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Australia has announced a new package of migration reforms affecting international students, student visa holders and people planning to study in Australia. The changes were announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on 17 September 2026, as part of the Australian Government’s broader migration reforms.
If you’re currently studying in Australia or planning to start in 2027, there’s no need to panic. Australia’s National Planning Level for new overseas student commencements stays at 295,000 for 2027, the same as 2026. The Government has also confirmed that no active international education provider will receive a lower allocation in 2027 than it had in 2026.
| Change | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Family members on student visas | Most future international students and Temporary Graduate visa holders will no longer be able to automatically include partners or children on their visa.
|
| Extending or changing your course |
|
| Visitor visas | Future Visitor visas will include a ‘No Further Stay’ condition, so they can’t be used as a pathway to stay while applying for another visa onshore.
|
| 2027 planning level | Stays at 295,000 new overseas student commencements, unchanged from 2026. No provider will receive a lower allocation than in 2026. |
| Working Holiday visas |
|
It’s worth remembering the National Planning Level relates to new overseas student commencements, not a cap on everyone already studying in Australia. The Government has also reported that 2026 commencements were already tracking around 8% below 2025 and 13% below 2019 levels, meaning numbers were already running below the national planning level before these changes.
These reforms will be implemented progressively, with more operational detail expected over the next 12 months. If you already hold a student visa, your conditions haven’t automatically changed overnight.
| Do this | Why |
|---|---|
| Check your individual visa conditions | Confirm your specific situation directly through the Department of Home Affairs, rather than relying on general headlines. |
| Talk to your provider before changing courses | Your university or education provider can confirm how a course change or transfer affects your visa. |
| Get advice for complex situations | A registered migration agent can help with family visa exceptions, progression rules or anything that doesn’t fit the standard case. |
| Stick to official sources | Avoid making visa decisions based only on social media or headlines. Details are still being finalised as reforms roll out. |
If you’re planning to study in Australia in 2027, the national planning level remains unchanged at 295,000 commencements, and Australian universities continue to welcome international students.
Once your university place and visa arrangements are sorted, finding somewhere to live is one of the next big steps. Scape offers purpose-built student accommodation close to major universities across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, with spaces designed for studying, meeting people and settling into student life in Australia.
