As part of an effort to reform what it called a ‘broken’ migration system, Australia announced that it will tighten visa requirements for foreign students and low-skilled workers.
This move could halve the country’s immigration intake over the next two years. The decision was made after anticipating that net immigration would peak in 2022–2023 at a record 510,000. According to official data, it is predicted to decline to approximately a quarter of a million in 2024–2025 and 2025–2026—roughly matching pre-COVID levels. Before the official introduction of the government’s new migration policy later on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil stated, ‘We’ve worked around the clock to strike the best balance in Australia’s migration system.’
“The targeted reforms implemented by the government are already exerting downward pressure on net overseas migration, and they will continue to contribute to this anticipated decline,” O’Neil stated. According to O’Neil, international students were primarily responsible for the growth in net foreign migration in 2022–2023.
Australia increased its yearly migration figures last year to assist important companies in hiring workers to cover shortages following the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in stricter border restrictions and prevented foreign workers and students from entering the nation for over two years. During the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia asserted that ‘the current system is not functioning properly’ and emphasized the necessity of reducing the country’s immigration rates to achieve a ‘sustainable level.’
Australia’s Labor government has endeavored to expedite the admission of highly talented workers and facilitate their acquisition of permanent residency, given the country’s historical dependence on immigration to meet the demands of one of the world’s most competitive labor markets. Higher test scores in English would be required of overseas students under the new standards.
The setting that permitted students to extend their stay in Australia will also be terminated. In the face of fierce competition from other developed economies, firms will be able to attract top talent by offering a new type of specialty visa with a one-week processing time for highly skilled people.
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