When will Australia Open Borders for International Students in 2025-26

✈️ 1. Borders are already open to international students

Australia's international borders have been open since December 2021, allowing fully vaccinated international students to return via charter and scheduled flights Since reopening, hundreds of thousands of student visa holders have arrived, and pilot programs—like those in NSW, Victoria, and South Australia—have successfully brought students back under quarantine or travel-bubble arrangements.  When will Australia open borders for international students

📈 2. 2025 Intakes are capped (but still proceeding)

A national cap of 270,000 new international student commencements for 2025 was introduced by the Australian government, broken down into:

• 145,000 for public universities
• 95,000 for VET providers

This cap is already in effect. However, students are still receiving enrollment offers; the key differences now are higher visa fees, stricter English and financial requirements, and careful allocation among institutions.

💸 3. Increased visa fees & stricter eligibility since July 2024

• Student visa fees doubled—up to AUD 1,600 as of July 1, 2024 Additional English proficiency, proof of financial capacity, and a reinforced "genuine student" test are now mandatory
• Onshore visa hopping is disallowed; all student visas must be applied for outside Australia

🏠 4. Why the caps? Housing & migration management

The government aims to reduce temporary and net migration levels, which reached 666,000 arrivals in 2023–24, by tightening student numbers to ease pressures on housing and infrastructure. Labor forecasts a drop in net migration to about 225,000 by 2026–27

🏛️ 5. Political landscape keeps shifting

• The Labor government backs the cap of 270,000 and raised visa fees to help balance migration and economic needs
• The Coalition (Opposition) calls for a deeper reduction: cutting student enrollment by 80,000 and tripling—or more—the visa fee.

These policies could change depending on future election outcomes or mid-term adjustments.

💬 6. What you should do if you're planning to study in Australia

• 🎓 Apply early: With fixed caps, early applications and CoEs improve your chances.
• 🔍 Pick your institution carefully: Public universities and high-demand courses may face fewer enrollment restrictions 💰 Budget wisely: Visa fees increased to AUD 1,600—plan accordingly.
• 📚 Meet stricter requirements: Ensure strong English scores and proof of funds ready.

✅ Final take-away

Australian international borders Australia’s borders have long been open to vaccinated international students—with many returning since late 2021. The change for 2025 isn’t reopening, but rather a controlled intake:

• 270,000 total student spots for 2025
• Higher fees and stricter visa criteria
• Policies likely to change with future government decisions

So: yes, Australia is welcoming international students—but within a tighter and more regulated system.

Stay informed

• Regularly check the Department of Home Affairs website and your university's international student office for updates on visa processing and caps.
• Keep an eye on election results or policy shifts that could alter caps or fees in 2026 or beyond.