Breaking: Australian Government Cracks Down on Visa Hopping: Major Reforms to Student and Graduate Visas
In a decisive move to reform Australia’s migration system, the Albanese Government is implementing new measures to restrict ‘visa hopping’—a practice that has allowed students and other temporary visa holders to extend their stay indefinitely. This initiative is part of the broader Migration Strategy released last year, aimed at restoring integrity to the international student system and managing population growth more effectively.
Significant Growth in Visa Extensions
The Migration Strategy highlighted a substantial increase in international students remaining in Australia on subsequent student visas, with numbers growing by over 30% to more than 150,000 in 2022-23. This trend has prompted concerns about the long-term impact on Australia’s population growth and resource allocation.
Renowned Australian demographer Peter McDonald emphasized the importance of addressing visa hopping. He suggested that limiting visa applications from individuals already in the country would be a more effective way to manage population growth than reducing permanent migration intake.
Government Actions and Policy Changes
The Government has already taken several actions to address this issue. These include imposing no further stay conditions on visitor visas and implementing the Genuine Student requirement in March. This policy change has prevented thousands of students from extending their stay by continuously switching from one student visa to another without credible course progression. Additional measures, such as ending unrestricted work rights and phasing out the former Government’s COVID visa, have also been introduced to maintain the integrity of the international student system.
Annual Market Salary Rate New Measures Effective 1 July
Starting 1 July, the Albanese Government is introducing two major changes:
- Visitor Visa Restrictions: Visitor visa holders will no longer be able to apply for student visas while onshore. This change addresses the increasing use of the visitor-to-student pathway, which saw over 36,000 applications from 1 July 2023 to the end of May 2024, undermining the offshore student visa integrity measures.
- Temporary Graduate Visa Restrictions: Temporary Graduate visa holders will also be barred from applying for student visas onshore. The Grattan Institute’s “Graduates in Limbo” report revealed that 32% of Temporary Graduate visa holders return to study after their visa expires, prolonging their stay in Australia. This change clarifies that graduates should secure skilled jobs and pursue permanent residency or depart the country, rather than remaining in a ‘permanently temporary’ status.
These changes align with other reforms for Temporary Graduate visa holders, including shorter post-study work rights, reduced age limits from 50 to 35 years, and higher English language requirements introduced in March.
Impact on Net Overseas Migration
Together, these measures are expected to significantly reduce net overseas migration. The Government is on track to halve net overseas migration by the next financial year, contributing to a more sustainable and strategically planned migration system.
Statements from the Minister
Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security Clare O’Neil commented on the reforms:
The migration system we inherited was completely broken, and our goal is to build a smaller, better planned, more strategic migration system that works for Australia.
Our Migration Strategy outlines a clear plan to close the loopholes in international education, and this is the next step in delivering that plan.
We need a migration system which delivers the skills we need but doesn’t trade in rorts, loopholes, and exploitation.
These reforms mark a significant step towards creating a more controlled and efficient migration system that prioritizes Australia’s long-term needs and ensures the integrity of its visa programs.
Source
Department of Home Affairs, Australia
[…] changes are designed to curb the practice of “visa hopping,” which has led to a growing number of “permanently temporary” residents in […]