Global

Australia To Tighten Visa Rules For Foreign Students Amid Record Migration

Australia is set to implement stricter visa regulations for foreign students this week, coinciding with the release of official data revealing another record-high in migration, which is expected to exacerbate an already constrained rental market.

Effective from Saturday, English language proficiency requirements for student and graduate visas will be heightened, and the government will gain authority to suspend education providers from enrolling international students if they repeatedly violate regulations.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil emphasized the significance of these measures, stating, “The actions this weekend will continue to drive migration levels down while delivering on our commitments in the migration strategy to fix the broken system we inherited.”

Additionally, a new “genuine student test” will be implemented to further scrutinize international students intending to work in Australia, and “no further stay” conditions will be imposed on a broader range of visitor visas.

These changes follow a series of measures introduced last year to revoke COVID-era concessions, such as unlimited working hours for international students. The government had previously signalled intentions to tighten rules for students, potentially halving the migrant intake over two years.

Australia augmented its annual migration figures in 2022 to address labour shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this influx of foreign workers and students has intensified pressure on an already strained rental market.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday unveiled a 60% surge in net immigration to a record 548,800 individuals in the year ending September 30, 2023, surpassing the 518,000 recorded in the year ending June 2023.

Overall, Australia’s population expanded by 2.5% – the fastest growth rate on record – reaching 26.8 million people by September last year.

The surge in migration, primarily driven by students from India, China, and the Philippines, has bolstered the labour supply and mitigated wage pressures. However, it has intensified challenges in the housing market, with rental vacancies at historic lows and soaring construction costs limiting new housing supply.

Minister O’Neil highlighted the government’s efforts to curb migration levels, citing a 35% decrease in recent international student visa grants compared to the previous year.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Simon Ekpa Arrested, Denies Being IPOB Leader + Atiku Says Tinubu’s Loans Are Bone-Crushing – Trending With Ojy Okpe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFlFl1mPGC8 The arrest of self-proclaimed Prime minister of the Biafra Republic, Simon Ekpa who was…

17 mins ago

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Evacuated, Bomb Disposal Team Deployed Suspicious Item Found In Luggage

Gatwick Airport's South Terminal was evacuated after a suspected prohibited item was found, prompting bomb…

29 mins ago

Trump Considers Kevin Warsh for Treasury Secretary, Role Of Chairman Of Federal Reserve

Trump is considering Kevin Warsh for Treasury Secretary, with a future possibility of him becoming…

3 hours ago

Hyundai Recalls 145,235 Electrified Vehicles In The US Due To Power Loss Issue

Hyundai has recalled 145,235 electrified vehicles in the US. due to potential loss of drive…

3 hours ago

‘We’re Going to Begin to License Actors’, Says AGN President in A Bid For Standardisation

AGN president Rollas has stressed the need for actor licensing to ensure fair compensation and…

3 hours ago

EU Closes Antitrust Investigation Into Apple’s App Store Rules After Complaint Withdrawal

EU regulators has closed a four-year investigation into Apple's App Store rules after the complainant…

3 hours ago