17/09/2026
🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA MIGRATION NEWS UPDATE
📢 Key announcements from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke – 17 September 2026
The Australian Government has announced a range of proposed changes to Australia’s migration system, including changes affecting students, visitors and skilled migrants.
🔹 🎓 Student & Graduate Visas
• Most international students and graduates will no longer be able to include secondary visa applicants.
• Existing families already in Australia will not be separated.
• Exceptions will remain for students from Pacific and ASEAN nations and certain postgraduate study, including PhD programs.
• Students will generally need to progress up the qualification level when changing courses — for example, Bachelor → Master’s.
• Moving to a lower-level course/provider may require a new visa application.
🔹 ✈️ Visitor Visas – No Further Stay (Condition 8503)
• A No Further Stay condition is to be applied to future visitor visa grants.
• This will generally prevent visitors from applying onshore for another visa while in Australia, except for protection visa applications.
• Visitor visas already granted, and people already in Australia holding a visitor visa, will not be affected by this new measure.
• The Government says the change is intended to ensure visitor visas remain for genuine temporary visitors.
🔹 👷 Skilled Visas – Points Test
• The Government has announced plans to reform the skilled migration points test.
• Greater weight is proposed for housing and construction trade qualifications.
• High-demand trades are expected to receive recognition broadly comparable with university qualifications.
🔹 📋 Skilled Visa Processing
• The Government has announced changes to processing priorities under MD 119.
• Priority sectors include construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, resources and fisheries/aquaculture.
• MD 119 already applies to a range of skilled visas, including 189, 190, 191, 482, 491 and 494.
⚠️ Important: These announcements include measures that are already being implemented as well as changes that will require further policy or legislative work. Details and implementation arrangements may change as further information is released.
📞 Need advice about how these changes may affect your visa or study plans?
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Important Notice: This disclaimer pertains to all social media content Himalayan Business Group and its affiliates share. The information presented in these posts should not be considered immigration law/ legal advice. It should not be used as a replacement for professional guidance or relied upon for such purposes. The content serves as a general informational resource, reflecting the situation at publication and may be subject to updates or changes. For personalised advice tailored to your specific circumstances, please consult an Australian MARA registered agent or immigration lawyer before proceeding with any application. No client agent relationship is created.
