Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Australia tightens visa rules for students, visitors and workers
Australia is changing several rules for people who want to visit, study, work or migrate there.
The changes will be introduced over the next year.
Students will face tighter rules to stop people from switching visas repeatedly.
Most student visas will also have limits on additional applicants.
Visitors will not normally be able to extend their stay using the same visa.
Applications from skilled workers in important sectors will be processed first, but this does not guarantee approval.
People seeking second- or third-year working holiday visas will enter a ballot and must complete regional work.
The government also plans stronger action against invalid stays and some forms of harmful or criminal behavior.
Australia will progressively introduce migration changes over the next 12 months.
Student visa rules will target visa hopping and limit secondary applicants on most student visas.
All visitor visas will receive a No Further Stay condition.
Skilled migration applications in priority sectors will receive faster processing, but no visa guarantee.
Second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker visas will use a ballot and require regional work.
- Who
- The Australian Government, students, visitors, skilled migrants, working holiday applicants and migration agents.
- What
- Australia is tightening and changing rules for student, visitor, skilled migration and Working Holiday Maker visas.
- When
- The measures will be introduced progressively over the next 12 months; migration forecasts refer to the current financial year and 2027-28.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- To maintain the integrity of the migration system, meet net overseas migration forecasts and strengthen compliance.
- Implementation
- Measures will be introduced progressively over the next 12 months.
- Migration forecast
- The government forecasts net overseas migration of 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28.
- Student visas
- Rules will target visa hopping and limit secondary applicants on most student visas.
- Visitor visas
- A No Further Stay condition will be introduced on all visitor visas.
- Priority sectors
- Healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.
- Working Holiday Maker visas
- Second- and third-year applicants will use a ballot and face a regional work requirement.
- Processing target
- Working Holiday Maker application processing times are intended to stabilize at three months.