Australia tightens visa rules amid debate over yoga teachers and construction migrants

Addressing mounting criticism of Australia’s migration program, Immigration Minister Tony Burke emphasized the need for tighter control while maintaining the sector’s economic contribution. He refuted the allegation that the country is importing more yoga teachers than construction workers, citing figures of just under 15,000 construction arrivals versus none for yoga instructors, the latter being listed only because of a 2022 Australia-India trade agreement.

Burke warned against repeated visa-hopping by students who shift courses solely to extend their stay, proposing that legitimate pathways should involve progressing up the qualification ladder. He also announced that, except for existing families, new international students and graduate visa holders will generally not be able to bring relatives, with exemptions for Pacific, ASEAN students and certain PhD programmes. The changes will affect the sizable Indian student cohort, which makes up about 16% of the international student body.