The Coalition has proposed cutting temporary migration by about 650,000 over four years while expanding selected skilled visa pathways and restricting student and graduate options.
Australia’s Liberal-National Coalition has announced a migration plan that would significantly change how temporary visa holders enter, remain and work in Australia if implemented. The plan targets a reduction of around 650,000 temporary visa holders over four years, with proposed changes affecting international students, graduates, skilled workers, bridging visa holders and protection visa applicants.
Under the proposal, net overseas migration (NOM) would fall to 100,000 annually for the first two years of a future Coalition government, before increasing to 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth. The Coalition also proposes halving the annual humanitarian intake to 10,000 places.
However, the plan would not reduce every visa category. The Coalition wants to increase selected skilled migration pathways, including employer-sponsored migration and a proposed Skilled Project Visa for workers needed on major projects.
The announcement sets out the Coalition’s proposed policy, not a change to Australia’s current visa requirements. Any proposed changes would need to be implemented through the relevant legal and administrative processes.
Which Australian Visas Would the Coalition’s Migration Plan Affect?
The Coalition’s proposal would substantially reduce some temporary visa pathways while expanding others. The following table summarises the main proposed changes and their potential implications for visa applicants and holders.
| Visa or Migration Pathway | Proposed Change | Potential Implications |
| Student visas (subclass 500) | Cap new international student commencements at 240,000 and restrict most accompanying family members. | Prospective students may face greater restrictions, particularly if they intend to bring family members to Australia. |
| Temporary Graduate visas (subclass 485) | Abolish the general Temporary Graduate visa program, while retaining limited post-study pathways for certain PhD, health and education graduates and graduates of regional universities. | Many international graduates could lose the opportunity to remain in Australia temporarily after completing their studies through the existing graduate pathway. |
| Temporary skilled visas, including the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | Increase selected skilled migration pathways and prioritise applicants based on factors including income, age, English proficiency and full-time work. | Eligible skilled workers and Australian employers could benefit from expanded pathways, although the proposed selection criteria may narrow access for some applicants. |
| Proposed Skilled Project Visa | Introduce 15,000 visas annually for workers engaged on major projects. | Workers with skills needed for designated projects could have another potential pathway, subject to the final program requirements. |
| Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462) | Reverse Labor’s ballot system and caps for second- and third-year extensions, while changing fees and retaining exemptions for qualifying regional work. | Eligible working holiday makers could face a different process for extending their stay, depending on the final arrangements. |
| Bridging visas | Virtually eliminate bridging visas as part of broader restrictions on subsequent temporary visa applications. | People who currently rely on bridging visas while resolving their immigration status could face significant changes to their ability to remain lawfully in Australia during a transition between visas. |
| Protection visa applications and merits review | Require onshore protection visa applicants to apply within 30 days of arrival and remove merits review for certain decisions. | People seeking protection or challenging specified visa decisions could face tighter deadlines and fewer review options. |
| Humanitarian program | Reduce the annual intake to 10,000 places. | Fewer humanitarian places would be available under the proposed annual program, subject to flexibility for emerging crises. |
These measures are proposals outlined in the Coalition’s official migration policy. The final scope and implementation of any changes would determine their effect on individual applicants.
What Would Happen to Temporary Graduate Visas?
The Coalition proposes abolishing the general Temporary Graduate visa program, which allows eligible international graduates to remain in Australia temporarily after completing their studies.
The proposal includes limited exceptions for certain graduates, including those completing PhDs, studying health or education or graduating from regional universities. The precise eligibility requirements would need to be established through the relevant implementation arrangements.
For international students, this could change the options available after graduation. Students who currently plan to complete an Australian qualification, gain local work experience and then explore skilled migration may need to consider their longer-term options earlier.
A Temporary Graduate visa does not automatically lead to permanent residence. However, it can provide time for eligible graduates to gain experience, meet requirements for another visa or explore an employer-sponsored or skilled migration pathway.
