Australia Enacts Stricter Visa Rules to Cut Migration

The Australian government is implementing stricter rules for student and working holiday visas, aiming to reduce annual net migration to approximately 225,000 by 2028, aligning with pre-pandemic levels. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed claims that these changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party, which has proposed cutting temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years.

The reforms include introducing a ballot system for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas and preventing visitor visa holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category. International students will only be able to renew their visas if they advance in their qualification levels, with some exceptions for students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia regarding family accompaniment.

The government plans to hire 100 additional compliance officers to enforce visa regulations and address visa overstayers. The international education sector, which contributed A$53.6 billion to the economy in the year to June 2025, remains a focal point of the Labor government's migration reduction efforts.