Australia will implement stricter visa regulations for foreign students, backpackers, and working holiday-makers as part of a broader government effort to curb migration, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Thursday.
The reforms introduce several key changes, including a ban on international students bringing partners or children to join them during their studies. Additionally, individuals who overstay their working holiday visas will face stricter enforcement measures. The government is also targeting “visa hopping,” a practice where foreign nationals extend their stay by moving from one temporary visa to another.
“If you want to come on a temporary basis to Australia, apply for a temporary visa. If you want to come to Australia permanently, apply for a permanent visa. And if you no longer have a valid visa, you should leave Australia,” Burke stated.
Burke emphasized that while immigration remains a core strength for the nation, adjustments were necessary to allow the housing market to recover. He acknowledged the severe housing shortage but clarified that migrants are not the cause. The government aims to lower net annual migration from the current 300,000 to approximately 225,000 by 2028, returning to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. Migration peaked at 538,000 in 2022 following the reopening of borders, though recent data shows a decline to 292,100 in the year leading to March.
Students constitute the largest segment of immigrants, with roughly 753,000 foreign students currently residing in Australia, primarily from China and India. Under the new rules, those who overstay will revert to a policy from a decade ago, giving them two weeks to depart or face detention and deportation. People seeking to extend working holiday visas for rural work will enter a ballot system for a second or third year, and applicants with skills in construction and housing will receive priority.
The minister also dismissed suggestions that the Labor Party is adopting these measures in response to rising poll numbers for the far-right One Nation party. One Nation has campaigned on an “Australia First” platform similar to US policies under Donald Trump, recently pledging to cut temporary migration by 750,000 over three years to provide economic relief. Immigration and the cost of living have emerged as top concerns for voters in recent surveys.
Does capping visas actually increase housing supply? We need more construction, not just fewer people waiting for homes.
Finally, some common sense. The housing crisis is unbearable and this is a necessary step to get ahead of it.