🇦🇺 Important Updates to Australian Visa Rules for Visitors and International Students 2024

The Australian government is setting new boundaries to curtail ‘visa hopping,’ where visitors and graduates frequently switch visa categories to prolong their stays in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs declared these changes as a component of last December’s Migration Strategy, aiming to enforce these rules starting July 1st.

Ending Onshore Visa Switching for Tourists and Graduates

Under the fresh regulations, individuals currently in Australia on a Tourist Visa will no longer have the eligibility to apply for a Student Visa while remaining in the country. This policy is intended to plug a loophole that previously allowed over 36,000 transitions from visitor to student visas from July 1, 2023, to May 2024.

The Department expressed that this adjustment eliminates a route frequently exploited to circumvent robust offshore student visa integrity checks. Although no explicit instances of misuse were disclosed, the implication is clear: the pathway was too often used inappropriately.

Moreover, data from the Department highlights a marked decrease in onshore visa approvals, with only 17,729 visas granted to prior visitor visa holders this fiscal year, a significant drop from 38,334 the year before.

Similarly, individuals holding Temporary Graduate Visas will also face restrictions, as they will be unable to apply for Student Visas within Australia starting from July.

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Referencing findings from the Grattan Institute, the Department noted that 32% of Graduate Visa holders opted to continue their studies post-visa expiration. The government’s stance is firm: graduates should secure skilled employment and transition to permanent residency or return to their home countries instead of remaining ‘permanently temporary.’

Broader Migration Reduction Efforts

These initiatives are part of an extensive campaign to cut net migration, with the government’s ambitious target to reduce migration figures by half in the coming financial year. Already implemented actions include shorter durations for post-study work and lowering the age limit for Temporary Graduate Visas to 35, except for research students.

Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil, articulated the government’s objective, stating, “Our Migration Strategy outlines a clear plan to close the loopholes in international education, and this is the next step in delivering that plan. We need a migration system that delivers the skills we need, without succumbing to rorts, loopholes, and exploitation.”

Concerns from the Educational Sector

However, these new regulations have not been without criticism. Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, voiced concerns that these changes could adversely affect genuine students who wish to extend their educational pursuits in Australia. He argued that many tourists, after experiencing the high-quality education offered by English Australia member colleges, decide to extend their stay to achieve a proficient level of English before returning home.

Aird also highlighted that it is common for prospective students to enter Australia on a tourist visa to assess institutions and settings before committing to substantial educational expenditures. He advocates that this careful consideration is indicative of genuine students, who are unfortunately impacted by these new rules.

For further details on these changes and their implications, please refer to the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website.

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