In a shocking turn of events for those aspiring to settle in Australia, starting from July 1st, the chance of moving from a visitor visa to a student visa while onshore in Australia will no longer be possible. Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, announced today (12) that the new rules will be introduced from the next month.
However, the announcement of the new regulations and rules on visas just three weeks ahead of their implementation has caught the attention of many currently living in Australia. According to this new rule, the ability to visa hop will end, closing the bureaucratic loopholes that allowed students and other temporary visa holders in Australia to stay for longer periods.
Home Affairs Minister O’Neil said that the Australian Migration Strategy outlines a clear plan to close the loopholes in international education. According to the Minister, this is the next step in addressing these loopholes in international education.
She noted that Australia needs a migration system that delivers the necessary skills the country needs without trading in rorts, loopholes, and exploitation. The Minister pointed out that temporary graduate visa holders will also no longer be able to apply for student visas onshore in Australia.
Australian government data indicates that the visitor-to-student pathway has become increasingly prevalent in Australia. According to the Australian government, over 36,000 applications were submitted from July 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
