Australia don announce stricter rules on Thursday to curb immigration, and the target na international students, so-called visa hoppers and backpackers. Under the new rules, foreign students no longer go bring their families with them. Any student wey want extend stay must choose a higher qualification.
Rules go also stricter for working holiday visas, the kind backpackers dey use and wey be crucial labour source for agricultural sector. A ballot system go apply, but these changes no go affect UK.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reveal the new rules. He talk say immigration na strength of Australia, but he insist say there must be high level of control.
For international student and graduate visas, Burke talk say: ‘We will no longer be adding to the stock of students automatically being able to bring family members over.’
He talk say exemptions go dey for foreign students wey already dey Australia, and also for applicants from Pacific and South East Asian countries. PhD students go still fit bring their families, because Burke talk say their life circumstances different from undergraduates.
For one speech titled ‘The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves’, Burke reveal a raft of changes. Government aim na to bring net overseas migration to 225,000 people by 2028.
On student visas, he talk say government go clamp down on visa hopping. Na when student finish one course, then apply to do another course, often lower qualification, and sometimes with a not so legitimate provider.
Students wey want go up the scale go still allowed, Burke talk. For example, if student finish bachelor’s degree and then want complete masters.
He also announce major changes to working holiday visas for those wey dey 18 to 30 years old. Dem fit work in Australia for 12 months, but dem fit extend for second and third year.
Currently, these visa holders must work for three months in regional Australia during first year to qualify for second year, and then six months to qualify for third year. Under the new changes, those wey qualify for second year go enter ballot with cap of 45,000, down from 57,000 wey qualify last year. For third year, ballot go limit to 5,000, down from 31,000 wey qualify last year.
British working holidaymakers no go dey affected by these changes because of UK free trade agreement with Australia.
New figures wey Australian Bureau of Statistics release on Thursday show say Australia population grow 1.4% in the 12 months to March 2026 to 27.9m. That total figure include births and deaths, plus net overseas migration of 292,100.
Migration remain major political issue as debate around Australia population grow amid rising living costs, housing affordability and increased strain on public services.
One Nation, one populist right-wing party wey known for anti-immigration stance and wey don see surge in support in recent months, detail im migration policy earlier this week. The party propose to cut temporary migrant visas by 750,000 over three years.
The party, wey win im first lower house seat in May, also want cap net overseas immigration to 130,000. Burke rebuke that proposal, talk say such move risk smashing parts of the Australian economy.
In July, government introduce policy to prioritise applications for family visas lodged onshore, where applicant already dey country, over those submitted overseas. Skilled migrants already in Australia wey apply for permanent visas also get priority over those applying from overseas. Government also pause applications for working holiday visas from 24 countries, not including UK.
Violet Roumeliotis, from Settlement Services International wey dey help new arrivals to Australia, talk say migration debate increasingly driven by short-term politics rather than what is best for country. She talk say proposed changes to family visas for international students na good example. She add say e go make am harder for Australia to compete for future talent.
