Australia is preparing a fresh round of immigration changes that will make it harder for some temporary migrants to bring family members to the country or move between visa categories.
Under the new measures, international students will generally face restrictions on bringing their partners and children to Australia while they pursue their studies. The government is also planning tighter rules for temporary visa holders seeking to switch to another visa pathway while remaining in the country.
The changes form part of the government’s broader effort to bring down net overseas migration. The target is to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 in 2026-27 and further to 225,000 in 2027-28. Official figures show that net overseas migration had already declined to 292,100 in the year to March 2026.
Exceptions to the new family restrictions will apply to certain groups, including students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and those enrolled in specific programmes such as PhD courses. People whose family members are already in Australia will not be affected by the new arrangements.
The government is also seeking to prevent international students from repeatedly changing courses or using new courses to extend their stay. Students changing their course will generally need to obtain a new visa, although those progressing to a higher qualification, such as moving from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s programme, will be able to continue under the permitted pathway.
Additional restrictions are being introduced for working holiday visa holders. Australia plans to use a ballot system for second- and third-year visas, with 45,000 places available for second-year visas and 5,000 for third-year visas. Applicants will have to meet the required regional work conditions before becoming eligible for the respective ballots.
The government is also moving to place a ‘no further stay’ condition more broadly on visitor visas, limiting the ability of visitors to remain in Australia while seeking another visa. Enforcement against people who overstay their visas will also be strengthened, with additional compliance officers and detention capacity being provided.
Despite the tighter approach to temporary migration, the government has indicated that skilled migration will continue to support areas facing workforce shortages, including healthcare, construction, agriculture, fisheries and teaching. Proposed changes to the skilled migration points system are also expected to give greater recognition to construction-related trades.
The measures are aimed at reducing pressure from temporary migration while giving the government greater control over visa pathways and the number of people entering and remaining in Australia.