Australia wants net overseas migration at 225,000: what that target means for Malaysians planning to go

News · 2026-09-16 · 3 min read

Every few months a big number lands in the Australian migration debate, and Malaysians planning to study or work there tend to ask the same thing: does this affect me? The latest number is 225,000, and it deserves a careful look.

The target in context

The government wants to bring net overseas migration (NOM), the number of people arriving minus those leaving, down from approximately 305,000 to 225,000 within two years. It still plans to allow around 185,000 permanent migrants annually.

NOM is already moving in that direction. It has trended downward for seven straight quarters since late 2023, and projections suggest it could dip below pre-pandemic levels by 2027-28. So the policy is leaning on a trend that has already started.

Where the pressure comes from

Public worry about migration numbers has grown, and rising support for One Nation has pushed the government towards action it had been holding back for weeks. A major speech on the topic was pulled at the last minute because of disagreement inside Cabinet over how hard to go. A bid to win cross-party support for legislation also fell apart, so the government may rely on regulatory powers and departmental directives if Parliament is not an option.

What the changes are expected to cover

Area	Expected direction
Student dependants	Most students expected to study alone
Visa switching	Loopholes closed for people on expired visas
Appeals	Faster removals for unsuccessful applicants

On the first row, last year Australia granted over 337,000 student visas, and roughly 45,000 of those went to accompanying family members. Nearly 111,000 people were in some stage of the removal or review pipeline as of July.

The pushback

Not everyone agrees with a numbers-first approach. An independent senator wants a genuine 10-year migration strategy that weighs skills needs against housing and environmental pressure. Business groups argue the real problems are housing supply and skills shortages, and that cutting migration will not fix either. One Nation wants to go further, with cuts of 750,000+ temporary migrants over three years, a plan that universities, aged care providers and both major parties have called economically damaging.

What Malaysian tradespeople and graduates can do

You cannot control a national target, but you can control how ready your file is. Sponsored jobs for Malaysian tradespeople and skilled graduates will still come down to evidence of skills.

Know that Malaysian trade qualifications such as the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) are usually assessed again in Australia, through a skills assessment.
Book IELTS or PTE if your visa or employer needs it.
Keep certified copies of your documents and English translations of anything in Bahasa Malaysia where the rules ask for them.
Apply to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for a police clearance when one is requested.
Skilled migration and partner visa routes may offer more stability than student dependent visas, so compare them before you commit.

Check the skill occupation list for your occupation, and speak to a qualified migration adviser before making irreversible study decisions. Applications lodged before new rules start may be treated under existing settings, but that is not a promise, so confirm the details when they are announced.

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