Key Points
International students barred from sponsoring family except from Pacific and ASEAN nations.
Working holiday makers face ballot system with regional work requirement in years two and three.
Net overseas migration targets drop to 225,000 by 2027-28 from current 292,100.
Government hiring 100 compliance officers to enforce visa overstayer removals.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke unveiled major changes to Australia’s visa system on September 17, targeting international students and working holiday makers. The reforms will bar family members of international students from joining them in Australia, while a new ballot system will restrict backpackers to regional work in years two and three of their stay. The government aims to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 this financial year and 225,000 by 2027-28.
What the student visa changes mean
International students will no longer be able to bring family members to Australia while studying, except those from Pacific and ASEAN countries and PhD students. Students from Myanmar, Fiji, and other exempted nations can still sponsor relatives. The ban affects hundreds of thousands of students who rely on family support during their studies.
New rules for backpackers and visa overstayers
Working holiday makers will face a ballot system for years two and three of their visa, with a requirement to work in regional areas. Burke also announced new enforcement measures against visa overstayers, including repurposing a Melbourne quarantine facility as a detention centre and hiring 100 additional compliance officers. The government will also crack down on visa hopping by international students seeking to extend their stays.
Industry reaction and concerns
Universities have warned the changes will cause funding shortfalls and project delays. Pakistani student Ali Chatha, two years into an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, said the policy forces students to choose between family and career. Construction, healthcare, and education workers will be prioritised under the new skilled jobs list. Burke rejected claims of mass migration, warning that deeper cuts would damage the economy.
Migration targets and current numbers
Net overseas migration eased to 292,100 in the year to March 2026, down from 299,000 in December 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The March quarter saw 101,005 net arrivals, a 6 per cent fall on the same period in 2025. Burke said the government would enforce compliance to ensure people without valid visas leave Australia.
Final Thoughts
Burke’s reforms reshape Australia’s migration system by restricting student family visas and introducing regional work requirements for backpackers. The changes reflect pressure to meet lower migration targets while maintaining skilled worker intake for key sectors.
FAQs
Only students from Pacific and ASEAN countries, plus PhD students, can sponsor family members. All other international students are barred from bringing relatives.
Working holiday makers must enter a ballot for years two and three of their visa and work in regional areas if selected. The system replaces unlimited extensions.
The government targets 245,000 net overseas migration this financial year and 225,000 by 2027-28, down from current levels of 292,100.
The government will hire 100 compliance officers and repurpose a Melbourne facility as a detention centre to enforce removal of people without valid visas.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author
Danny Kontos
Co FounderDanny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.
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