17/09/2026
Australia has announced major migration reforms that will restrict secondary applicants on most student visas, meaning many international students will no longer be able to automatically include family members. Exceptions are expected for some groups, including PhD students and students from Pacific and ASEAN countries. The government is also targeting visa hopping, overstayers and misuse of visitor visas as it aims to bring net overseas migration down to 245,000 this financial year and 225,000 by 2027–28.
The changes will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months, according to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.