18/09/2026
The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, announced a number of changes to the migration program on 17 September 2026.
Key changes include:
Student & Graduate visas
• Most students and Temporary Graduate visa holders will no longer be able to include secondary applicants.
• Exceptions will apply to nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries and postgraduate students, including PhD students.
• Existing secondary applicants already in Australia will not be affected.
• Further restrictions will apply to certain course transfers.
Visitor visas
• Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) will be imposed on all future Visitor visa grants.
• This will prevent most onshore visa applications while holding a Visitor visa.
• Visitor visas already granted, and people already in Australia holding a Visitor visa, will not be affected.
Working Holiday Maker visas
• Ballots will be introduced for second and third Working Holiday visas.
• Second-year places will be capped at 45,000.
• Third-year places will be capped at 5,000.
• Existing regional work requirements will continue.
Skilled visas
• A new Points Test will give greater weight to housing and construction trade qualifications.
• Agriculture, resources, aquaculture and fishing will be added to skilled visa processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119.
Visa compliance
• Stronger enforcement measures will be introduced for visa overstayers.
• An additional 100 compliance officers and 250 detention beds will be provided.
• Ministerial Direction 110 will be updated in relation to character and conduct considerations.
Important for Filipino applicants
The announced exception for ASEAN nationals is particularly relevant to Filipino applicants, as the Philippines is an ASEAN member country.
However, the detailed legislation, regulations and relevant instruments have not yet been released. We therefore cannot yet confirm the precise operation, eligibility requirements or full impact of these changes.
https://youtu.be/jZp8k5CcXmQ?si=XsL1V8sD3mp-uhBM
If you still have questions on how these changes will affect your future visa applications, you may reach us at our website at www.bridgeaus.com.au or through our FB page at Bridgeaus Migration Consultancy.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, announced a number of ch...