Dependent visa holders will not be able to bring family members in Australia: Minister Tony Burke
Under the new rules, international students will no longer be able to bring their family members—or ‘dependents’—with them. However, this rule will not apply to students who have already arrived in Australia, applicants from the Pacific region and Southeast Asian countries, or students pursuing a PhD.
BARTON:- The Australian government has announced new, stricter immigration rules targeting international students, “visa hoppers,” and backpackers in an effort to control immigration.
Unveiling the new immigration policy framework on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that while immigration is a source of national strength, it requires regulation.
Under the new rules, international students will no longer be able to bring their family members—or ‘dependents’—with them. However, this rule will not apply to students who have already arrived in Australia, applicants from the Pacific region and Southeast Asian countries, or students pursuing a PhD.
The government has taken strict measures to curb the “visa hopping” trend, where students enroll in low-standard, cheap, or substandard colleges solely to extend their visas after completing a course. Henceforth, students will be granted visa renewal approval only if they are advancing their level of study (for example, pursuing a Master’s degree after a Bachelor’s).
A quota system based on a ballot has been implemented for Working Holiday Visas targeting backpackers aged 18 to 30, who serve as a primary workforce in the agricultural sector. The number of applicants competing for a second-year visa extension is capped at 45,000, while the limit for the third-year visa is set at 5,000.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country’s population grew by 1.4 percent to reach 27.9 million by March 2026, with net overseas migration recorded at 292,100.
