Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government is continuing to complete a package of immigration policy adjustments in the context that Australia is under pressure to bring net migration to the level forecast in the Federal Budget. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Government was still carrying out an internal consultation and working process before making a final decision, and emphasized that changes would be announced when the process was complete.
It is worth noting that the Government does not want to make changes separately for each type of visa. According to Mr. Tony Burke, any adjustments in the immigration system could create a knock-on impact on businesses, the labor market, housing, education and groups of people in Australia. Therefore, the Government is reviewing the entire system before announcing the complete policy package. For Vietnamese people preparing to go to Australia, especially students, workers, temporary visa holders and families with people in Australia, this is a period that needs to be watched very closely.
1. Study Abroad Visas Will Be Controlled More Tightly
One of the groups certainly at the heart of the current debate is international students. In recent years, the Australian Government has continuously adjusted the student visa system to control the growth rate of international student numbers and increase the integrity of the system. The 2026–27 budget also allocates additional resources to enhance the examination of student visa applications both domestically and internationally. As the Government seeks to reduce net migration, options reported in the media may continue to focus on limiting cases where student visas are used as a way to extend time in Australia without a clear educational goal. One of the issues of concern is students constantly changing courses or moving to another level of training to continue maintaining their Visa status. In particular, the case of a student who starts with an educational program university and then moves down to a vocational training program may be further considered if the transition does not represent a reasonable learning path.
This does not mean that all cases of transferring schools, changing majors or moving from higher education to vocational training will be prohibited. The more important point is that the application must demonstrate a realistic reason for studying and a reasonable connection between the previous study and the new course. For
2. The Possibility of Applying for an Onshore Visa Will Get Attention
Another issue being discussed is the fact that people who are already in Australia on a temporary visa continue to apply for a new visa to extend their stay. This is a complex issue because not everyone who is in Australia has the same goals or circumstances. A student who truly needs to continue studying, a worker who is meeting a workforce need, and a person who continually switches visas just to extend their stay in Australia are completely different situations. Therefore, if the Government adjusts policy in this area, it is likely that the focus will be on controlling the reasonableness of the visa transition process, instead of simply banning all people currently in Australia from applying for new visas.
This is also the reason people holding temporary visas should not just look at the expiration date of their current visa. It is necessary to consider in advance your study plan, employment and conditions for the next visa type.
3. Tourist visas may be affected
Not only student visas and work visas are of concern. Some information about the reform package being discussed shows that the stay period for some cases of using tourist visas may be reconsidered. If these changes are implemented, some people who currently expect to be granted a long stay in Australia may have to prepare for the possibility of a shorter actual stay.
However, at the present time, the reduction of tourist visa duration from 12 months to 6 months should not be considered an official regulation issued by the Australian Government. During the policy-making phase, a lot of information can appear in the form of proposals, options under consideration or information from press sources. Only when the Government officially announces and the regulations take effect will it be possible to determine exactly who is affected and to what extent.
4. People currently in Australia are given priority in the Permanent Residence Program
One change that has been further confirmed by Minister Tony Burke is how the Government is handling the permanent residency program. In a press conference on August 26, 2026, Mr. Burke said the Government is now prioritizing decisions on positions and applications that are in Australia instead of positions from overseas in the permanent residence program. This is a very remarkable signal.
It shows that the Government is considering making better use of the human resources already present in Australia instead of just focusing on bringing in new people from abroad. However, it should be correctly understood that prioritizing domestic application processing does not mean that everyone in Australia will be given priority for permanent residence. The applicant must still meet the conditions of the respective visa type. The difference lies in how the Government prioritizes its handling of the program. For those studying and working in Australia, this may be a factor worth monitoring in long-term planning.
