Australia Moves to Stop Most International Students from Bringing Partners and Children

The Australian government has announced plans to prevent most international students from bringing their partners and children into the country as dependants, as part of a broader effort to reduce migration.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said secondary applicants would no longer be permitted under most student visas. Limited exceptions are expected to apply to certain students from Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries.

Under the existing system, international students can include spouses, partners and dependent children in their visa applications or arrange for them to join later. The proposed changes will require most students to travel and live in Australia without their families while pursuing their studies.

Official figures cited by Australian media show that 337,427 student visas were granted during the last financial year, including 45,991 visas issued to dependants and other family members.

The government expects the reforms to help reduce Australia’s annual net overseas migration from about 300,000 to approximately 225,000 by 2028. Authorities say the changes are intended to create a more controlled migration system and ensure that temporary visa holders leave the country when their visas expire.

The reforms will also restrict international students from repeatedly extending their stay through different courses. Students seeking to renew their visas are expected to demonstrate progression to a higher level of qualification.

Other measures include placing a “no further stay” condition on visitor visas, strengthening enforcement against visa overstayers and introducing a ballot system for some working-holiday visa extensions.

Universities and international education stakeholders have expressed concern that the restrictions could damage Australia’s reputation as a preferred study destination. International education contributed about A$53.6 billion to the Australian economy in the year ending June 2025, making it one of the country’s most valuable exports.

The government has not yet released complete information about when the dependant restrictions will take effect, how existing visa holders will be treated or the precise categories of students who will qualify for exemptions.

Prospective students and families are therefore advised to wait for detailed implementation guidelines from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs before changing their study or travel plans.

The policy was reported by Reuters and ABC News Australia.