An IMGlobalWealth.news Report
Australia will prevent most international students from bringing partners and children into the country under a new package of measures intended to reduce migration and strengthen visa enforcement.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said exemptions would principally apply to certain students from Pacific and Southeast Asian countries. The government will also tighten working-holiday arrangements, introduce measures against “visa hopping” and recruit 100 additional compliance officers to pursue people who overstay their visas.
The reforms are intended to reduce annual net overseas migration from about 300,000 to 225,000 by 2027–28. Migration peaked at 518,000 in 2023, with international students accounting for more than half of recent arrivals.
More than 337,000 student visas were issued in 2025, including approximately 45,000 for dependants. Australia has already increased visa fees and tightened English-language and financial requirements for international applicants.
The changes affect a major export industry. International education generated A$53.6 billion for Australia and ranked as its fourth-largest export, according to figures cited by Reuters. Universities have warned that further restrictions could reduce enrolments and damage the sector.
Business groups have also raised concerns over access to workers, although the government plans to give priority to skilled migrants in shortage areas including healthcare, construction, education and agriculture.
International students and their dependants form part of Australia’s temporary workforce, particularly in hospitality, retail and other service industries. Australia previously increased the amount of time international students may work from 40 to 48 hours per fortnight following labour shortages.
The policy follows similar measures elsewhere. Britain largely barred international students from bringing dependants in 2024, while Canada and the Netherlands have also tightened student migration rules.
The OECD said concerns over housing, recruitment standards, public-service capacity and immigration levels had prompted Australia, Canada, Britain and the Netherlands to impose stricter policies. Canada recorded a 61% fall in newly issued study permits between 2024 and 2025.
The measures illustrate how several Western governments are seeking to lower overall migration while retaining targeted entry routes for sectors facing persistent labour and skills shortages.
