Australia is preparing to stop international students from bringing their partners and children with them while they study, as the government moves to reduce migration and tighten rules for temporary visa holders, media reports said on Thursday.
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Home affairs minister Tony Burke is expected to announce the changes in a speech at the National Press Club later in the day. The government plans to bring net overseas migration down to 225,000 by 2028, compared with about 300,000 currently, public broadcaster ABC News reported. Burke's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New restrictions on student families
Under the current system, international students can bring dependent children under 18 to Australia. Their spouses or partners are also allowed to work, although the number of hours they can work depends on the student's course.
The proposed changes would remove the option for students to bring their families while they study. The government is also expected to tighten rules governing temporary migrants who want to switch to another visa.
Migration becomes a political issue
The announcement comes as the hard-right One Nation party gains support in recent polls and pushes for a much larger reduction in temporary migration.
The party said this week that it wanted to cut the number of temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years, giving Australians "breathing space".
One Nation describes its approach as "Australia first" and has proposed reducing net overseas migration to 130,000 after the initial three-year period. It says the programme would be reviewed every year.
Student numbers and pressure on housing
Australia's migration intake rose sharply after the country reopened its borders in February 2022, following nearly two years of Covid restrictions. International students, backpackers and temporary skilled workers contributed to the increase.
Migration has since declined over the past two years, but critics continue to argue that high numbers of newcomers are putting pressure on housing and infrastructure and affecting social cohesion.
Official figures show net overseas migration reached 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025. International students accounted for more than half of that total. Net migration stood at 429,000 in 2024, after reaching a record 518,000 in 2023.
The proposed restrictions would affect international students and other temporary migrants, as the government seeks to reduce the overall number of people entering and remaining in Australia.
