One Nation Proposes Cutting Temporary Migration by 750,000: What Students, Skilled Migrants and Their Families Need to Know
Last updated: 14 September 2026
One Nation has proposed reducing Australia's temporary migrant population by more than 750,000 over three years.
The proposal would target international students, Temporary Graduate visa holders and the family members of temporary skilled migrants. It would also introduce stricter limits on how temporary visa holders move between visa categories while remaining in Australia.
This is a political proposal, not a current change to Australian migration law. Visas that have already been granted are not automatically cancelled because of the announcement.
Because every visa situation is different, it can help to talk through what this proposal would and wouldn't change for your specific circumstances.
What is One Nation proposing?
One Nation says its plan would:
Reduce the temporary migrant population by more than 750,000 over three years.
Deliver net-negative migration during the first three years.
Return the temporary migrant population to approximately 2017 levels.
Set a longer-term net overseas migration ceiling of 130,000 people per year.
Reduce student visa grants to approximately 100,000 per year.
Create a new high-value postgraduate visa pathway of around 15,000 places per year.
Reduce the Temporary Graduate visa population from approximately 270,000 to 40,000 over three years.
Keep temporary skilled migration demand-driven, without introducing a new cap on skilled work visas.
Largely deny new secondary visas for the family members of temporary skilled migrants.
Restrict "visa hopping", meaning moving between temporary visas while remaining in Australia.
Give unlawful non-citizens three months to leave voluntarily before possible enforcement action.
Introduce possible re-entry bans for people who remain in Australia unlawfully.
The proposal would also prioritise students in areas such as science, engineering, healthcare and frontier technology.
The exact design and implementation details are not final. The plan would need to be adopted and implemented through the appropriate government and legal processes before it could change visa rules.
What could this mean for international students?
One Nation proposes reducing the number of people in Australia on student visas from approximately 590,000 to 350,000 over three years.
The plan would also limit the main student visa stream to around 100,000 grants per year. A separate high-value postgraduate pathway could add approximately 15,000 places annually for selected research-focused students.
Students applying for some courses considered lower quality or oversupplied could face greater restrictions under the proposal.
The proposal would further restrict "visa hopping". Students would generally not be able to keep moving between temporary visas while remaining in Australia.
What should international students do?
International students should:
Continue complying with their current visa conditions.
Check the latest requirements from the Department of Home Affairs.
Review their course and post-study options before enrolling.
Check whether they may qualify for a Temporary Graduate visa under current rules.
Monitor official announcements rather than relying on political proposals.
Seek professional advice before changing their study or visa plans.
Students who already hold a valid Student visa do not automatically lose their visa because of this proposal.
If you're weighing up your course, visa timing or post-study options, a registered migration agent can help you map out what still works under the current rules.
What could this mean for Temporary Graduate visa holders?
One Nation proposes replacing the current Temporary Graduate visa arrangements with a much smaller graduate visa program, focused on selected fields.
Under the reported proposal, the number of Temporary Graduate visa holders in Australia would be reduced from approximately 270,000 to 40,000 over three years. One Nation has not published a specific annual grant cap for the proposed replacement visa — the confirmed figure is this overall population reduction, not a per-year grant number.
This could affect future graduate visa applicants and international students planning to remain in Australia after completing their studies.
It does not automatically cancel a Temporary Graduate visa that has already been granted. Current visa holders would remain subject to their existing visa conditions and expiry date unless the law changes in the future.
What could this mean for temporary skilled migrants?
One Nation has stated that temporary skilled migration would remain employer-driven and uncapped under its proposal.
This means the plan does not propose a new annual cap on temporary skilled work visas such as the 482 Skills in Demand visa or the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa. Employers could continue to sponsor workers based on demand, subject to the proposed policy settings and existing eligibility requirements.
The major change for temporary skilled migrants would concern accompanying family members. One Nation proposes largely ending new secondary visas for the families of temporary skilled migrants.
The proposal also seeks to reduce the overall temporary migrant population and restrict pathways that allow people to move between temporary visas while remaining in Australia.
Current temporary skilled visa holders would not automatically lose their visas because of the announcement.
What should temporary skilled migrants do?
Temporary skilled migrants should:
Continue meeting their current visa and sponsorship obligations.
Check their visa conditions and expiry date.
Keep employment and personal documents up to date.
Review their future visa and permanent residence options early.
