One Nation Plan Targets Sharp Reduction in Australian Visas

One Nation Targets 750,000 Temporary Migrant Reduction

Australia's One Nation party unveiled a sweeping migration policy on Monday, 14 September 2026, aiming to reduce the nation's temporary migrant population by 750,000 over a three-year period. The party stated its plan seeks to achieve negative net overseas migration (NOM) during this timeframe.

After this initial 'reset' phase, One Nation proposes the NOM would then be capped at a ceiling of 130,000 annually. Currently, Australia's NOM stands at approximately 300,000, with the government working towards a reduction to 225,000 by 2027–28. One Nation's proposal predates the release of migration policies by Australia's major political parties.

Student and Graduate Visa Caps Proposed

Under One Nation's proposed programme, the annual intake of student visas would be capped at 100,000 for three years. This measure is intended to cut the total student visa population, including accompanying family members, from 590,000 to 350,000, bringing it back to 2015 levels.

The policy also outlines a substantial reduction in the graduate visa population, aiming to decrease it from 270,000 to just 40,000 by the third year. A single, one-off graduate visa of 18 months would be introduced, capped at 20,000 grants annually.

Priority for these limited places would be given to graduates from 'high-value study' fields such as science, engineering, frontier technology, and healthcare.

Restrictions on Family Visas and Onshore Applications

One Nation's plan also includes ending family visas for temporary skilled workers. This change is projected to reduce the total number of people on temporary skilled visas, including family members, from approximately 263,000 to 160,000 by the third year of the policy.

While primary worker visas would remain demand-driven with no new cap (around 70,000 were granted in 2025–26), the party stated that the skilled visa programme has become a 'family immigration programme'.

Furthermore, the policy would restrict 'visa hopping', preventing temporary students, graduates, and temporary workers from sponsoring family members or switching to various other temporary categories while onshore. Visitors would generally be unable to apply for other visas from within Australia, with limited exceptions for family-sponsored applications.

Consequences for Asian Students and Skilled Workers

The proposed visa changes could significantly impact Asian students and skilled workers considering Australia. The cap on student visas, combined with the drastic reduction in graduate visas, will intensify competition, particularly for those not in priority fields like science or engineering.

Many Asian students traditionally pursue degrees in areas such as accounting, IT, and business, which One Nation's policy identifies as having an 'oversupply of graduates'.

Additionally, the cessation of family sponsorships for temporary skilled workers means that professionals from Asia seeking employment in Australia would no longer be able to bring their dependants under the same visa, potentially altering family migration plans and reducing the overall appeal for some skilled individuals.