Update on Australian study abroad and immigration policies – September 17, 2026

Under the announced changes, the majority of international students will not be able to bring their spouses or children to Australia as dependents.

Some cases expected to be exempted include:

• Students enrolled in certain programs, e.g. PhD.

• Students come from countries in the Pacific and ASEAN regions.

This change applies to future cases and will not affect families who are currently in Australia on a current visa.

• Tourist visas issued in the future will come with a No Further Stay condition.

• This condition restricts the application for another visa while the visa holder is in Australia. Exceptions or exemptions must meet specific regulations.

• This change only relates to visas issued in the future and does not affect current visa holders.

• The government has announced plans to strengthen controls on ongoing visa conversions to extend stays in Australia, also known as "hopping visas".

• According to the announced change, international students after completing a course will only be able to continue to a higher level course.

Impact: International students should choose and apply for the right visa from the beginning.

The Government announced plans to adjust Ministerial Directive No. 119 to ensure that the skilled migration program prioritizes processing applications in many key areas, including:

• Healthcare

• Construction

• Agriculture

• Teaching

• Law enforcement

• Defence

• Resources

• Aquaculture and Fishing

This information provides more reference for those who are oriented to study and career in Australia. However, Directive 119 applies to skilled visas, which does not mean that students studying the above disciplines are prioritized for student visas.

When to apply: The timing of the implementation of the new changes has not yet been announced. The scope of application and exceptions for each policy should wait for detailed guidance from the Australian Department of Home Affairs after the amendments are officially issued.

Reference: ABC News report on 17.09.2026 on Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's remarks; reference from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.