Discuss sponsorship arrangements with their employer.
Monitor official government announcements.
Seek advice from a registered migration professional if they are planning a new visa application.
If your next visa step or a future PR pathway depends on timing, it's worth getting that reviewed before any policy settings change.
What could this mean for the families of skilled migrants?
One Nation proposes reducing new family visa pathways for temporary skilled migrants to zero or largely denying new secondary visas.
If implemented, this could affect temporary skilled migrants whose partners or eligible dependants have not yet applied for a relevant visa. It could make future family applications more difficult under the proposed settings.
The proposal does not automatically cancel family visas that have already been granted. Existing visa holders would continue to follow their current visa conditions and expiry dates unless future legislation provides otherwise.
Limited exceptions may apply to families connected with the proposed high-value postgraduate pathway.
What should families of skilled migrants do?
Families should:
Check the visa options currently available to them.
Confirm whether they are eligible under the current rules.
Prepare relationship, identity, health and character documents.
Monitor information from the Department of Home Affairs.
Consider their options early if a visa application has not yet been lodged.
Obtain professional advice before delaying or changing an application.
If a family member's application hasn't been lodged yet, getting the timing and eligibility checked now could make a real difference.
What about people who have overstayed their visas?
One Nation estimates that approximately 80,000 people in Australia do not hold a valid visa.
The proposal would give these people three months to leave voluntarily. Those who remained unlawfully could face immigration enforcement and a possible lifetime ban from returning to Australia.
This part of the proposal concerns people who are unlawfully in Australia. It does not apply to people who hold a valid visa and comply with their visa conditions.
Will these changes happen immediately?
No.
One Nation's announcement is a proposed policy, not a current change to Australia's migration system.
Current Student, Temporary Graduate, temporary skilled and family visa holders remain governed by the existing visa rules. Any future impact would depend on the final policy, legislation and transitional arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Has this 750,000 visa cut plan become law?
No. As reported by ABC News, PS News and The Australia Today, this is a policy proposal announced by One Nation on 14 September 2026. It has not been introduced as legislation and does not change any current visa condition, fee or processing rule.
Are current visa holders affected right now?
No. Current visa holders are not automatically affected simply because One Nation has announced the proposal. They should continue complying with their visa conditions and check official government information before making decisions about their studies, employment, travel or family arrangements.
Does the proposal introduce a cap on skilled work visas?
Based on the available reporting, no new cap on temporary skilled work visas is proposed. One Nation says skilled migration would remain demand-driven. The main proposed restriction for skilled migrants concerns new visas for accompanying family members.
What happens to family visas for temporary skilled migrants?
One Nation proposes reducing new family visa pathways for skilled migrants to zero, or largely denying new secondary visas. This would affect future applicants only. A family visa already granted is not automatically cancelled because of the announcement.
Should international students stop applying for an Australian student visa?
There is no automatic requirement to stop applying. The proposal is not current law. Prospective students should assess their course, visa eligibility and long-term plans under the current rules, while monitoring any confirmed government changes.
How does the proposed 130,000 migration ceiling compare to current numbers?
One Nation's long-term ceiling of 130,000 net overseas migration a year would sit well below the current run rate, which has been reported at around 300,000. The party's broader goal is to bring the temporary migrant population down from around 3 million today to roughly 2.1–2.2 million, close to 2017 levels.
Would Working Holiday visas or the PALM scheme be affected?
According to ABC News, One Nation's proposal would leave Working Holiday visas and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme unchanged. The proposed cuts are directed at student, graduate, skilled-family and overstayer categories.
Can One Nation put this policy into effect on its own?
No. One Nation does not hold government, so the proposal would need support from other parties to pass into law. If you still have questions about what this proposal means for your own visa, study or family plans, a registered migration agent can give you clarity based on the rules as they stand today.
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Key takeaway
One Nation has proposed a major reduction in Australia's temporary migrant population, with the largest effects expected for international students, Temporary Graduate visa applicants and the families of temporary skilled migrants.
The proposal does not introduce an immediate change to existing visas. It also does not propose a new cap on temporary skilled work visas, although it would significantly restrict new family visas for skilled migrants.
Anyone affected should continue meeting their current visa obligations and rely on confirmed information from the Department of Home Affairs.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute migration, legal or education advice.
Sources: ABC News, PS News and The Australia Today.
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