PHILIPPINES — Australia will restrict most international students from bringing spouses or children starting October 2, 2026, but has exempted students from ASEAN and Pacific nations, including the Philippines. The policy aims to cut net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.
A Targeted Migration Reform
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the plan on September 17 as part of efforts to reduce net overseas migration from 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028. The measure targets secondary applicants, or dependents, who travel on a student’s visa. The overall number of student visas is not being cut, only the second visa for family members.
Of the 337,427 student visas granted last financial year, 45,991 went to secondary applicants classified as dependents or family. Burke said those with family already in Australia would not be affected. The government supports immigration but opposes anyone exploiting the system, he added.
Why Filipinos Are Exempt
Filipino students bound for Australia can still bring a spouse or children. Canberra exempted students from ASEAN and Pacific nations, along with PhD candidates and government-sponsored scholars. Special conditions will apply to these groups, though the government has not yet detailed them.
The exemption recognizes the strong educational and diplomatic ties between Australia and the Philippines. Filipino students will need to include dependent family members in their initial visa application. No students will be permitted to add subsequent entrants after their visa is granted.
The Impact on South Asian Students
South Asian applicants stand to feel the change most. An analysis found that more than 70 percent of student-dependent visas granted offshore last financial year went to applicants from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka. Bhutan, which sits outside both exempt regions, could be hit especially hard.
Global Reach managing director Ravi Lochan Singh warned the policy could weaken longstanding educational ties. Many Bhutanese students marry young and travel with their spouses. The restriction may push some talented students toward competitor destinations like the United Kingdom, which introduced similar rules in 2024.
Tighter Onshore Rules for All Students
Students already in Australia also face stricter rules. Those transferring courses, including at the same institution or qualification level, will need to apply for a new visa. Students whose provider closes or who need more time can still seek an extension.
Once a course is finished, a student completing a bachelor’s degree can progress to a master’s but can no longer move down the qualification scale. “You can go up the qualification scale, but only up the qualification scale,” Burke said. Onshore applications from higher education to higher VET courses are explicitly not allowed.
Mixed Reactions from the Education Sector
Universities Australia welcomed the decision to hold planning levels steady at 295,000 new international student commencements in 2027. However, commencements are already tracking 8 percent below last year amid high visa fees and slow processing. Chief executive Luke Sheehy warned that cutting migration too hard comes with economic consequences.
Private colleges took a dimmer view. Independent Higher Education Australia chief executive Peter Hendy said eroding choice for international students hurts Australia’s reputation as a welcoming destination. The International Education Association of Australia warned that preventing most students from bringing partners would push some toward competitor countries.
