Australia announces new visa rules that restrict most international students and Temporary Graduate visa holders from adding partners or children as dependants. The policy forms part of a broader overhaul aimed at reducing net migration to 225,000.
The changes apply broadly, and India is not exempt. Reporting from Indian outlets notes that most students will no longer be able to bring family members with their visas. However, the rules make allowances for certain categories: PhD students are described as retaining family access. Both outlets also state that families already living in Australia are not affected, meaning existing household arrangements are not broken up by the new requirements.
Across coverage, the emphasis is on immigration management and curbing what the government describes as rorting or misuse of the system. While the specifics of which visas and who qualifies for exceptions are discussed, the overall effect described is tighter dependant eligibility for newcomers, with limited carve-outs and no forced separation for current residents.
