Bringing Family on a Student Visa to Australia May Soon Get Much Harder: A Simple Guide

News · 2026-09-16 · 4 min read

Australia is getting ready for major immigration changes. One group will feel them strongly: international students who want their loved ones beside them while they study. If that is you, keep reading. We explain the news step by step.

The key change in a few words

On Thursday this week, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke plans to present a big set of reforms. The goal is clear. Fewer international students will be able to bring a husband, wife, children or other relatives with them. Burke will give the details during an address at the National Press Club.

Right now, several visa types work on demand. If people apply and qualify, the numbers can keep rising. The government wants to replace this with firm limits that it controls.

How big is this? In the past year, Australia gave out over 337,000 student visas. Around 45,000 of those were for relatives who came along with the student. Under the planned rules, studying alone will become the normal situation for most students.

Numbers the government is aiming for

The plan is to reduce Net Overseas Migration (NOM) from roughly 305,000 to 225,000 in two years. Even so, Australia would still accept around 185,000 permanent migrants every year.

It is worth knowing that NOM is already going down. It has dropped for seven quarters straight since late 2023. Experts expect it could fall under its pre-pandemic level by 2027-28.

Why the announcement is happening now

Politics plays a big part. More voters are backing One Nation, largely because they feel uneasy about how many migrants arrive. That rising support has pushed Labor to move on ideas it had kept on hold for several weeks.

In fact, the address at the National Press Club was set for over a month earlier. It was pulled at the very end because ministers inside cabinet could not agree on how tough the reforms should be.

More than students' relatives

The reform package reaches beyond family visas. Three other areas are likely to be included:

Ending visa-hopping: people whose visas have expired would no longer be able to use loopholes to jump to a different visa and remain in the country.
Faster departures: the appeals system would be simplified, so people who lose their case go home more quickly.
Unlawful non-citizens: by July, close to 111,000 people were at some point in the deportation or review system. This group is likely to get fresh attention.

Can the plan pass without a new law?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Opposition Leader Angus Taylor last week. He hoped both major parties would back new legislation together. No deal was made. Because of that, Labor might rely on regulations and directions to the department, rather than a vote in parliament. Albanese also leaves this Friday for the UN General Assembly in New York, which adds time pressure.

Critics speak up

Not everyone likes the plan, and the reaction was fast:

Independent Senator David Pocock says the debate should not be only about numbers. He wants a proper 10-year migration strategy that considers skills needs as well as housing and environmental pressure.
Business groups share a different view through ACCI chief Andrew McKellar. They argue that housing supply and skills shortages are the true crisis, and lower migration fixes neither of them.
One Nation wants to go much further. Its idea is to cut 750,000+ temporary migrants in three years. Universities, aged care providers and even both big parties say this would damage the economy.

Steps for students who want their family with them

If your study plan includes a partner or kids, the current rules might not last long. Consider these actions:

Watch the Thursday announcement. Find out which visa subclasses change and what the start dates are.
Plan your timing well. An application lodged before the new rules apply might still be judged under today's settings.
Check other options. In the future, a skilled migration or partner visa route could be more stable than a student dependent visa.
Get professional advice. Talk to a registered migration agent before you make a choice you cannot undo, especially if your plan only works with family by your side.

Our advice for Indonesian students

Students from Indonesia and many other countries often plan study around family life. Do not panic, but be prepared. Keep an English-language CV ready if you want to work later. Book IELTS or PTE if your visa asks for it. Translate your Indonesian documents into English when the visa rules require it. The news is moving fast, so follow official updates once Burke shares the full announcement and the legal details become clear.

#australia student visa changes #australia immigration reform 2026 #international student family visa #australia net overseas migration #tony burke immigration policy #australia visa restrictions students #student dependent visa australia #australia migration program changes #nom australia target #australia skilled migration visa #australia visa overstay crackdown #one nation immigration policy #australia temporary visa holders #australia migration agent advice #australia visa appeals process