Australia Limits Family Accompaniment for Foreign Students

Sep 17, 2026

57 min

Sep 17, 2026 13:32

Australia to stop most foreign students bringing families

## New Visa Restrictions

Australia has introduced new migration rules that will largely prevent international students from bringing their families with them. This change is part of a broader effort to manage migration numbers and tighten control over temporary visas.

## Exemptions and Impact

The new policy, announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, allows exceptions for PhD students and those from Pacific and ASEAN countries. Families already in Australia will not be affected. The changes are significant as they alter the previous allowance for spouses and children to accompany students.

## Addressing 'Visa Hopping'

The government is also targeting 'visa hopping,' where individuals switch courses or visas to extend their stay. Students wishing to change courses will need a new visa, and those completing a course must generally move to a higher qualification level.

## Migration and Economic Considerations

The aim is to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 this financial year and 225,000 the next. Recent statistics showed a decrease to 292,100 in the year to March. International education, a major economic contributor, is affected, with universities expressing concern over the policy's impact on international education stability.

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