In a bid to manage migration levels, Australia has announced stringent visa requirements for international students, including those from Nigeria. The Australian Home Affairs Minister, Claire O’Neil, disclosed that universities could face suspension from recruiting foreign students if found violating the new regulations.
Commencing this week, the updated visa rules include heightened English language criteria for student and graduate visas, potentially exacerbating an already tight rental market.
O’Neil emphasized that these measures aim to reduce migration levels while addressing challenges inherited from the previous system. The implementation introduces a “genuine student test” to deter individuals seeking work relocation and expands the use of “no further stay” conditions on visitor visas.
This decision follows last year’s actions to revoke COVID-era concessions, such as unrestricted working hours for international students, with projections suggesting a potential 50% reduction in migrant intake over two years.
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Australia, amidst border closures due to the pandemic, temporarily increased migration in 2022 to aid businesses in filling labor shortages. However, the subsequent influx of foreign workers and students exacerbated pressures on the rental market, already strained by record-low vacancies and soaring construction costs.
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates a significant rise in net immigration, largely driven by students from India, China, and the Philippines. Despite these trends, recent international student visa grants have decreased by 35% compared to the previous year, reflecting the government’s efforts to manage migration levels.
