Australia Announces Major Immigration Changes In 2026

Australia has announced another significant reset of its immigration system, with international students, temporary visa holders and skilled migrants all likely to feel the impact. 

On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke outlined measures intended to reduce visa misuse and bring net overseas migration down to a more sustainable level. The government is targeting net overseas migration of approximately 245,000 in 2026–27 and 225,000 in 2027–28. 

The announcement has attracted particular attention because of proposed restrictions on student dependants, tighter controls on switching visas from within Australia and major changes to the distribution of skilled migration places. 

However, it is important to separate three different figures often described as Australia’s “immigration quota”: 

• International student visa grants 

• Net overseas migration 

• The permanent Migration Program 

These figures measure different things and should not be used interchangeably. 

International Students May Face Restrictions on Bringing Dependants 

One of the most widely discussed changes concerns the family members of international students. 

Under the existing system, eligible student visa applicants can include a spouse or partner and dependent children in their application. Family members may also apply later as subsequent entrants, subject to the relevant visa conditions. 

According to figures reported when the new policy was announced, Australia granted more than 337,000 international student visas in the previous year, including approximately 45,000 visas issued to dependants or family members of primary student applicants. 

This means roughly one in every seven visas within that reported student-visa total was issued to a secondary applicant. 

Under the proposed changes, most international students will be expected to travel to Australia without their partners or children. Limited exemptions may apply to selected categories, but the government has not yet published complete operational details covering eligibility, commencement dates and transitional arrangements. 

Students who are planning to study in Australia with their families should therefore avoid making assumptions based only on headlines. The final impact will depend on the regulations, visa subclass requirements and any exemptions announced by the Department of Home Affairs. 

Australia Is Also Targeting “Visa Hopping” 

The government has indicated that it will further restrict the practice commonly described as visa hopping. 

Visa hopping occurs when a person repeatedly moves between temporary visas or enrols in additional courses primarily to extend their stay in Australia. The concern is not genuine course progression, but the use of successive visa applications without a credible academic or professional reason. 

Future student visa applicants may face closer examination of: 

• Their reasons for selecting a particular course 

• Whether the course represents genuine academic progression 

• The relationship between their previous education and proposed studies 

• Their financial capacity 

• Their English-language ability 

• Their intention to comply with visa conditions 

A student moving logically from a bachelor’s degree to a related master’s program may be viewed differently from an applicant moving between unrelated courses at the same or a lower academic level. 

Course selection will therefore become even more important. Students should choose programs based on their education, professional goals and the skills they intend to develop not simply on the possibility of remaining in Australia longer. 

Visitor Visas May Carry Stronger “No Further Stay” Restrictions 

The government has also proposed wider use of “No Further Stay” conditions on visitor visas. 

Where this condition applies, a visitor may be prevented from lodging many other temporary or permanent visa applications while remaining in Australia. In most cases, the person would need to leave Australia and apply for a new visa from overseas. 

The policy is intended to stop visitor visas from being used as an indirect entry route by people who always planned to lodge another visa application after arriving in Australia. 

Waivers may remain available in limited circumstances, but they are generally not automatic. Applicants should not travel to Australia on a visitor visa with the assumption that they will be able to convert it into a student, work or permanent visa after arrival. 

What Happened to Australia’s Permanent Migration Quota? 

The last two completed Migration Program years show that Australia has continued to give most permanent places to the Skill stream. 

The Skilled Independent category primarily relates to the Subclass 189 visa, while the State/Territory Nominated category relates to the Subclass 190 visa. 

The Skilled Work Regional figure includes Subclass 491 and certain legacy regional visa subclasses. It should not be described as an exact Subclass 491-only grant figure. 

The figures also include both primary applicants and eligible accompanying family members. Therefore, 33,000 places in a category does not necessarily mean that 33,000 skilled primary applicants received invitations. 

The most noticeable change between the two completed years was the reduction in the Skilled Independent category from 30,375 places in 2023–24 to 16,900 in 2024–25. Meanwhile, the State/Territory Nominated outcome increased from 30,400 to 33,000, and the Skilled Work Regional outcome increased from 27,300 to 28,069. 

What Is Changing in the 2026–27 Skilled Migration Program? 

Australia’s overall permanent Migration Program remains set at 185,000 places for 2026–27, including approximately 132,240 Skill-stream places. 

The distribution within the skilled program has changed considerably: 

The Regional category has therefore been reduced by approximately 57 per cent compared with the previous planning level. 