If the proposal proceeds, prospective students and current students approaching graduation should distinguish between the visa options available under current law and the more limited pathways the Coalition proposes.
Will Skilled Workers Have More Opportunities Under the Coalition’s Plan?
The Coalition proposes increasing selected skilled migration pathways even as it reduces temporary migration overall.
Its plan would expand the Specialist stream of the Skills in Demand visa program by up to 5,000 highly skilled workers annually. It also proposes creating 15,000 Skilled Project Visas each year for major projects, with workers tied to a defined project and period.
The Coalition says it would prioritise skilled workers, including employer-sponsored applicants and their skilled partners, using criteria such as income, age, English proficiency and full-time employment. It also proposes prioritising construction workers and protecting regional migration pathways in industries with workforce needs.
For Australian employers, these proposals could create opportunities to recruit workers for eligible positions. For prospective applicants, however, the availability of a visa pathway would not guarantee eligibility or approval.
The final criteria would matter, particularly for workers whose occupations, salaries, employment arrangements or personal circumstances may not meet the proposed requirements.
How Would the Proposal Affect International Students and Their Families?
The Coalition proposes capping international student commencements at 240,000 and restricting most secondary applicants accompanying international students.
A secondary applicant is generally a family member applying for a visa on the basis of their relationship with the primary applicant. Under the proposal, many international students could face tighter restrictions on bringing eligible family members to Australia.
The Coalition also proposes linking each student visa to the institution in which the student enrolled. This could affect students who want to change education providers, depending on how the measure is implemented.
These proposals come alongside restrictions introduced or announced by the current Labor Government. Students should therefore distinguish between existing requirements and additional changes that the Coalition proposes.
The Coalition has stated that its plan would not change family reunion visas. This is separate from its proposed restrictions on family members accompanying international students.
For prospective students, the key considerations remain the requirements that apply when lodging an application, the conditions attached to the visa and the effect of any future changes on their individual circumstances.
Would Temporary Visa Holders Have to Leave Australia to Apply for Another Visa?
The Coalition proposes requiring most second and subsequent temporary visa applications to be lodged offshore, meaning applicants would generally need to leave Australia before applying for another temporary visa.
The proposal is intended to reduce what the Coalition describes as visa hopping: repeatedly moving between temporary visa categories to extend a person’s stay.
The plan includes an exception for second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker visa applicants, who would continue to be able to reapply onshore under the proposal.
This measure could affect people who intend to move from one temporary visa to another, including those considering a change in their study, employment or other circumstances. It could also affect employers and family members whose plans depend on a worker or relative remaining in Australia.
The proposed restrictions on subsequent applications are also connected to the Coalition’s intention to virtually eliminate bridging visas.
Bridging visas allow eligible people to remain lawful in Australia in certain circumstances, including while another visa application is processed or during a transition between visa statuses. They do not all provide the same conditions or work rights.
If the proposal proceeds, some people who would otherwise rely on a bridging visa may need to leave Australia to make another application. The consequences would depend on the applicable rules and the person’s circumstances.
Anyone considering a further visa application should check their current visa expiry date, conditions and available options before making travel or employment decisions.
What Would Change for Protection Visa Applicants and People Challenging Visa Decisions?
The Coalition proposes requiring people who seek protection from within Australia to apply within 30 days of arrival.
It also proposes removing merits review for certain decisions, including temporary visa refusals, offshore applicants and adverse character decisions. These measures could limit the opportunities available to some people who wish to challenge an unfavourable immigration decision.
Merits review is a process in which the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) reconsiders a migration decision on its merits. The ART is Australia’s independent administrative review body and can review certain visa and migration decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs. Not every immigration decision is eligible for merits review, and eligibility depends on the type of decision and the applicable legislation.
The proposed changes could therefore have significant consequences for people who receive a refusal or are considering a protection claim. However, the exact effect would depend on the final measures and any transitional arrangements.
