Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, announced the next phase of migration reforms initially introduced in December 2023.
Effective July 1, 2024, Visitor Visa holders will no longer be able to apply for Student Visas from within Australia. A Home Affairs media release noted that the visitor-to-student pathway has seen over 36,000 applications between July 1, 2023, and May 2024.
By preventing these onshore applications, the government aims to eliminate a pathway viewed as undermining Australia's broader visa integrity measures.
Additionally, starting July 1, Temporary Graduate Visa holders will be restricted from applying for Student Visas onshore. This change addresses issues highlighted in an October 2023 report by the Grattan Institute, which found that many Temporary Graduate Visa holders return to further study to extend their stay in Australia. The report noted that less than one-third of these visa holders transition to permanent residency, compared to two-thirds in 2014, with one-third enrolling in cheaper vocational courses to prolong their stay.
By closing this pathway, the government intends to encourage graduates to find skilled jobs, seek permanent residency, or leave the country, reducing the likelihood of becoming "permanently temporary."
These changes are part of the government's strategy to reduce net overseas migration. Minister O’Neil stated, "Our goal is to build a smaller, better planned, more strategic migration system that works for Australia. Our Migration Strategy outlines a clear plan to close the loopholes in international education, and this is the next step in delivering that plan."