The Indian Express ·
Politics
Australia tightens student visas: What changes for Indians?
The reforms target international students, working-holiday makers and people who use successive visa pathways to extend their stay in Australia.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Thursday announced new immigration measures targeting temporary visa holders, including international students and working-holiday makers, as the government seeks greater control over migration.
In a speech titled “The Work of Managing the Migration Program: Who Arrives, Who Stays, Who Leaves”, Burke said immigration remained important to Australia, but the government needed greater control over the migration system.
Who will be affected?
The reforms target international students, working-holiday makers and people who use successive visa pathways to extend their stay in Australia. The government is also tightening measures against visa overstayers. Burke said the changes are intended to help meet net overseas migration targets of 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 from 2027-28.
i) Most international students will no longer be able to automatically bring family members to Australia under the new arrangements. Exceptions will apply to students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and certain courses, including PhD programmes. Families already in Australia will not be separated under the changes, according to the government.
ii) Students who want to extend their stay must choose a qualification higher than what they have completed. Burke said the government would clamp down on “visa hopping” — where a student completes a course, then applies to another one which is often for a lower qualification and sometimes with a “not so legitimate provider”. Students who want to go “up the scale” will be allowed, he added.
iii) Rules will also be tighter for working holiday visas – commonly acquired by backpackers and a crucial chunk of the labour force for the agricultural sector – with a ballot system. Working holiday visas are used by people aged between 18 and 30 years, who are permitted to work in Australia for 12 months, but can extend for a second and even a third year.
Under the existing system, working-holiday makers generally need to complete 88 days of eligible regional work to qualify for a second year and six months for a third year. Under the new system, those who meet the requirements will enter a ballot. The second-year ballot will have 45,000 places, compared with about 57,000 people who qualified last year. The third-year ballot will have only 5,000 places, compared with about 31,000 who qualified last year.
What changes for Indians?
Family members can no longer be automatically attached to general student visas.
Families already in Australia will not be separated.
Exceptions: PhD students and certain Pacific/ASEAN nationals.
Students completing a course must now generally move up the qualification level.
Switching courses purely to extend the stay is heavily restricted.
Places for second and third-year extensions have been scaled back alongside strict regional work requirements.
Post-study work rights secured under the Australia–India ECTA remain fully protected, shielding Indian graduates.
These duration entitlements remain documented and preserved by Australia's DFAT for Indian nationals.
What do these new rules mean for India?
Indian students planning to enrol in undergraduate or non-PhD postgraduate programmes will need to check whether they qualify for any exemption before making plans to bring family members to Australia.
Students in eligible PhD programmes will remain able to bring family members, while families already in Australia will not be separated under the new arrangements.
Burke was also asked about the impact of the changes on Indian nationals and Australia’s commitments under its free-trade agreements with India. He said Australia would continue to honour those commitments. The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement provides specific post-study work arrangements for Indian graduates, including stays of up to four years for doctoral graduates.
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.
Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.
Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More