17/09/2026
Austrailaโs New Immigration Policy restricts family members for international students:
Under Australia's updated migration policy announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on September 17, 2026, new international student and graduate visa applicants will generally no longer be able to automatically bring family members or dependents to Australia.
Key Details of the Update
ASEAN Exemption: Students from ASEAN countries and Pacific island nations are explicitly exempt from this restriction and can still bring family members.
Other Exemptions: PhD candidates students are also exempt and may continue bringing eligible family members.
No Retroactive Effect: The rule applies prospectively; families already in Australia or attached to an existing student visa will not be separated or affected.
Visa Hopping: The government is also cracking down on students switching to lower-level courses to extend their stay, requiring future course changes to move up the qualification scale.
The long awaited overhaul of the migration system comes as new figures show Net Overseas Migration continuing to decline.