SYDNEY: Australia will begin enforcing tougher visa rules for foreign students this week as official data showed migration hit another record high, which is likely to further aggravate an already tight rental market.
Beginning this week, the Australian government will implement heightened English language proficiency requirements for student and graduate visas, alongside granting authorities the power to suspend educational institutions found repeatedly violating regulations pertaining to international student recruitment.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing shortcomings in the migration system inherited by the current administration. O’Neil highlighted that these measures are intended to not only reduce migration levels but also uphold the integrity of Australia’s visa programs.
Among the new measures is the introduction of a “genuine student test” aimed at curbing instances of international students primarily seeking employment opportunities in Australia. Additionally, more visitor visas will be subject to “no further stay” conditions to deter people from overstaying their visa terms.
These regulatory changes follow a series of actions taken last year to roll back COVID-era concessions, including unrestricted working hours for international students. The government has previously signaled its intention to tighten regulations in order to potentially halve migrant intake over a two-year period.
Australia witnessed a surge in migration figures in 2022, as businesses sought to address labor shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the influx of foreign workers and students has added pressure to an already constrained rental market.
Recent data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a staggering 60% increase in net immigration, reaching a record high of 548,800 persons in the year ending September 30, 2023. This influx, primarily driven by students from countries such as India, China, and the Philippines, has contributed to a 2.5% population growth rate, the fastest on record, with the country’s population reaching 26.8 million people by September 2023.
While the record migration figures have alleviated some labor supply constraints and moderated wage pressures, they have exacerbated challenges in the housing market. Rental vacancies remain at historic lows, while elevated construction costs impede the development of new housing stock.
Despite the record migration, Minister O’Neil noted a decline in recent international student visa grants, down by 35% compared to the previous year.
