Immigration policy Australia is facing a difficult problem: how to ensure the integrity of the system visa without creating instability for study abroad students, businesses and the entire international education sector?
This is an issue raised by Felix Pirie, CEO of Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), in a commentary published on September 2, 2026. The article argues that constantly changing immigration policies and student visas could cause Australia to lose one of its important economic and social advantages. Commentary originally published in ITECA’s newsletter on August 31, 2026.
From “strengthening integrity” to “policy instability”
According to Felix Pirie, it is necessary for the Australian Government to control abuses of the visa system. However, the problem lies in the way the policy has been continuously changed in recent years. Regulations related to student visas, international enrollment and immigration have undergone many adjustments. When regulations change too frequently, the market can be difficult to predict and it can be difficult for schools, businesses, and students to build long-term plans.
It is worth noting that in 2026, the Australian Government continues to place emphasis on the integrity of the Visa system. The 2026 federal budget also spends an additional 19.8 million AUD over 4 years for strengthening inspection and assurance. integrity of student visa documents. At the same time, the Government continues to aim to create downward pressure on net migration levels. The issue is not whether to control it or not, but how to control it so as not to create instability for the entire market.
International education is not just a story of schools
One of the important points in the commentary is that international education does not only generate revenue for schools or training institutions. International students also contribute to many other sectors of the Australian economy such as housing, accommodation, restaurants, retail, transportation and local services. According to the article, international student activities create economic value equivalent to about 2% of Australia’s GDP and have a broad impact on many different industries.
Therefore, when the number of international students plummets, the impact does not stop at training schools but can also spread to many businesses and communities that serve this customer group. This is also the reason why visa policy changes are being closely watched not only by the education sector but also by the business community.
The number of student visas has dropped sharply
The article specifically highlights the decline in the number of student visas issued to international students applying from outside Australia. According to data cited by the author, in the year ending June 30, 2026, the number of student visas issued to main applicants applying from outside Australia is at the lowest level in more than a decade, if not counting the pandemic period. More notably, for the group of students studying skills training, the number of visas issued is only nearly one-third compared to 2006–2007. This shows that the international enrollment environment in Australia has changed significantly compared to before.
Not only international students, Australian businesses can also be affected
A larger issue is the relationship between immigration and the human resources needs of the Australian economy. Australia is still facing a shortage of human resources in some fields, a need for large infrastructure development, an aging population and increasing competition between countries in attracting skilled workers. In that context, continuing to limit the flow of international workers may make it difficult for businesses to find enough personnel to expand operations, implement projects and develop exports. In other words, immigration policy doesn’t just affect people who want to come to Australia. It also impacts the ability of Australian businesses to recruit and develop themselves.
The biggest risk may be “confidence”
One of the article’s most notable arguments is that the costs of policy instability are not easily reflected in state budgets. An international student usually does not decide to study abroad for a few weeks. A family can prepare finance and plan to study abroad for many years. Similarly, a skilled worker may have to consider many years before deciding to move to another country.
They will compare Australia with Canada, the UK, the US, New Zealand, as well as a growing number of countries in Asia and Europe. If Australia is perceived as a country with high-cost, unpredictable and frequently changing regulations, a segment of students and skilled workers may choose another country. This is the cost of reputation and trust that is difficult to measure with a simple number in the budget.
But Australia still needs to control abuses of the visa system
The article does not deny the need for reform. On the contrary, Felix Pirie believes that Australia needs to continue to handle cases of abuse of the visa system, units operating for improper purposes and dishonest acts. Quality educational institutions and Australian businesses also have a direct interest in maintaining a transparent and trustworthy immigration system.
The difference lies in the implementation. Good regulation should focus on violators, instead of creating instability for an entire industry. This is the important message in the commentary.
What does this mean for Vietnamese international students?
For those of you who are preparing to study abroad in Australia, the most important thing today is not to find a course just because you heard it is “easy to get a visa”, but to build a study path with a reason. clear. The choice of major, school and training level should be consistent with previous education, career goals and realistic study plans. At the same time, international students also need to understand that visa policies may continue to change. A suitable choice now does not mean that visa, employment or immigration conditions will remain the same for many years to come. This is also the reason why it is increasingly important to monitor official policy information and evaluate records from time to time.
The current debate shows that Australia is trying to find a balance between controlling immigration, protecting the integrity of the visa system and maintaining the appeal of international education. Control is necessary. But stability is equally important. For international students, this means not planning based on just one Visa policy at a time. Instead, it is necessary to build a long-term roadmap: choose the right industry → choose the right degree → understand visa conditions → develop skills → prepare for a career.
When policies change, a reasonable learning path will help students be more adaptable.
Source: The Koala News
