Australia plans to tighten student visa rules, considering revamping migration system

Australia said on Monday it would tighten visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers, in a move to halve the number of migrants over the next two years. The government is considering reforming the migration system. Under the new policies, international students will be required to obtain higher ratings in English exams and there will be greater scrutiny on a student’s second visa application that will prolong their stay. Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neill said during a media briefing that our strategy will bring migration numbers back to normal.

But it’s not just about numbers. This is not just about this moment and the migration experience happening in our country right now. This is about Australia’s future. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said over the weekend that Australia’s migration numbers needed to get back to sustainable levels, saying the system was broken. O’Neill said the government’s targeted reforms are already putting downward pressure on net overseas migration and will contribute to the expected decline in migrant numbers.

The decision comes after net immigration is expected to reach a record 510,000 in 2022-23. This is projected to fall to around a quarter million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, roughly in line with pre-Covid levels, official data showed. O’Neill said the increase in net overseas migration in 2022-23 was mostly driven by international students. Shares of IDP Education, which provides placement and education services to international students, were down more than 3% in afternoon trading.