Australia Tightens Student Visa Rules for International Students

The Australian Government has announced the country’s plan to make stricter migration rules for foreign students starting from Saturday, March 23rd, 2024.

From March 23rd, English language requirements for student and graduate visas will be increased, while the government will assume the power to suspend education providers from recruiting international students if they repeatedly break the rules.

The announcement which was made on Thursday, March 21st, 2024 was in response to the sharp rise in the country’s population which has caused a strain on the already-tight rental market.

What is the current Australian English Language Requirement

Undergraduate Students:

You can meet English entry requirements if you have completed an English subject in your prior secondary studies that is equivalent to an Australian Year 12 level (score requirements also apply).

Postgraduate Students:

You can meet English entry requirements if you have completed studies at an institution where English is the language of instruction, communication and assessment for all aspects of study for the whole of the educational institution by satisfactorily completing one year of full-time study

You may be required to submit documentary evidence in the form of an official letter from the institution at which the study was completed.

This document must be written and signed by the institution’s registrar (or other authorised person of the institution).

What is the Australian New Visa Rule?

A new “genuine student test” will be introduced to further crack down on international students who look to come to Australia primarily to work, while the imposition of “no further stay” conditions will be used on more visitor visas.

“The actions this weekend will continue to drive migration levels down while delivering on our commitments in the migration strategy to fix the broken system we inherited,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said in a statement.