Australia’s government is intensifying its efforts to overhaul the visa system by closing two key pathways effective July 1, 2024. Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil announced the latest phase of migration reforms aimed at enhancing visa integrity, originally introduced in December 2023.
Starting July 1, 2024, holders of Visitor Visas and Temporary Graduate Visas will no longer be permitted to apply for Student Visas while in Australia. This policy shift targets what the government views as a growing trend of onshore visa applications, particularly the visitor to student pathway, which has seen over 36,000 applications since July 2023.
The move aims to curb what officials perceive as an exploitation of Australia’s visa system, aligning with broader efforts to strengthen visa integrity measures. Specifically, the government aims to address concerns raised in an October 2023 report by the Grattan Institute, highlighting a significant number of Temporary Graduate Visa holders returning to further study as a means to extend their stay in Australia rather than transitioning to skilled employment or permanent residency.
The reforms are part of Australia’s Migration Strategy, designed to create a more streamlined and strategic migration system that prioritizes skilled employment and permanent residency pathways over prolonged temporary stays. Minister O’Neil emphasized that these changes are intended to reduce net overseas migration while ensuring that Australia’s migration policies are effectively aligned with national interests.
“Our goal is to build a smaller, better planned, more strategic migration system that works for Australia,” Minister O’Neil stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to closing loopholes in the international education sector. The reforms represent a pivotal step towards achieving these objectives, signaling a shift towards a more stringent and targeted approach to managing Australia’s visa programs.
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