Australian media reported on the 17th that Australia will ban the spouses and children of international students from accompanying them to the country and will simultaneously tighten rules regarding visa changes for temporary migrants.
Under current policies, the spouses or partners of international students are permitted to work in Australia—though the allowed working hours vary depending on the student’s course of study—and students may also bring their children under the age of 18 with them.
Under the new regulations, international students will no longer automatically qualify to bring their families to Australia. Australian government data shows that in the 2025–2026 fiscal year, approximately 337,000 student visas were approved, with about 46,000 of these issued to secondary applicants accompanying the primary visa holders.
Reports indicate that the Australian government aims to reduce net overseas migration—the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the country—to 225,000 by 2028, down from the current level of approximately 300,000.
Since 2022, there has been a significant surge in the number of people arriving in Australia, primarily international students, backpackers, and temporary skilled workers. Although the number of such arrivals has trended downward over the past two years, critics maintain that the influx of migrants exacerbates pressure on Australia’s housing and infrastructure and undermines social cohesion.