Australia’s migration landscape is set for further change following Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s address to the National Press Club on 17 September 2026.
The Government announced a series of measures affecting Student, Graduate, Working Holiday, Visitor and Skilled visas, alongside stronger compliance measures aimed at reducing visa-hopping and providing greater control over Net Overseas Migration (NOM).
For anyone considering migration to Australia, the announcement reinforces an increasingly important message: visa strategy and forward planning matter more than ever.
Net Overseas Migration Continues to Fall
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that Net Overseas Migration fell to 292,100 in the year ending March 2026, continuing the significant decline from the post-pandemic peak.
Australia’s population nevertheless increased by approximately 392,700 people over the same period, reaching approximately 27.9 million.
The Government is working towards NOM of:
- 245,000 in 2026–27
- 225,000 in 2027–28
The Minister also cautioned against substantially deeper reductions, pointing to Australia’s continuing reliance on skilled migration across areas such as healthcare, aged care and construction.
Student and Graduate Visas
Restrictions on Secondary Applicants
One of the most significant announcements concerns family members accompanying international students and graduates.
Under the proposed changes, most students and graduates will no longer be able to include secondary applicants, such as partners and dependent family members.
Importantly, the Government has indicated that existing students and graduates in Australia who already have secondary applicants will not be affected.
Exemptions are expected to apply to certain cohorts, including students from Pacific and ASEAN nations and postgraduate students, including PhD candidates.
Course Changes and Visa-Hopping
The Government intends to further restrict the ability of temporary visa holders to use repeated course changes as a means of extending their stay in Australia.
Genuine academic progression — for example, progressing from a Bachelor degree to a Masters degree — may continue to be recognised.
However, students seeking to move to a lower-level course or education provider may be required to lodge a new visa application, allowing their circumstances and intentions to be reassessed.
The direction is clear: Australia intends to make it more difficult to use the Student visa program primarily as a means of remaining in Australia rather than for genuine study.
Working Holiday Visas
Significant changes have also been announced for the Working Holiday Maker program, including Subclasses 417 and 462.
Ballot for Second and Third-Year Visas
The Government proposes introducing a ballot system for applicants seeking second and third Working Holiday visas.
Applicants would still need to satisfy the relevant specified-work requirements before becoming eligible for the ballot.
The proposed limits are:
| Visa | Proposed Places | Current Approximate Level |
|---|---|---|
| Second Working Holiday visa | 45,000 | 57,000 |
| Third Working Holiday visa | 5,000 | 31,000 |
This represents a particularly significant change for applicants planning to remain in Australia beyond their initial Working Holiday visa.
UK Working Holiday Makers
The position for UK nationals is different following changes introduced under the Australia–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement.
British passport holders are not required to complete specified regional work to access their second and third Working Holiday visas.
However, the Minister indicated that processing for this cohort would remain slower for the time being, noting the substantial increase in UK Working Holiday Maker numbers in Australia.
Visitor Visas – No Further Stay
Potentially one of the most important announcements for future visa strategy concerns Visitor visas.
The Government intends for future Visitor visas to generally carry a No Further Stay condition, restricting the ability of visitors to lodge many further visa applications while remaining in Australia.
This could have significant consequences for people who enter Australia as visitors intending to explore longer-term options after arrival.
It may also affect strategies that have historically involved entering Australia on a Visitor visa before lodging another visa onshore, including some Partner visa strategies.
Visitor visas already granted are not expected to be retrospectively affected by the announced change.
Skilled Migration
The announcement was not solely about reducing migration. The Government also signalled that skilled migration will be increasingly targeted towards occupations and sectors considered important to Australia’s economic and workforce needs.
A New Skilled Migration Points Test
The Government has again signalled changes to the skilled migration points test.
Of particular importance, greater recognition is proposed for housing and construction trade qualifications, reflecting Australia’s demand for workers capable of supporting housing construction and infrastructure.
The precise structure of the new points test will be critical for prospective applicants once the final settings are released.
Skilled Visa Processing Priorities
Changes are also expected to the Government’s recently introduced skilled visa processing priorities.
The Minister indicated that priority arrangements would recognise areas including construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, fisheries and resources, among other strategically important sectors.
For skilled applicants, occupation selection, location, State or Territory nomination and employer sponsorship may therefore become increasingly important considerations when developing a migration strategy.
What Does This Mean for Prospective Migrants?
The broader direction of Australian migration policy is becoming increasingly clear.
The Government is seeking to reduce the ability of temporary visa holders to move repeatedly between visas while continuing to prioritise migrants whose skills align with Australia’s economic and workforce requirements.
For prospective migrants, this means relying on a single visa pathway — or waiting until a temporary visa is approaching expiry before considering the next step — may carry considerably greater risk.
Where possible, applicants should consider their long-term migration strategy from the outset, including permanent skilled migration, State or Territory nomination, employer sponsorship, regional migration and other available pathways.
How Thames Migration Can Assist
At Thames Migration, we have more than 20 years’ experience assisting individuals, families and employers with Australian migration matters.
Our work covers a broad range of pathways, including:
Skilled Migration | State Nomination | Employer Sponsorship | DAMA | Partner & Family Visas | National Innovation Visa | Australian Citizenship
With offices in Australia and the United Kingdom, we assist clients in understanding not only which visa may be available now, but how that visa fits into their longer-term migration strategy.
If you are considering migrating to Australia, already hold a temporary visa, or are concerned about how the announced changes may affect your existing plans, contact Thames Migration to discuss your options.
Thames Migration – Your Passport to Australia
MARN 0426562
This article provides general information based on announcements available as at 18 September 2026. Some measures announced by the Government require further implementation and the final legal and policy settings may differ. Individual migration circumstances should be assessed before relying on any proposed pathway.
