RACC Australia

12 June 2024

Following the Migration review released on 11 December 2023, one of the key commitments in the Migration Strategy was to restrict ‘visa hopping’ - ending the loopholes that allow students and other temporary visa holders to continuously extend their stay in Australia, in some cases indefinitely. 

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According to the Migration Strategy, the number of international students remaining in Australia on a second or subsequent student visa increased by over 30 percent, surpassing 150,000 in 2022–23.​

 

To address this, the Government has implemented measures such as imposing no further stay conditions on visitor visas and enforcing the Genuine Student requirement in March, which has prevented thousands of students from moving from one student visa to another without credible course progression. This complements more than a dozen other policies already implemented that are helping restore integrity in the international student system, such as ending unrestricted work rights and the former Government’s COVID visa.

 

Starting 1 July, the Albanese Government is taking further steps:

• Visitor Visa holders can no longer apply for Student Visas onshore. 

• Temporary Graduate Visa holders can no longer apply for Student Visas onshore.

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From 1 July 2023 to the end of May 2024, over 36,000 applications were made through this pathway, which undermines the Government’s offshore student visa integrity measures. Also, In their recent Graduates in Limbo report, the Grattan Institute found that 32 percent of Temporary Graduate Visa holders are returning to study when their visa expires in order to prolong their stay in Australia.

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These changes align with other measures being implemented for Temporary Graduate visa holders on 1 July, including significantly shorter post-study work rights, reduced age limits from 50 to 35 years, and higher English language requirements introduced in March.

Read more about changes on Temporary Graduate Visa (TR485): https://www.racc.net.au/temporary-graduate-visa-tr-485

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Following the release of the Migration Strategy, several changes have already been implemented, with more changes announce soon. Read the full Migration Review here: https://www.racc.net.au/australian-migration-review-2024-25

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If your visa is about to expire or you're exploring your next visa options, book a Phone/Zoom/In-person consultation with our team: https://www.racc.net.au/migration-agent-education-agent

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Migration Strategy – At a Glance
The Government’s vision is to get migration working for the nation,
helping deliver a prosperous and secure Australia.