19.09.2026
Australia Just Changed Its Migration Rules. Here's What It Actually Means
Australia Just Changed Its Migration Rules. Here's What It Actually Means
On 17 September 2026, the Australian government announced a big set of changes to how migration works. If you're thinking about moving to Australia, whether to work, study, or just visit, some of these changes could affect you.
Why is this happening?
Australia lets in a certain number of new migrants each year. This number is called net overseas migration, or NOM. The government wants to bring that number down from around 292,000 people a year to 245,000 this year, and 225,000 the year after. Their reasoning is that fewer new arrivals will ease pressure on housing and rental prices.
If you have skills in a shortage area, this is good news for you
Some industries are struggling to find enough workers. The government has now put healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, mining and resources, farming and fishing on a priority list. If your job fits into one of these areas, your visa application should be processed faster than before.
There's also a change to how Australia scores skilled migrants. Australia uses something called a points test, basically a scorecard where things like your age, English level, work experience and qualifications each earn you points, and you need enough points to qualify. Until now, a university degree scored higher than a trade qualification (like being a qualified electrician or plumber). That's changing, trade qualifications will now score the same as a university degree. This is a real win for tradespeople.
If you're planning to study in Australia, read this carefully
Two big changes here.
First, new international students and graduate visa holders will no longer be allowed to bring their spouse or children with them on their visa. There are some exceptions, PhD students, for example, are still allowed to bring family. If you're already in Australia with your family, you won't be separated, this only affects new applications going forward.
Second, there's a new rule about switching courses. In the past, some people used student visas to bounce between course after course just to stay in the country longer, without genuinely progressing their education. Now, you can only move up in qualification level when you change courses, for example finishing a bachelor's degree and then starting a master's is fine, but you can't switch sideways to another course at the same level, or downgrade, just to extend your stay.
If you're planning a working holiday
Australia's working holiday visa lets young people from certain countries live and work in Australia for up to a year, with the option to extend for a second or even third year if they complete regional work (meaning work outside the major cities).
From now on, only 45,000 people will be able to get a second year, and just 5,000 will get a third year. Because there are likely to be more applicants than spots, this will now work as a ballot, similar to a lottery. The exception is UK citizens, who don't need to do regional work to extend their stay, because of a special trade agreement between Australia and the UK.
If you're planning to visit
New visitor visas will come with a condition called No Further Stay. In simple terms, this means if you enter Australia as a tourist, you generally won't be able to apply for a different type of visa while you're still in the country. This is meant to stop people using a tourist visa as a backdoor way to extend their time in Australia.
Tougher rules for people who overstay their visa
If someone stays in Australia after their visa has expired, they now risk being placed in immigration detention until they leave. The government is adding 100 more compliance officers and 250 more detention beds to enforce this.
A crackdown on bad migration agents
This last point matters a lot to us. The government is tightening the rules for migration agents, the professionals who help people apply for visas. Agents who knowingly encourage clients to submit applications that have little to no chance of succeeding can now be sanctioned or lose their licence entirely.
This is exactly why it matters to work with a properly registered agent who gives you honest, realistic advice!
What should you do now?
These changes are rolling out gradually over the next 12 months, so not everything happens at once. If any of this applies to your situation, the best next step is to get a proper, personalised assessment rather than trying to figure it out from the news. Book a consultation with us and we'll walk you through exactly where you stand.
Australia lets in a certain number of new migrants each year. This number is called net overseas migration, or NOM. The government wants to bring that number down from around 292,000 people a year to 245,000 this year, and 225,000 the year after. Their reasoning is that fewer new arrivals will ease pressure on housing and rental prices.
If you have skills in a shortage area, this is good news for you
Some industries are struggling to find enough workers. The government has now put healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, mining and resources, farming and fishing on a priority list. If your job fits into one of these areas, your visa application should be processed faster than before.
There's also a change to how Australia scores skilled migrants. Australia uses something called a points test, basically a scorecard where things like your age, English level, work experience and qualifications each earn you points, and you need enough points to qualify. Until now, a university degree scored higher than a trade qualification (like being a qualified electrician or plumber). That's changing, trade qualifications will now score the same as a university degree. This is a real win for tradespeople.
If you're planning to study in Australia, read this carefully
Two big changes here.
First, new international students and graduate visa holders will no longer be allowed to bring their spouse or children with them on their visa. There are some exceptions, PhD students, for example, are still allowed to bring family. If you're already in Australia with your family, you won't be separated, this only affects new applications going forward.
Second, there's a new rule about switching courses. In the past, some people used student visas to bounce between course after course just to stay in the country longer, without genuinely progressing their education. Now, you can only move up in qualification level when you change courses, for example finishing a bachelor's degree and then starting a master's is fine, but you can't switch sideways to another course at the same level, or downgrade, just to extend your stay.
If you're planning a working holiday
Australia's working holiday visa lets young people from certain countries live and work in Australia for up to a year, with the option to extend for a second or even third year if they complete regional work (meaning work outside the major cities).
From now on, only 45,000 people will be able to get a second year, and just 5,000 will get a third year. Because there are likely to be more applicants than spots, this will now work as a ballot, similar to a lottery. The exception is UK citizens, who don't need to do regional work to extend their stay, because of a special trade agreement between Australia and the UK.
If you're planning to visit
New visitor visas will come with a condition called No Further Stay. In simple terms, this means if you enter Australia as a tourist, you generally won't be able to apply for a different type of visa while you're still in the country. This is meant to stop people using a tourist visa as a backdoor way to extend their time in Australia.
Tougher rules for people who overstay their visa
If someone stays in Australia after their visa has expired, they now risk being placed in immigration detention until they leave. The government is adding 100 more compliance officers and 250 more detention beds to enforce this.
A crackdown on bad migration agents
This last point matters a lot to us. The government is tightening the rules for migration agents, the professionals who help people apply for visas. Agents who knowingly encourage clients to submit applications that have little to no chance of succeeding can now be sanctioned or lose their licence entirely.
This is exactly why it matters to work with a properly registered agent who gives you honest, realistic advice!
What should you do now?
These changes are rolling out gradually over the next 12 months, so not everything happens at once. If any of this applies to your situation, the best next step is to get a proper, personalised assessment rather than trying to figure it out from the news. Book a consultation with us and we'll walk you through exactly where you stand.
