The changes are aimed at maintaining the integrity of Australia’s migration system and delivering the government’s net overseas migration forecasts of 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28.
Student visas
Australia will tighten student visa rules by stopping visa hopping and restricting secondary applicants on most student visas.
The government will also crack down on migration agents who knowingly support visa applications without merit.
Visitor visas
A No Further Stay condition will be introduced on all visitor visas.
The government said the move is intended to ensure visitor visas are used by genuine visitors rather than as a pathway to extend stays in Australia.
Skilled migration
Australia will update Ministerial Direction 119 to provide priority processing for skilled migration in sectors including healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.
The change concerns processing priority for eligible applications and does not itself guarantee a visa.Working holiday visas
The Working Holiday Maker Program will introduce a ballot system for second- and third-year visas. These years will also have a regional work requirement.
Australia will also seek to stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications at three months.
Other changes
The government will strengthen compliance measures to ensure people without valid visas leave Australia.
It will also update Ministerial Direction 110 to better protect child victims of crime and victims of domestic and family violence, while addressing hate and criminal behaviour.
The government said the measures will be progressively implemented over the next 12 months.
