Australia Tightens Visa Regulations For International Students And Workers To Reduce The Number Of Migrants

Illustration Sydney, Australia. (Wikimedia Commons/Bahnfrend)

JAKARTA - The Australian government announced plans to tighten visa regulations for international students and low-performance workers, as the country plans to reduce the number of migrants by half over the next two years, in an effort to overhaul the migration system that is considered 'damped'.

Berdasarkan kebijakan baru ini, pelajar internasional harus mendapatkan nilai yang lebih tinggi dalam tes bahasa Inggris, akan ada pengawasan yang lebih ketat terhadap permohonan visa pelajar yang kedua agar dapat memperpanjang masa tinggal mereka.

"Our strategy will return the number of migrations to normal," said Interior Minister Clare O'Neil at a press conference Monday.

"But this is not just a matter of numbers. It's not just a matter of the moment and experience of migration that our country is currently experiencing. This is about Australia's future," he continued.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on weekends that Australia's migration numbers needed to be returned to a "sustainable level," adding that "the system was already broken."

Minister O'Neil said the reform target launched by the government had put pressure on net migration abroad, further contributing to the decline in the number of migrants.

The decision was taken after the number of immigrations was estimated to peak at a record 510.000 in 2022-2023. Official data show that this number is expected to fall to around a quarter of a million by 2024-25 and 2025-26, equivalent to the pre-COVID level.

O'Neil said the net increase in foreign migration in 2022-2023 was largely driven by international students.

Australia increased its number of annual migrations last year to help the business world recruit staff, to fill labor shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic required strict border controls, prohibiting students and foreign workers from leaving the house for nearly two years.

However, the sudden entry of foreign workers and students has exacerbated pressure on the already tight rental market, with the increasing number of homeless people in the country.

Having long relied on immigration to supply one of the world's strictest labor markets, the Australian Labor Party administration has been trying to accelerate the entry of high-skill workers and smooth their way to permanent residence permits.

A new specialist visa for high-skill workers will be made with processing times set for one week, helping the business world recruit the best migrants amid intense competition with other developed countries.