Australia tightens student and working holiday visa rules to cut migration

September 17, 2026 at 10:05 AM2 min

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Australia announced stricter visa rules on Thursday targeting international students, 'visa hoppers' and backpackers to curb immigration. Foreign students will no longer be able to bring their families, and working holiday visas will face a ballot system with reduced caps. The changes aim to bring net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.

Key Facts

Australia's net overseas migration was 292,100 in the 12 months to March 2026, with total population growth of 1.4% to 27.9 million.
The government aims to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 people by 2028.
Working holiday visa second-year ballot will be capped at 45,000, down from 57,000 who qualified last year.
Third-year working holiday visa ballot will be limited to 5,000, down from 31,000 who qualified last year.
British working holidaymakers are exempt from the ballot changes due to the UK-Australia free trade agreement.

Student Visa Restrictions

Foreign students will no longer be able to bring their families with them under the new rules. Those who want to extend their stay must choose a higher qualification, such as moving from a bachelor's to a master's degree. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government would clamp down on 'visa hopping' where students finish a course and then apply for another, often lower qualification. Exemptions apply to foreign students already in Australia, applicants from Pacific and South East Asian countries, and PhD students.

Working Holiday Visa Ballot

Working holiday visas for those aged 18 to 30 will now require a ballot for second and third year extensions. The second-year ballot is capped at 45,000 places, down from 57,000 who qualified last year. The third-year ballot is limited to 5,000 places, down from 31,000 who qualified last year. British working holidaymakers are not affected by these changes due to the UK's free trade agreement with Australia.

Migration Targets

The government aims to bring net overseas migration to 225,000 people by 2028. Australia's population grew 1.4% in the 12 months to March 2026 to 27.9 million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Net overseas migration for that period was 292,100.