Why Is the Coalition Proposing These Migration Cuts?
The Coalition says the plan would reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services while prioritising migrants whose skills and economic contribution better meet Australia’s needs.
It argues that Australia should reduce the number of temporary migrants overall while increasing the proportion of skilled workers, particularly in areas such as construction and major projects.
However, migration experts and business groups have questioned whether the proposed reductions could achieve those goals without causing economic harm.
Business groups have warned that large reductions could worsen workforce shortages. The Coalition, meanwhile, argues that expanding selected skilled pathways would help address labour needs.
The Coalition has not released full modelling of the policy’s broader economic impact and has promised to provide costings closer to the 2028 federal election.
The proposal’s practical effects will depend on the final design of the measures, how they are implemented and how employers, education providers and prospective migrants respond.
Is the Coalition’s Migration Plan Already Australian Law?
No. The Coalition announced its migration plan as a policy proposal on 6 October 2026. The announcement does not, by itself, change the visa rules currently in force.
If the Coalition forms government and proceeds with the plan, individual measures would need to be implemented through the appropriate legal or administrative processes. Some measures may require legislative changes, while others may be implemented through existing powers, depending on the measure and the law.
Until relevant changes take effect, visa applicants and holders should continue to check the current requirements published by the Department of Home Affairs.
How SALIA Lawyers & Associates Can Help
Changes to migration policy can affect people differently depending on their current visa, immigration history, family circumstances, employment and future plans.
SALIA Lawyers & Associates provides Australian immigration and citizenship legal services, including advice on skilled and employer-sponsored visas, student and graduate visas, family visas, skills assessments, citizenship and reviews of immigration decisions.
If you are planning a visa application or are concerned about how a proposed policy change could affect your options, obtain advice based on the law currently in force and your individual circumstances.
The Coalition’s announcement is a proposed policy, not an immediate change to Australian visa law. Applicants should confirm the applicable requirements before making decisions about their visa status, work, study or travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Coalition propose to cut migration?
The Coalition proposes reducing the stock of temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years. It also proposes net overseas migration targets of 100,000 annually for the first two years, 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth year.
These are proposed targets, not current migration limits.
Will the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) be abolished?
The Coalition proposes abolishing the general Temporary Graduate visa program, with limited post-study pathways for certain PhD, health and education graduates and graduates of regional universities. The proposal has not automatically changed the current subclass 485 requirements.
Will skilled migration increase under the Coalition’s plan?
Yes, in selected streams. The Coalition proposes expanding the Skills in Demand visa Specialist stream by up to 5,000 workers annually and introducing 15,000 Skilled Project Visas each year. It also proposes prioritising employer-sponsored applicants who meet its proposed criteria.
These measures would not guarantee a visa for every skilled worker or employer.
Will international students still be able to bring family members to Australia?
The Coalition proposes restricting most family members accompanying international students. This is a proposed change, and the final eligibility rules would determine which family members could accompany students if the measure proceeds.
Would temporary visa holders have to apply offshore for another visa?
The Coalition proposes requiring most second and subsequent temporary visa applications to be lodged offshore. It has proposed retaining an onshore application option for second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker extensions. These proposals are not a blanket rule currently applicable to every temporary visa holder.
Would the Coalition abolish bridging visas?
The Coalition says its proposed offshore application requirements would virtually eliminate bridging visas. Bridging visas currently serve different purposes, and their availability depends on a person’s circumstances and the applicable rules. The proposal does not itself cancel existing bridging visas.
Will the Coalition change permanent skilled migration?
The Coalition says it would keep the permanent skilled migration program capped at 185,000 places annually. It also proposes prioritising applicants using factors such as age, income, English proficiency and skilled partners. The final operation of any new criteria would depend on implementation.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided is intended as a general guide and should not be relied upon as legal or migration advice. As migration laws and regulations can change, we recommend consulting an Australian Lawyer or Registered Migration Agent for advice tailored to your circumstances.
