17/09/2026
Big changes are coming to Australia’s migration program.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed a major overhaul aimed at bringing net overseas migration down from around 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028. Temporary visa holders — and anyone helping them get here — will feel the biggest impact.
Here’s what’s changing:
🔹 Student visas: new students can no longer automatically bring family members (exceptions apply for Pacific and ASEAN nationals and PhD students), and moving between qualifications will be more restricted.
🔹 Graduate visas (subclass 485): the same family restrictions now extend to new graduates too.
🔹 Visitor visas: the “No Further Stay” condition is expanding to cover all visitor visas — meaning tourists will no longer be able to apply for another visa while they’re in Australia.
🔹 Working holiday makers: second-year visas move to a ballot (45,000 places), and third-year visas will be balloted too, with only 5,000 places available.
🔹 Stronger compliance measures for the roughly 77,000 people currently overstaying their visa.
If you’re on a temporary visa, sponsoring someone, or planning a move to Australia, now’s the time to get advice specific to your situation.
Reach out to Reid Legal Group — we’re here to help you navigate what’s next.
