In short: Australia is making it harder for international students to swap courses. It also plans to act against the few advisers who lodge cases with no real merit. Here is what changed, fast.

The headline

  • Announced: 2 October 2026.
  • Who it affects: international students in Australia, plus the small group of advisers who push baseless cases.
  • How it is being done: through rules, not new laws.

Swapping courses: three changes

  1. New visa needed. Want a different course? You will need to apply for a separate visa first.
  2. Interim freeze. Until that system begins, no transfers in the first 12 months of a course.
  3. No extra time. From 1 July 2027, a transfer will not get your visa extended.

This sits on top of an earlier rule. Students already cannot drop down a level, say from a bachelor's or master's degree into vocational training.

Why now?

Short stays were turning into years of visa hopping. The government wants that to stop. It is one part of a plan to cut net overseas migration. The yearly figure is almost 300,000. The target is 225,000 by 2028.

Bridging visas are another pressure point. More than 400,000 people hold one right now while waiting on their next application. Many are students chasing a different visa. The government wants fewer.

Agents and lawyers: what is proposed

  • Agents would be barred from helping with an application they know, or reasonably ought to know, has no reasonable factual or legal basis.
  • The Department of Home Affairs will run a consultation on holding migration lawyers to account for similar poor practice.

Keep this in proportion. The government says the damage is done by a small number of bad actors. Most agents and lawyers are honest and do good work. The problem cases involve misleading claims and false promises made to people at vulnerable times. Think applications filed just to be refused and appealed, or online ads teaching people to make false protection claims.

Picking an honest adviser: a checklist

  • Search their name on the official Register of Migration Agents. No listing, no deal.
  • Hear a promise of a sure result? Walk away. Be wary of anyone who claims to know the outcome.
  • Ask for the advice in writing.
  • Ask for the fees in writing too, before you pay anything.
  • Expect straight answers, including bad news.

Your next move

  • Studying now? Check your course start date against the 12-month rule before planning a change.
  • Applying from overseas? Choose a course you plan to finish.
  • Need help? Use a registered, honest adviser.
  • Job hunting after study? Keep your study path clear and simple on your CV.

That is the quick version. Check back as the details firm up.