Australia Tightens Visa Regulations for International Students
Australia is tightening its visa regulations for international students, starting on March 23. The new requirements include an increased level of English proficiency for university students and researchers. Additionally, the Australian government now has the power to suspend the recruitment of international students by educational institutions that violate admission regulations.
These new measures will pose a real test for prospective international students, as the Australian government aims to restrict the influx of students who come to the country solely for employment opportunities. Furthermore, authorities will implement stricter “no further stay” requirements for many tourist visas.
Clare O’Neil, the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, said on March 21: “The actions undertaken this weekend will continue to reduce immigration levels. They are in line with our commitment to rectify the flaws of the current immigration system.”
To address concerns about the influx of international students, the Australian government has been taking progressive steps after last year’s efforts to end COVID-19-related relaxations, including lifting work-hour restrictions for international students.
The government announced that regulations would be tightened for international students, with the possibility of reducing immigration numbers by half over the next two years.
According to Minister O’Neil, the government’s actions since September 2023 have already contributed to a 35% decrease in immigration and a reduction in the number of visas granted to international students compared to the previous year.
In 2022, Australia increased the number of immigrants to assist businesses in hiring staff to compensate for the labor shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the influx of both workers and student immigrants has put additional pressure on the rental housing market, which was already struggling.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, net migration to the country increased by 60%, reaching a record high of 548,800 individuals in the fiscal year ending in September 2023, compared to 518,000 in the year ending June 2023.
The Australian population rose by 2.5% to 26.8 million people by September 2023, marking a record growth rate, as reported by Reuters.
The record migration wave to Australia is primarily driven by a large number of students from India, China, and the Philippines, which expands the labor supply and limits wage pressure.
However, this exacerbates the already strained housing market, as the supply of rental properties remains low, while construction costs continue to rise, limiting the availability of new housing units.
For more information on the latest developments in the Australian immigration and education sector, visit Business Today.