17/09/2026
Big changes announced today. Immigration Minister Tony Burke has unveiled a new package of migration reforms at the National Press Club. Here's what's changing:
✅ No more family members on new student and graduate visas (exceptions for Pacific, ASEAN and PhD applicants)
✅ Second and third working holiday visas move to a ballot: 45,000 and 5,000 places
✅ "No further stay" condition on future visitor visas, closing the visitor-to-onshore-partner route
✅ New skilled points test, with housing trades scoring the same as a university degree
✅ Student course changes limited to moving up the qualification scale
✅ Priority processing for construction, agriculture, fisheries, resources and teaching
✅ Return to pre-2015 compliance for overstayers
If you're already in Australia on a visa, or your family is already here, these changes don't affect you. Start dates are still to be confirmed.
We've broken down what each change means for students, working holiday makers, couples, skilled applicants and employers, and what you should do now 👇
