Australia has unveiled tougher regulations for international students as part of a broader push to rein in rising migration, similar to measures seen in the United States.
The government said a sharp population increase has added pressure on housing availability, cost of living, and essential services such as education, healthcare and public transport. Over the past 12 months, Australia’s population rose by 1.4% to 27.9 million, including 292,000 migrants from overseas.
To manage population growth, Australia has set a target to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.
Under the new rules, international students will no longer be allowed to bring their family members to Australia. Authorities have also moved to stop “visa hopping,” where students enroll in another course of the same or lower level after finishing their studies to extend their stay.
However, students who complete an undergraduate degree and wish to progress to higher qualifications—such as a master’s program—will still be eligible to seek a visa extension.
