In a major policy update on September 17, 2026, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that most international students and Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa holders will no longer be allowed to bring family members—such as spouses or dependent children—as secondary applicants on their visas. Designed to manage net overseas migration and reduce pressure on local housing and infrastructure, the restriction excludes candidates pursuing PhD or doctoral research programs, as well as students from Pacific and ASEAN nations. Families already residing in Australia on attached visas will remain unaffected, with the new policy set to be rolled out progressively over the next 12 months.
