Stricter Migration Rules Around the World: Where Australia's Reforms Fit and What Workers Should Know
News · 2026-09-19 · 5 min read
In the past, countries usually went in different directions on migration. Some opened their doors while others closed them, mostly because of local politics. That is not true any more. In 2026, something unusual is happening. Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union have each reached the same view on their own: migration systems designed for an earlier time must be reduced, made stricter or rebuilt.
This is not an accident. It is a clear sign of where things are going.
Australia is part of a wider picture
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's announcement of big migration reforms can look like a local decision at first. The plan cuts net overseas migration targets from 292,100 down to 225,000 each year. It also sharply reduces extensions for working holidaymakers and makes it harder for international students to bring dependents.
But look at what is happening in Ottawa, Washington, London and Brussels at the same time. Then Australia's changes look more like one country joining a worldwide reset.
Each country uses different tools. Yet the end result is very similar everywhere: fewer temporary migrants, a longer road to permanent residence, and much stronger enforcement of the rules that are left.
Following the rules is now checked closely
Lower numbers are only part of the story. The bigger link between these reforms is enforcement. Australia is cracking down on an estimated 77,000 visa overstayers, and detention is a possible result. This matches a global move away from simply approving visas and towards actively checking that people follow the conditions.
The US has gone the furthest. It has tripled ICE's budget, and the administration describes its work as the largest domestic deportation operation in the country's history. People have different opinions about these methods. But the main idea behind them is spreading well beyond American borders. That idea is simple: a visa is not a one-time approval. It is a privilege with conditions, and governments will keep checking that you follow them.
Study pathways are feeling the most pressure
Around the world, the international student pathway is the visa category taking the biggest hit. Australia is limiting students' ability to bring family members. Canada has reduced its 2026 study permit issuance by 7% compared with the year before, and by 16% compared with 2024 levels. It is also shrinking its temporary resident population from a peak of 7.6% to 6.5% of its total population.
Many governments are now sending the same message. Studying in a country will no longer be treated as an almost automatic bridge to living there long-term.
For future students, and for the schools and universities that rely on income from international students, this may be the most important trend of the year. It matters more than any one country's big policy headline.
A longer wait to settle permanently
One change that gets less attention is happening in the UK. The government there has proposed doubling the standard path to permanent settlement from five years to ten. Under an "earned settlement" model linked to income and use of benefits, some migrants could wait up to 20 years. Around 2.6 million people already living in the UK could be affected.
This shows a wider trend. Even migrants who follow every rule are being asked to wait longer, show more proof and accept more conditions before they can become permanent residents. Australia has not gone this far yet. Still, the direction in similar countries suggests it could happen.
Politics in Europe and an idea from Australia
The EU has a new migration framework. It doubles detention periods, speeds up deportations and allows "return hubs" in non-EU countries for people without legal residency. This did not appear out of nowhere.
It responds directly to the political rise of parties like Germany's AfD, which recently came first in a state election for the first time since World War II. It also reflects tough positions taken even by governments that are usually seen as left-leaning, such as Sweden's Social Democrats.
Interestingly, the Lowy Institute has noted that the EU's "return hub" idea is borrowed directly from Australia's own offshore processing model. So Australia is not only reacting to global trends. It has also helped create the policy tools that other countries are now using.
What workers and families should take from this
Maybe you are a future applicant, an employer sponsoring talent, or an education provider. Either way, the main lesson is the same. This is not a short period of tightening that will end when one government leaves office. It is a long-term change happening in almost every major country that receives migrants, all at the same time.
There is some good news. Skilled migration pathways linked to labour shortages are still the strongest category. In Australia's case, this means healthcare, construction and education. Temporary, family-linked and student pathways, on the other hand, are being changed almost everywhere at once.
If you want to work in Australia from Indonesia, or from anywhere else, focus on a skilled pathway that fits your experience. Prepare a clear English-language CV, and take an English test such as IELTS or PTE if your visa or employer needs one. Keep your documents ready, including a police clearance (SKCK from the Indonesian National Police) when a police certificate is requested.
Finally, remember that looking at one country's rules alone is no longer enough. It is smarter to see these reforms as connected pieces of one global trend, because that is exactly what they are.
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