Australia’s 2026 Migration Changes

Published: 18 September 2026  |  Written by Migration Partner Lauren Blud and Lawyer Marilia Vianna

On 17 September 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke unveiled Labor’s long-awaited migration overhaul, confirming sweeping changes across skilled migration, international student visas, working holiday programs and visa compliance. It is the most significant reset of Australia’s migration settings in years, and it will affect skilled workers, students, backpackers, employers, visitors and migration agents alike. 

In this article, we break down exactly what was announced, who it affects, and what you should do next. 

Net migration numbers become hard targets 

The government will now treat its Budget forecasts, 245,000 net overseas migration in 2026-27 and 225,000 in 2027-28, as firm targets, signalling that future migration policy will be calibrated to keep numbers within these limits. 

Skilled visa processing will prioritise five sectors 

Ministerial Direction 119 is being amended to prioritise skilled visa processing in five sectors experiencing acute shortages: construction, healthcare, agriculture, fisheries and teaching. Applicants and sponsors in these industries can expect faster processing timeframes as a result. 

The points test is being redesigned, and trades will finally get their due 

Burke flagged a broader redesign of the points test for permanent skilled migration. One of the key changes will benefit workers in housing construction trades, who will receive the same number of points for their skills as if they held a university qualification. Under the current system, university qualifications generally attract more points than a trade qualifications. This redesign is a direct response to the construction industry’s skills shortage and the government’s housing agenda. 

Working Holiday Maker visas move to a ballot system 

The Working Holiday Maker program (subclasses 417 and 462) is undergoing one of the most significant changes in the announcement. Second and third year visas, which carry a regional work requirement, will move to a ballot system. In exchange, the government says it will restore normal processing speed for first-time applications, targeting a three-month processing standard. 

Notably, the regional work requirement will not apply to UK working holidaymakers, a carve-out required under Australia’s free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. 

If you’re a backpacker planning your Australian working holiday, or an employer in a regional industry that relies on this workforce, these changes will directly affect your planning. 

International students and graduates: family visa attachments are ending 

In one of the most consequential changes for the education sector, students (subclass 500) and graduates (subclass 485) will generally no longer be able to include family members to their visas.  

Importantly, families already in Australia together will not be separated, and the government has confirmed exceptions for Pacific and ASEAN nationals and for certain courses, such as PhDs. 

Course-hopping is being shut down 

Students wanting to transfer courses will now need to apply for a new visa rather than simply switching providers. After completing a course, a student will generally only be able to move to a course at a higher qualification level. The government’s intention is clear: stop students moving laterally or downward between courses and institutions principally to extend their stay in Australia. 

No Further Stay will apply to all future Visitor visas 

Burke announced that No Further Stay condition will be attached to all future Visitor visas. This is designed to close a well-known pathway where visitors enter Australia, apply for another visa onshore, and then move onto a bridging visa to extend their stay in Australia. Crucially, Burke confirmed this change applies to future visas only and will not affect people already in Australia. 

Migration agents face tougher sanctions 

The migration-agent code of conduct will be amended so that agents can be sanctioned or deregistered for encouraging non-meritorious applications or claims intended to exploit the migration system. The measure is aimed at addressing misconduct by a minority of migration agents and strengthening professional standards and accountability within the profession. 

More compliance officers, more detention capacity 

The government will add 100 compliance officers and fund 250 additional immigration detention beds, increasing its capacity to locate, detain and remove people who remain in Australia after their visas expire. Officials are also examining whether Melbourne’s former quarantine facility could be repurposed to support this effort. 

Protection visa reform ahead 

Burke indicated the Protection visa program will be subject to further reform through upcoming legislation, aimed at streamlining the system to better facilitate genuine protection claims. Anyone with a matter currently before the Protection visa system should watch this space closely. 

What this means for you 

These reforms span several areas of Australia’s migration program, and the detail of how each measure will be implemented will be critical for prospective migrants and their migration pathways. Whether you’re a skilled worker considering permanent residency, a student weighing up a course transfer, a backpacker planning your second or third year in Australia, or an employer seeking to sponsor overseas workers in sectors such as construction, healthcare or agriculture, these reforms could directly change your pathway. 

Talk to a migration lawyer before you make your next move 

Migration law is complex even without an overhaul this size. Getting the right advice now, before you lodge an application, transfer a course, or make plans around a visa that’s about to change, can save you significant time, money and stress. 

Contact All Access Migration today to book a consultation with our migration lawyers. We will help you understand exactly how these changes affect your visa pathway and what steps you should take next.