Australia is making it harder for foreign students to get visas starting this week. This comes as migration numbers hit another high, making the rental market even tighter. From Saturday, students and graduates will need better English skills for visas. The government can also stop schools from taking in more international students if they keep breaking the rules. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil says these changes will lower migration and fix problems with the system.
Australia is making rules stricter for students to make sure they’re genuinely here to study, not just work. They’re introducing a “genuine student test” to check this. Also, they’ll put “no further stay” conditions on more visitor visas. Last year, they stopped COVID-related concessions like unlimited work hours for students. The government wants to reduce the number of migrants by tightening these rules.
More Students and Workers Flock to Australia, Exacerbating Rental Market Pressure
Australia saw a surge in migration in 2022 to fill job shortages caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Border controls kept foreign students and workers away for almost two years. However, this sudden increase in foreign workers and students has made the rental market even tighter.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released on Thursday revealed a 60% increase in net immigration, reaching a record 548,800 people in the year ending September 30, 2023. This was higher than the 518,000 recorded in the year ending June 2023. Overall, Australia’s population grew by 2.5% – the fastest rate ever – reaching 26.8 million people by September last year.
Canada also imposed similar restrictions on students
Canada recently changed its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules for international students. Students completing a Master’s degree in under two years now qualify for a 3-year PGWP, but from September 1, 2024, Course Licensing Agreement program students won’t be eligible. Special measures for distance education and PGWP validity are extended until August 31, 2024.
The influx of international students caused a rental apartment shortage in Canada, leading to a 7.7% nationwide rent increase in December, according to Statscan. Prime Minister Trudeau’s popularity has decreased due to affordability concerns, with opposition leader Pierre.
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