An important technical distinction is that the Regional category is broader than Subclass 491. It can include Skilled Work Regional and regional employer-sponsored pathways. Therefore, the figure of 14,110 should not automatically be presented as a standalone Subclass 491 quota. 

Will the Lower Migration Target Reduce Subclass 189, 190 and 491 Opportunities? 

The effect will not be the same across all three points-tested visas. 

Subclass 189: More Places, but Stronger Competition 

The Skilled Independent planning level has increased from 16,900 to 21,090 places. 

On paper, this is positive for Subclass 189 applicants. However, more places do not guarantee an invitation. The government is expected to continue prioritising occupations connected to critical workforce needs, including healthcare, teaching, construction and other essential sectors. 

Applicants in highly competitive occupations may still require points well above the legal minimum. Age, English scores, skilled employment, qualifications and partner points will remain critical. 

Subclass 190: State Nomination Remains Important 

The State/Territory Nominated category has increased from 33,000 to 35,500 places. 

This suggests that Subclass 190 will continue to play an important role in Australia’s skilled migration strategy. However, states and territories will use their nomination programs to address local labour-market priorities. 

Each jurisdiction can set its own occupation lists, residence requirements, work-experience rules and selection criteria. Meeting the federal visa requirements does not guarantee state nomination. 

Applicants should consider where their occupation is genuinely needed rather than lodging identical expressions of interest without a state-specific strategy. 

Subclass 491: Regional Applicants Could Face Greater Pressure 

The sharp reduction in the broader Regional category creates the greatest uncertainty for Subclass 491 applicants. 

Fewer regional places may lead to: 

• More selective state and territory nomination criteria 

• Greater preference for applicants already living and working in regional Australia 

• Increased focus on healthcare, education, construction, agriculture and regional services 

• Higher competition between offshore and onshore applicants 

• Longer waiting periods for some occupations 

• Fewer invitations for occupations that are not considered urgent 

However, the reduction does not mean the Subclass 491 visa has closed. Regional employers may also continue using employer-sponsored visas, Designated Area Migration Agreements and other regional workforce arrangements. 

Lower Net Migration Does Not Automatically Mean Fewer Permanent Skilled Visas 

This is one of the most important points for students and skilled professionals to understand. 

Net overseas migration measures the difference between people arriving in Australia for an extended period and people leaving. It includes many temporary visa holders, such as international students, graduates, working holidaymakers and temporary workers. 

The permanent Migration Program, on the other hand, controls the number of permanent places available across skilled, family and special-eligibility categories. 

The government can reduce net overseas migration by limiting temporary arrivals, dependants, visa extensions and onshore visa switching while still maintaining a permanent migration program of 185,000 places. 

Therefore, the target of 225,000 net overseas migrants should not be interpreted as Australia offering only 225,000 visas or as a direct cap on Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. 

What Should Prospective Applicants Do Now? 

International students should choose courses based on genuine academic progression and realistic career outcomes. Students planning to travel with family members should wait for detailed rules on dependent eligibility and transitional arrangements before committing financially. 

Skilled migrants should keep their skills assessments, English-language results and Expressions of Interest up to date. They should also compare Subclass 189, 190, 491 and employer-sponsored pathways instead of relying on a single visa option. 

Applicants should pay particular attention to: 

• Changes to occupation priorities 

• State and territory nomination criteria 

• Points-test competitiveness 

• English-language scores 

• Skills-assessment validity 

• Relevant work experience 

• Regional employment opportunities 

• Visa expiry dates and onshore application restrictions 

Final Thoughts 

Australia is not closing its doors to international students or skilled migrants. It is becoming more selective about who enters, who can bring family members, who can extend their stay and which skills receive priority. 

For international students, the strongest application will be one supported by a credible course choice, clear academic progression and genuine financial capacity. 

For skilled migrants, the 2026–27 program presents a mixed picture. Subclass 189 and State/Territory Nominated places have increased, while the Regional category has been reduced substantially. The result is likely to be more targeted selection, particularly for applicants whose occupations directly respond to Australia’s workforce shortages. 

Because several measures announced on 17 September 2026 still require detailed implementation, applicants should monitor official Department of Home Affairs updates before changing their study, travel or migration plans. 

Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on announcements and published program data available as of 17 September 2026. Immigration rules can change, and individual circumstances differ. Applicants should obtain advice appropriate to their situation before lodging a visa application.