Australia Tightens Visa Rules for Students and Low-Skilled Workers

Australia announced to tighten student visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers. The policy aims to slash the country’s migrant intake by 50% from a record high of 510,000, within the next two years. The government is cutting down student intake in Australia to address concerns about a "broken" migration system and increasing pressure on infrastructure and housing. According to Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil, the rise in net overseas migration is mainly because of an increase in international students.

Australia increased its yearly migration numbers last year to address workforce shortages caused by strict border controls during the Covid-19 pandemic, which had kept students and workers away for almost two years. However, the growing number of international workers and students has made it harder to find affordable rentals, leading to a rise in homelessness. According to a survey for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, 62% of Australian voters think the country's migration intake is too high.

Potential Impact on Indian Students

A recent report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that Indian students have been the largest international student group in Australia since 2012. As a result, they may be particularly affected by the stricter Australia student visa requirements.

• They may need to achieve higher English test scores and demonstrate a stronger academic focus to secure visas.
• A new "genuine student test" will replace the existing Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, to assess whether students are truly motivated to study in Australia or seeking an alternative path to stay in the country.
• Additionally, there will be an increased imposition of "no further stay" restrictions on visitor visas.
• Students extending their stay will face increased scrutiny to ensure they are contributing to the nation's skills needs.
• A new visa for highly skilled workers will be created with a quick processing time of one week. This will make it easier for businesses to hire top migrants, especially when facing tough competition from other advanced economies.

Australia is home to 650,000+ international students and an increasing number of them are choosing to stay longer by applying for a second course. Out of the total, 150,000 students are currently on their second student visa. The new policies aim to prevent visa hopping, where international students or visitors switch between migration categories to prolong their stay while doing unskilled jobs in Australia. Additionally, the Australian government has hinted at more controversial policies, like limiting the number of students or increasing visa application fees, if the current plan doesn't reduce net migration to 250,000 by June 2025.