Government unveils migration reform package: what is announced and what is next

Official release date: 17 September 2026 · General

The 17 September 2026 reform package flags a No Further Stay condition on visitor visas, a ballot for second- and third-year Working Holiday visas and an updated character Direction. Several measures are not yet law.

Picture this. A big Government announcement hits the news, headlines fly around, and suddenly everyone has a theory about what it means for them. On 17 September 2026 the Minister for Home Affairs released a migration reform package, and it is worth separating what has actually changed from what has only been announced.

The bigger picture

Here's the thing. The package was released alongside Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing Net Overseas Migration at 292,000, down 47 per cent from its 2023 peak. The Government has set targets of 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for 2027-28.

What was announced

• A No Further Stay condition is to be applied to all visitor visas, so they cannot be used to extend a stay in Australia
• Second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker visas will move to a ballot, with a regional work requirement, and Working Holiday processing will be set at around three months
• Ministerial Direction 110, which guides visa refusal and cancellation on character grounds, will be updated with more weight on protecting child victims of crime and victims of domestic and family violence, and on combating hate
• Compliance will be strengthened so people without valid visas leave, along with a crackdown on migration agents who knowingly lodge unmeritorious applications

What is in force and what is not

Some parts of the package have already been implemented, including the Student visa reforms and the new skilled visa processing priorities, which we cover separately.

As at 6 November 2026, however, we have not seen a registered legal instrument for the visitor No Further Stay condition, the Working Holiday ballot or a new Direction 110. These measures are announced only, with no commencement dates yet. Until the detail is published, it is too early to say exactly how they will work or who will be caught.

Who may be affected

• Visitors who hope to stay longer or change visas onshore
• Working Holiday Makers planning a second or third year
• Anyone whose visa may be considered on character grounds

What you should do

Keep calm and keep informed. If you are relying on a pathway that may change, it can be sensible to plan early rather than wait. In the meantime, the existing rules still apply. Overstaying, breaching visa conditions or lodging applications without a genuine basis can lead to refusal, cancellation and exclusion periods, and the Government has signalled stronger compliance in this area.

This is general information only and not personal advice. If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld are here to help.

Official source: Minister for Home Affairs (Tony Burke) – media release