Australia announces Major Immigration Change for International Students

Australia will prevent most international students from bringing family members into the country under sweeping changes to its migration system announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

Under the new policy, most future international students will no longer automatically be able to bring their partners or dependent family members with them to Australia.

However, exemptions are expected for some categories, including students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and those undertaking PhD studies.

The changes will apply prospectively, meaning international students and their family members already in Australia will not be affected by the new restrictions.

The measures form part of the Australian government’s plan to reduce net overseas migration, with the government targeting a decline to 225,000 by 2027-28.

The government is also moving to restrict so-called “visa hopping,” where temporary visa holders repeatedly switch visa categories to extend their stay in Australia.

According to ABC News, more than 337,000 student visas were granted in the last financial year, including nearly 46,000 secondary applicants classified as dependants or family members.

Under Australia’s existing rules, international students can generally include a spouse or partner and dependent children under 18 in their student visa application, subject to eligibility requirements.

Burke said the broader reforms were intended to give the government greater control over migration while targeting misuse of the visa system.

The changes are particularly significant for prospective international students planning to study in Australia with their spouses or children. (Newswire)

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