Major Immigration Updates Announced

On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stood at the National Press Club and announced Australia’s most significant migration overhaul in years. Speaking under the title “The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves,” Burke confirmed a target to cut net overseas migration from around 292,100 to 245,000 in the 2026 to 2027 financial year, then to 225,000 a year after.

The changes reach across the migration system at once. Student visas, visitor visas, working holiday visas, skilled migration processing, and enforcement against people without a valid visa are all affected, making this relevant to a wide range of people currently living, studying, working, or planning to move to Australia.

Most of these measures are being introduced through ministerial direction and regulation, not new legislation, after talks between Labour and the Coalition on greater legislative changes broke down. That distinction matters. This article separates what the government has announced from what has actually commenced, so you know exactly where things stand.

What Are the Major Australian Migration Changes in 2026?

This table will be updated as the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) publishes further detail. Readers should not treat “announced” measures as law that is already implemented.

International Students Face New Family Visa Restrictions

Can international students still bring family to Australia?

Under the announced changes, international students and graduates will generally no longer be able to automatically bring a partner or children with them as secondary applicants on most student visas. The government has said exemptions are intended for some groups, including students from Pacific and ASEAN countries, and those undertaking PhD studies.

Who is affected by the new student family rules?

The restriction is aimed at secondary applicants, meaning partners and children applying alongside a student, rather than the primary student applicant. Student visa numbers themselves are not the direct target of this particular measure; it is specifically about who can accompany a student to Australia.

What happens to families already in Australia?

Mr. Burke stated that families already in Australia would not be separated under the new arrangements. However, the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) has not yet published the specific transitional rules that will apply to existing student dependants, so families in this situation should treat this as a general assurance rather than a confirmed legal guarantee until the department publishes details.

Are there any exceptions or transitional arrangements?

Reported exceptions include students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and PhD candidates. Beyond Mr Burke’s public statements, the precise scope of these exceptions, and any transitional provisions for people who have already lodged applications, has not yet been confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA).

Australia Tightens Rules Around Visa Hopping

What is visa hopping?

In this context, “visa hopping” refers to patterns such as switching between courses, institutions or visa types in ways the government considers are being used mainly to extend a stay in Australia rather than to genuinely progress an education or migration pathway.

How could the new rules affect temporary visa holders?

The government has announced measures to improve the integrity of student visas, including stopping students from “hopping down” to lower-level courses as a way of prolonging their stay in Australia.

What is the difference between visa hopping and legitimate visa progression?

Not every change of course, institution or visa is “visa hopping.” Genuinely progressing from one course to a higher-level qualification, or changing providers for legitimate study reasons, is different from using repeated switches primarily to extend time in Australia. The government has not yet published the detailed criteria the Department will use to distinguish between the two, so this distinction should be watched closely as further detail is released.

No Further Stay Conditions for Visitor Visas

What is a No Further Stay condition?

A “No Further Stay” condition is a visa condition that generally prevents the holder from applying for most other visas while they remain in Australia on that visa.

How will the new visitor visa rules work?

The government has announced it will apply a No Further Stay condition to all visitor visas, aimed at stopping visitor visa holders from “hopping” onto bridging visas or other pathways to extend their time in the country.

Can visitor visa holders apply for another visa in Australia?

Based on the announcement, the intention is that most visitor visa holders will need to leave Australia to apply for most other visa types, rather than switching visas onshore. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) has not yet published the final legislative instrument, so the exact scope of any exceptions is not yet confirmed.

Working Holiday Maker Visa Changes

New ballot for second and third year visas

Previously, only first-year Working Holiday Maker visas were subject to a ballot process. Under the announced changes, a ballot system will be extended to second and third year visas as well. Reported figures put the year two ballot cap at 45,000 places, down from 57,000 the previous year, and the year three cap at 5,000 places, down from 31,000.

Regional work requirements

An additional regional work requirement has also been flagged as part of the Working Holiday Maker changes, though the department has not yet published the detailed criteria.

Changes to Working Holiday Maker processing

The government has said the existing freeze on processing some Working Holiday Maker visas will end, with a goal of stabilising processing times at around three months.

What about UK Working Holiday Makers?

Bilateral arrangements, including any specific treatment for working holiday makers from particular countries such as the United Kingdom, have not been detailed in the announcement. Applicants from specific countries should check official Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) guidance once it is published, rather than relying on general reporting.

Skilled Migration Processing Priorities Are Changing

What is Ministerial Direction 119?

Ministerial Direction 119 is a direction, first issued in July 2026, that governs the order in which the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) processes certain visa applications. It effectively sets processing priority, not eligibility. Mr Burke has confirmed the government intends to update Direction 119 to expand its coverage to additional sectors.

Which industries receive priority?

The government has referred to sectors including construction, healthcare, education and agriculture as receiving processing priority under the expanded direction. Other sectors, such as resources, defence, law enforcement and fishing, have been mentioned in broader migration reporting, but readers should confirm the final list against the published Ministerial Direction once the update is formalised.

What does priority processing actually mean?

It is important not to confuse processing priority with visa eligibility. Being in a priority sector does not by itself guarantee:

• Visa approval,
• A nomination,
• An invitation to apply, or
• Permanent residence.

It generally means an application may be processed sooner relative to lower priority applications, provided the applicant already meets the relevant visa’s eligibility criteria.

Australia Introduces Stronger Measures for Visa Overstayers

The government has announced it will take a firmer approach to people who no longer hold a valid visa, distinguishing between:

• Lawful temporary or permanent visa holders,
• People whose visa has simply expired (a different situation from someone found to have committed a criminal offence), and
• Unlawful non-citizens, who the government says will face stronger compliance action.