5. Work and Holiday Visas Are Processed Slower
One change that has actually happened is that the processing speed of work and tourism visa applications is slower than before. On August 16, Minister Tony Burke confirmed that applications are still being processed but the pace has slowed down. On August 26, he continued to confirm that the processing of this type of visa across the entire program is currently taking place more slowly than before. This occurs in the context that the number of people holding work-tourist visas in Australia has increased sharply. According to SBS, the number of people in this group in Australia exceeded 210,000 in June 2025, significantly higher than before the pandemic. More notable is the group of British citizens. According to figures cited by the ABC from the Department of Home Affairs, the number of British people coming to Australia under this program increased from about 47,238 people in 2023–24 to 79,412 people in 2024–25. Australia used to give British citizens some special conditions under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. Minister Tony Burke confirmed this is an issue being considered by the Government, but any changes must take into account commitments in the trade agreement.
6. Humanitarian Programs May Reduce
Another content that is attracting attention is the humanitarian admission program. SBS reported on August 27 that the Albanese Government is expected to reduce the size of the humanitarian program by about a third within the framework of upcoming immigration adjustments. However, it is necessary to distinguish between information reported by the media and an official decision. SBS said a spokesman for Minister Tony Burke said a final decision on targets for next year had not yet been finalized and could be determined during the budget process.
Therefore, the numbers being mentioned nowshould not be considered a final decision if the Government has not officially issued it.
7. Australian Immigration Aims to Reduce Net Migration
To understand the whole story, it is necessary to look at the Government’s broader objectives. Australia is looking to bring net migration to significantly lower levels than in the post-pandemic period. According to projections used by the Government in the budget, net migration is expected to continue to decline and move towards around 225,000 people per year in the coming years. Minister Tony Burke confirmed on August 26 that the Government is working based on the numbers given in the Budget.
This explains why the Government does not consider just one type of visa. If only reducing the number of student visas but not adjusting other visa groups, the total number of people staying in Australia may still not reach the target. Therefore, the review can involve many different groups, from international students, holidaymakers, temporary visas to permanent residence and humanitarian programs.
8 . What This Means for Vietnamese International Students
From the perspective of De1 Consultancy, the most important thing right now is not desertion brought because of information about “visa tightening”. What needs to be done is to reassess your study abroad plan for the longer term. If a student is preparing to go to Australia, the choice of school and course should not be based solely on tuition fees or the possibility of admission.
It is necessary to consider whether the course is suitable for your abilities, whether the learning process is reasonable, what job opportunities there are after graduation and what skills the learner will develop during their time in Australia. For people currently in Australia, the issue is even more important. If your current visa is about to expire, you should not wait until the final months to start exploring your next option. In the changing policy context, early preparation helps visa holders have more time to evaluate many options instead of being forced to choose in a hurry.
The Australian Government has repeatedly delayed the announcement of a new immigration policy package in August. Minister Tony Burke said the Government wanted to complete the internal working process and assess the impact before announcing it. Therefore, September 2026 may continue to be a period worth watching. But the most important thing is not to consider the proposals being reported in the press as new laws. Until the Government officially announces, those preparing documents still need to rely on the regulations currently in effect. This is also the time when people preparing to study abroad or holding temporary visas should be especially careful with sensational information such as “Australia closes visas”, “international students cannot transfer schools”, “cannot change visas while in Australia” or “tourist visas only last 6 months”. The reality is often much more complicated.
Overall, what is happening shows that Australia is not closing its doors to immigration, but is moving to a more controlled and selective system. The government wants to slow the growth rate of net migration, while still ensuring businesses have enough workers, understaffed occupations are filled, and the economy continues to attract needed skills. Therefore, people with a clear plan, substantial study, appropriate skills and work experience in Australia may still have many opportunities.
Conversely, applications that rely too heavily on repeatedly switching visas to extend their stay in Australia may face a higher level of scrutiny if the reforms are passed. The key point is not “will Australia tighten immigration or not”, but where Australia will tighten it and which groups will be prioritized. For Vietnamese international students, this is the time to look beyond a Student Visa application. A good plan should take into account your education, career, work experience and possible future visa options.
Reference source: SBS News, ABC News,
