Australia announces an end to “visa hopping”

• Those on Visitor Visas and Temporary Graduate Visa will no longer be able to apply for Student Visas onshore.
• The changes will come into place on 1 July.
• They are in addition to others that have come in place this year to reduce migration.

The Australian government is making it more difficult for foreign citizens to carry out what it calls “visa hopping”.

While 

a raft of changes came into place earlier this year to tighten regulations around those coming to Australia to study

 and reduce migration levels Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil on Wednesday announced additional measures. 

As of 1 July the government will close two pathways it says are being used to “subvert” offshore student integrity measures.

Visitor Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa holders will no longer be able to apply for Student Visas onshore.

A statement from the minister’s office said, “The visitor to student pathway has become increasingly prevalent, with over 36,000 applications since 1 July 2023 to the end of May 2024.”

“This measure closes a pathway that has been used to attempt to subvert the Government’s strengthened offshore student visa integrity measures,” it stated.