
The Minister for Education, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, and Acting Minister for Skills and Training, announced that the government is setting a National Planning Level (NPL) for new international students at 270,000 slots for the 2025 calendar year (where previously, there was no cap), which will decrease the number of foreign students allowed to enter Australia to pre-pandemic levels. The NPL will be divided between higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors. Under the higher education category, publicly-funded universities will have 145,000 slots, while other universities and non-university higher education providers will have 30,000. As part of this growth, the government will encourage universities to increase new student housing to benefit both domestic and international students. The government will allot a total of 95,000 slots for the VET sectors, ensuring that these sectors can grow sustainably by providing more training opportunities for international students alongside Australian students. The following categories of individuals will be excluded from the NPL, among others: students undertaking standalone English language courses, students part of an Australian transnational education arrangement, and students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2025, subject to the relevant legislation being passed.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen

Awards
Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.

Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses how Disneyland Abu Dhabi could impact hiring, Emiratisation and immigration planning in the UAE.

Media mentions
Partner Charlotte Wills and Director Kelly Hardman co-hosted the Space Law Legal Symposium with DLA Piper, highlighting immigration’s role in space sector growth.

Media mentions
Partner Daniel Pierce highlighted the challenges US universities face under new visa restrictions.

Blog post
Senior Immigration Programme Consultant Salem Barakat shares how hiring graduates on immigration permissions is a strategic business move that unlocks talent and drives innovation.

Blog post
Director Wim Cocquyt and Senior Immigration Consultant Marina Ocariz discuss key takeaways from the 2025 ECJ decision on A1 certificate fraud.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Ali Khan discusses the UAE’s AI talent shortage and how immigration policies are helping attract talent to the region.

Blog post
Senior Immigration Manager Géraldine Renaudière discusses France's tightening of the naturalization-by-decree process by enforcing stricter language, legal and financial requirements.

Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés highlights Ireland’s respected work permit system and suggests a sector-specific permit to attract more non-EEA construction workers.

Media mentions
Practice Leader Kathleen O’Donnell highlights how proposed UK immigration reforms could impact businesses in Yorkshire.

Media mentions
Partner Charlotte Wills notes that while full-time, long-term remote work might become less common, many professionals continue to work from abroad through more structured, short-term arrangements.

Video
In this video, Immigration Consultant Laura Varon Osorio walks you through everything you need to know about staying in France after graduation. Whether you’re looking to work, start a business or transition to a new immigration status, this guide covers key immigration pathways for international students.

Awards
Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.

Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses how Disneyland Abu Dhabi could impact hiring, Emiratisation and immigration planning in the UAE.

Media mentions
Partner Charlotte Wills and Director Kelly Hardman co-hosted the Space Law Legal Symposium with DLA Piper, highlighting immigration’s role in space sector growth.

Media mentions
Partner Daniel Pierce highlighted the challenges US universities face under new visa restrictions.

Blog post
Senior Immigration Programme Consultant Salem Barakat shares how hiring graduates on immigration permissions is a strategic business move that unlocks talent and drives innovation.

Blog post
Director Wim Cocquyt and Senior Immigration Consultant Marina Ocariz discuss key takeaways from the 2025 ECJ decision on A1 certificate fraud.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Ali Khan discusses the UAE’s AI talent shortage and how immigration policies are helping attract talent to the region.

Blog post
Senior Immigration Manager Géraldine Renaudière discusses France's tightening of the naturalization-by-decree process by enforcing stricter language, legal and financial requirements.

Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés highlights Ireland’s respected work permit system and suggests a sector-specific permit to attract more non-EEA construction workers.

Media mentions
Practice Leader Kathleen O’Donnell highlights how proposed UK immigration reforms could impact businesses in Yorkshire.

Media mentions
Partner Charlotte Wills notes that while full-time, long-term remote work might become less common, many professionals continue to work from abroad through more structured, short-term arrangements.

Video
In this video, Immigration Consultant Laura Varon Osorio walks you through everything you need to know about staying in France after graduation. Whether you’re looking to work, start a business or transition to a new immigration status, this guide covers key immigration pathways for international students.