18/09/2026
Australian Government Migration Policy Changes
The Australian Government is committed to attracting the skills Australia needs, supporting economic growth and productivity, and ensuring migration settings work for Australian workers and communities.
The next stage of migration policy changes is designed to deliver the Net Overseas Migration forecasts in the Budget of 245,000 in this financial year and 225,000 in 2027/28.
The Australian Government will do this by:
Strengthening compliance measures to ensure people without valid visas leave the country
Updating Ministerial Direction 119 to ensure the skilled migration program supports priority processing for a range of key sectors, including healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.
Improving the integrity of student visas by stopping visa hopping and restricting secondary applicants on most student visas
Cracking down on rogue migration agents who knowingly support visa applications without merit
Introducing a No Further Stay condition to all visitor visas to ensure they are only used by genuine visitors and not as a pathway to extending a stay in Australia.
Updating Ministerial Direction 110 to combat hate and criminal behaviour by:
better protecting children who are victims of crime
better protecting victims of domestic and family violence, and
reflecting modern Australia’s commitment to stamping out hatred.
Changing the Working Holiday Maker Program to introduce a ballot system for years two and three where there will be a regional work requirement in support of regional Australia. The government will also stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications to three months.
These changes have begun to be implemented and will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months to ensure the integrity of Australia’s migration system is maintained, while treating people with the fairness and decency that Australians expect.
