduce annual net migration to about 225,000 by 2028 from around 300,000 now.
- International education contributed A$53.6 billion to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, even as visa rules and fees have tightened.
