Stop "Visa Hopping"
Australia's Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O'Neil, announced an important decision at a press conference on June 12, 2024: starting from July 1, the practice of 'visa hopping' will be officially ended. This measure will directly affect holders of 600 visitor visas and 485 graduate visas, who will no longer be able to apply for 500 student visas from within Australia. This is a core commitment under the Migration Strategy, aimed at preventing students and other temporary visa holders from achieving indefinite stays in Australia through consecutive visa extensions.
New Measures
From July 1, 2023, to the end of May 2024, over 36,000 people who originally held 600 visitor visas successfully converted to student visas. However, effective immediately, this conversion pathway will be closed, marking the Australian government's strengthened management of 600 visitor visas. This means that holders of 600 visitor visas will no longer be able to apply for student visas directly from within Australia.
Latest Updates
For holders of 485 Temporary Graduate Work visas, they were previously able to extend their stay in Australia by re-enrolling in studies. However, according to Grattan Institute data, 32% of such visa holders adopted this approach. To encourage graduates to find skilled work and become permanent residents rather than remaining in Australia as temporary residents, the government now stipulates that 485 visa holders will not be able to apply for student visas again from within Australia.
These policy adjustments will be implemented from July 1 this year, alongside other changes to Temporary Graduate Work visas (including 485 visas), including adjustments to visa durations and age requirements, as well as the increased English language requirements that have been in effect since March this year.
Australia's Minister for Home Affairs emphasized that the government's goal is to build a smaller, better-planned, and more strategic migration system to better serve Australia's economic and social development.