Australia’s 2026 Immigration Changes and the New Zealand Alternative
Hello, this is SOL Edu & Migration.
On 17 September 2026, the Australian Government announced changes to its immigration policy. If you’ve been planning to study, take a working holiday, or migrate, now is the time to check how these changes affect your plans.
What has changed in Australian immigration? (Key points)
1. Lower Net Overseas Migration (NOM) targets
The Australian Government has said it will manage Net Overseas Migration at 245,000 for the current financial year and 225,000 by 2027–28. NOM is the number of people arriving in Australia minus the number leaving. This does not mean visa grants will be cut across the board. It signals a policy of managing the overall inflow. However, it will affect a wide range of visa categories, including student visas, skilled migration, and working holidays.
2. Family restrictions on student and graduate visas
For newly issued student visas and most graduate visas, partners and children can no longer accompany the applicant. People already in Australia with their families are not affected, and some exceptions remain, including students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and PhD candidates. If you were planning to study in Australia with your family, this change could directly affect your plans.
3. Ballot system for 2nd and 3rd year Working Holiday visas
Previously, after a first year on a Working Holiday visa, you could extend by meeting regional work requirements (88 days for the second year, 6 months for the third). Under the new rules, meeting these requirements is no longer enough. You must also succeed in a random ballot, and there will be a cap on the total number of visas granted.
Time to review your plans
The changes to processing priorities and visa conditions affect people differently depending on their occupation and circumstances. If you fall into one of the three groups below, we recommend reviewing your plans:
- Those planning to study in Australia with family
- Those planning a long-term stay in Australia after a working holiday
As Australia tightens, New Zealand opens up
In short, all three changes point the same way: Australia is raising the bar through tighter inflow management and stricter conditions. New Zealand moved in the opposite direction at around the same time. From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) was revised. The required New Zealand work experience was reduced and the value of local qualifications increased, lowering the barrier overall. (Not every occupation benefits equally. Some occupations are managed under the Red List and Amber List, and their conditions may be stricter.)
What exactly has changed in New Zealand?
From 24 August 2026, New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category was revised. The changes particularly favour people who have completed, or are about to complete, a New Zealand qualification.
New Zealand qualifications now carry more weight toward residence
When international students undertake a master’s or doctoral programme, or a Green List–related bachelor’s degree (Level 7–8), their partners can obtain an open work visa. Their children can then attend school on the same terms as local students, without paying international student fees. (Conditions vary by course and qualification, so please check your individual situation.)
Green List occupations such as nursing offer a direct path to residence
New Zealand manages shortage occupations through the Green List. For some occupations, such as nurses and midwives, a job offer alone is enough to apply for residence directly under the Straight to Residence pathway. Teachers, engineers, IT developers and others may also have a Green List pathway depending on their occupation and qualifications, so individual checks are needed.
Review your plans with SOL
Australia’s new policies will be implemented in stages, and specific start dates continue to be updated. We recommend speaking with an expert to check whether your current plan still holds, or whether New Zealand could be a better option.
SOL Edu & Migration has offices in New Zealand, Australia and Seoul, with licensed immigration advisers for both countries.
- Consultations with a licensed NZ immigration adviser
- Guidance on Australian immigration and visa direction
- Review of New Zealand work, study and migration alternatives
