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Tony Burke Tightens Student and Working-Holiday Visa Rules

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 10:42 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Minister Tony Burke announced stricter student and working-holiday visa rules.
Student visa renewals allowed only when applicants advance to a higher qualification level.
International students cannot bring partners or children, except PhD candidates and Pacific/Southeast Asian applicants.
Working-holiday visas will use a ballot, limiting second-year extensions to 45,000 and third-year to 5,000; UK exempt.
Burke aims to lower net overseas migration to about 225,000 by 2028, from roughly 300,000 now.

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Story summary

Minister Tony Burke announced stricter student and working-holiday visa rules.
Student visa renewals allowed only when applicants advance to a higher qualification level.
International students cannot bring partners or children, except PhD candidates and Pacific/Southeast Asian applicants.
Working-holiday visas will use a ballot, limiting second-year extensions to 45,000 and third-year to 5,000; UK exempt.
Burke aims to lower net overseas migration to about 225,000 by 2028, from roughly 300,000 now.