Albanese government cuts family visas for international students
The government will limit family and dependent visas for international students to hit its 225,000 net migration target.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the migration plan on Thursday before flying to the United States. The Home Affairs department will crack down on family and dependent visas for international students.
Visa applications for skilled workers will be given priority, including onshore applications and offshore visas for family reunions. The government will also speed up applications to clear a backlog of bridging visas.
The move responds to public pressure and failed coalition talks on migration. Polling shows more than 60 per cent of Australians want refugee intake cut from 20,000 to 13,000 a year.
- 225,000
- Net migration target
- 301,000
- Current net migration
- 13,000 annually
- Preferred refugee intake
- 60 per cent
- Australians wanting refugee cut
Why it mattersThe policy targets the specific visa categories Australians say trouble them most. It tries to ease pressure on housing, services, and wages without cutting skilled migration.
AustraliaInternational students and their families seeking to stay in Australia will face stricter rules. Skilled workers seeking Australian jobs gain priority in the visa queue.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 9 d ago
