Albanese government targets 245,000 net overseas migration

• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced new "no further stay" conditions for visitor visas to prevent visa hopping.
• International secondary applicants will be blocked, restricting students from bringing family members to Australia.
• The Labor government aims to cut net overseas migration from 292,100 down to 245,000 this financial year.

The Albanese government announced a suite of administrative visa crackdowns to restrict temporary visitors and international students from extending their stay in Australia.

The policy shift follows fresh Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing net overseas migration stood at 292,100 for the year to March 2026, compared to the Treasury target of 245,000.

“Almost everyone who comes to Australia is a good guest in our country,” said Australian Government Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke.

Under the announced restrictions, international student secondary applicants will be blocked, and all temporary visitor visas will feature mandatory non-extension conditions.

The administrative changes aim to systematically taper immigration arrivals to hit a permanent target of 225,000 net arrivals per year by the 2027–28 financial year.

The government maintains that tightening temporary visitor compliance will ease national housing demand while preserving skilled migration pathways.

Opposing political parties have pressured the administration for steeper cuts, with One Nation proposing a negative net migration model to lower temporary visa holder counts.