Australia Tightens Student Visa Rules, Family Access Restricted

Australia is tightening visa rules for international students and backpackers as part of efforts to reduce immigration. Under the new rules, most international students will not be allowed to bring their spouses or children with them while studying. Rules for working holiday visas will also be tightened.

According to Reuters, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the reforms on Thursday (September 17). The government expects the measures to reduce annual net migration to around 225,000 by 2028, down from about 300,000 currently.

Under the new rules, family members of most student visa holders will no longer be able to apply separately to join them in Australia. However, students from some Pacific island nations and Southeast Asian countries will remain eligible to bring their spouses and children.

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The government will also introduce a lottery system for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas. A “no further stay” condition will also be added to all visitor visas, preventing holders from remaining in Australia to apply for another visa, such as a partner visa.

According to Reuters, the international education sector contributed A$53.6 billion to Australia’s economy in the year to June 2025. Meanwhile, net overseas migration stood at 306,000 in the same period, with international students accounting for more than half.

Net overseas migration reached a record 518,000 in 2023.