Announced measures include additional compliance officers and additional detention capacity, which Mr Burke described as broadly returning to the compliance approach that applied before 2015, rather than adopting the approach used in some other countries. He also acknowledged the measure is likely to attract criticism.

Not every person without a valid visa will necessarily face detention or removal in the same way. Individual circumstances, including any pending applications or review rights, will affect how compliance action applies. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) has not yet published the operational details of how this will be rolled out.

New Measures Target Migration Agents

The government has flagged a crackdown on migration agents it describes as “rogue,” aimed at agents who knowingly lodge applications without merit or otherwise breach their professional obligations. Specific sanctions or enforcement mechanisms have not yet been detailed publicly by the Department. This announcement is not a finding against any particular agent or organisation, and applicants are encouraged to use appropriately registered migration professionals.

What Is Changing Under Ministerial Direction 110?

Ministerial Direction 110 is a separate direction dealing with character-related visa decisions, including visa refusal and cancellation in cases involving criminal conduct. It should not be confused with Direction 119, which deals with processing priority for skilled and other visa categories.

The government has announced it will update Direction 110 to strengthen protections for child victims of crime, and for victims of domestic and family violence and hate crimes, alongside broader powers to cancel visas in these circumstances. Direction 110 has previously attracted public criticism over cases where it was said to have allowed some visa holders with serious criminal histories to avoid deportation. As with the other measures above, the precise wording and commencement of the updated direction have not yet been published.

When Will the New Australian Migration Rules Start?

An exact commencement date has not yet been confirmed for most of these measures. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) is expected to publish further detail, including any relevant legislative instruments, in the coming weeks. This page will need to be updated once that detail is available.

Who Will Be Affected by Australia’s Migration Changes?

International students. May see changes to course progression and family visa rules, but student visas themselves have not been banned.

Student dependents. Partners and children of students will generally no longer be automatic secondary applicants on most student visas, subject to exceptions still being confirmed.

Graduate visa applicants. The announcement primarily concerns student visas; the government has not confirmed equivalent changes to graduate visa rules at this stage.

Skilled workers. May benefit from faster processing if their occupation or sector falls within the updated Ministerial Direction 119 priority list, but this does not change underlying visa eligibility requirements.

Visitor visa holders. Will generally be expected to leave Australia to apply for most other visas once the No Further Stay condition is applied, rather than switching visas onshore.

Working Holiday Makers. Face a new ballot for second and third year visas, alongside a regional work requirement.

Visa overstayers. Face stronger compliance measures, though individual circumstances will still matter.

Migration agents. Face closer scrutiny of applications lodged on behalf of clients, particularly where an agent is alleged to have acted improperly.

What Has NOT Changed?

• International students have not been completely banned from Australia. The changes are specifically about family and secondary applicants and course-hopping behaviour, not primary student visa grants.
• Skilled migration to Australia continues; what is changing is processing priority for certain sectors, not the underlying eligibility framework.
• Legitimate course or visa progression should not automatically be treated as “visa hopping.” The government has not published detailed criteria for how this distinction will be applied.
• Families already in Australia have been given a general assurance they will not be separated, though the department has not yet confirmed the specific transitional rules.
• Earlier media speculation, including reports the refugee intake would be cut by a third, has not been confirmed as government policy. The Prime Minister has stated the refugee intake will remain at 20,000.

What These Australia Migration Changes Mean for People

Planning to Migrate

If you are planning to study, work, visit or remain in Australia, it is worth taking a measured approach rather than reacting to headlines:

• Check the specific visa requirements that apply to your own circumstances, rather than assuming a general announcement applies to your exact situation.
• Check whether a particular measure has actually commenced, or is still awaiting a formal legislative instrument or ministerial direction.
• Check for any transitional provisions that may apply if you already hold a visa or have a pending application.
• Avoid relying on social media summaries or informal translations of the announcement, which can oversimplify or misstate the details.
• Where your situation is complex, for example, you are a student with a partner or children in Australia, a visitor visa holder considering an onshore application, or a Working Holiday Maker planning a second or third year, obtain professional advice tailored to your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need Clarity on Recent Migration Changes?

Australian migration policy can change quickly, and an announcement does not always mean a new rule has started. Understanding what applies to your visa and circumstances before you act can help you make informed decisions.

If you are unsure how a recent change may affect your visa options, “Book Confidential Consultation” with Ghothane Lawyers to discuss your circumstances and next steps with our team.

Sources

• Minister for Home Affairs, official ministerial profile page, referenced for the National Press Club address titled “The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves,” 17 September 2026: minister.homeaffairs.gov.au
• SBS News: Live updates: Tony Burke speaks on migration overhaul as key changes revealed, 17 September 2026
• ABC News: Labor to unveil delayed migration overhaul targeting temporary visas, 17 September 2026
• ABC News: International students to be effectively barred from bringing family to Australia, 16 September 2026
• The Conversation: Migration changes to hit students’ families and working holiday makers, 17 September 2026
• IBTimes AU: Tony Burke Unveils Labor’s Long-Delayed Migration Overhaul Targeting Temporary Visas and Overstayers, 17 September 2026
• Australian Associated Press (AAP), carried via Bega District News: Labor to crack down on foreign students, family visas, 17 September 2026

Note: the Department of Home Affairs’ own ministerial website did not have a published written media release available at the time of research. The National Press Club address itself, as reported consistently across the outlets above, is the primary source for the announcement. This section should be updated once the Department publishes its own official release or legislative instruments.