What changed
The National Planning Level is 295,000 new overseas student commencements for 2026 and will remain at 295,000 in 2027. No active provider will receive a lower 2027 allocation than in 2026, and TAFE students will be exempt from the planning level in 2027.
Offshore Student visa applications are prioritised partly according to a provider's indicative allocation. Processing priority reduces as a provider reaches specified thresholds, but the allocation is not a cap on visas granted.
On 17 September 2026, the Government announced further Student and Temporary Graduate visa changes. Most international students and graduates will no longer be able to bring family members as dependants, with exceptions planned for some groups, including Pacific and ASEAN students and certain courses such as PhDs. Families already in Australia will not be separated by the change.
The Government also announced tighter rules for further study. Students seeking another Student visa will generally need to progress to a higher qualification, rather than enrol in further courses primarily to extend their stay. Genuine course extensions and transfers will still be possible.
The September changes have been announced but detailed commencement and eligibility settings are still being implemented.
Student visa holders can currently work up to 48 hours a fortnight while studying. Master's by research and doctoral students are exempt from this limit.
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants must generally be 35 or under, with exceptions applying. The visa allows eligible graduates to remain in Australia to live and work after completing their studies.
Who it affects
- Employers of international students: the 48-hour fortnightly work limit remains important when rostering students while their course is in session.
- Graduate employers: tighter rules around further study may change how some international graduates transition from study into work.
- Employers considering sponsorship: graduates who want to remain in Australia may increasingly need to move into an eligible work or sponsored visa pathway rather than continuing to enrol in courses.
- Universities, TAFEs and education providers: student numbers and visa processing continue to be influenced by the National Planning Level and provider allocations.
- Recruitment and labour hire firms: visa conditions and expiry dates should be checked carefully when placing international students and graduates.
What to do
- Check each worker's visa conditions in VEVO before they start, and again when their visa or course changes.
- Remember the 48 hour limit applies to the student, not to each employer. Ask whether they work elsewhere before building a roster.
- Record the expiry date of any 485 visa on your books, and ask early whether the graduate's occupation and experience could support a sponsored visa.
- If you run a graduate intake, ask your university or TAFE partners how planning levels are affecting their international enrolments.
How Accelerate handles it
Want to keep a graduate after their Temporary Graduate visa ends? Accelerate's immigration team can help you explore employer-sponsored pathways, including Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) visas, as well as Standard Business Sponsorship. Talk to a workforce specialist.
Change history
| "Headline", "Summary", "Effective date", "What changed", "Who it affects", "What to do", "How Accelerate handles it" updated. | |
| Page created. |
Earlier versions of this page are kept on file and can be provided on request.