Could Australia scrap the graduate visa? What Kenyan students should know today

News · 2026-10-06 · 5 min read

Two Kenyan students discuss their study plans at an outdoor table on an Australian university campus.

The quick answer for anyone in Kenya weighing up an Australian degree: nothing has changed yet. On 6 October 2026 the federal Opposition, the Liberal and National Coalition, released a migration plan that would hit international students and graduates hardest. It is a proposal only. It would matter only if the Coalition wins government and then makes the changes, and today's student and graduate visa rules stay exactly as they are.

The proposal in brief

The wider plan would cut net overseas migration to 100,000 for the first two years of a Coalition government and up to 160,000 in year four. It would also make deep cuts to international student, bridging and temporary protection visas, and halve humanitarian places. For students the headline is the temporary graduate visa.

Temporary graduate visas would be abolished, with numbers falling from 271,200 to just 10,000 by 2031-32.
Graduates who wanted to stay would have to return home and apply for a separate temporary visa.
A four-year transitional phase would come before the visa disappears.
Some graduates in priority areas such as health and education, and in some regional areas, would be allowed to stay.
New international student commencements would be cut to 240,000, compared with the current planning level of 295,000.

The Government says the sector is already tracking towards 250,000 commencements this calendar year.

The argument for and against

Supporters of the plan say post-study work rights have been sold as a route to permanent residence or citizenship rather than as part of an education, and that ending the visa would let the migration program focus on the skills Australia needs. Critics disagree. The peak body for universities warned of lasting damage to higher education and the economy and said restricting post-study work could make Australia less attractive and less competitive at a time when more skilled people are needed. The Government also criticised the plan, saying it would stop Australia selecting the brightest skilled graduates, hurt employers, and push many top students towards other countries. It noted that comparable countries all offer competitive post-study work, and that international education is Australia's fourth biggest export.

The India trade agreement question

An international education industry association warned that the plan could breach Australia's free trade agreement with India. A side letter from April 2022 commits Australia to keep post-study opportunities for former students to live, study and work temporarily. The Coalition says there would be no breach, because its commitments are to temporary pathways for some students for short periods, the choice of visas is Australia's, and it would work with affected partner countries on pathways, including skilled ones. For Kenyan students this is background, not a rule that covers you, but it shows how contested the proposal is.

How to plan while the debate runs

Plan under the rules that apply today and follow official announcements.
Choose a course for what it does for your career, not only for the visa that might follow.
Keep your documents, such as KCSE results, KNEC or NITA trade test certificates, and transcripts, organised. A local certificate never automatically equals an Australian licence or assessment, so ask the relevant body what it requires.
If you use an adviser, check for a MARA registration for Australia, or a licensed immigration adviser or lawfully exempt person for New Zealand.
Build a clear CV early. Build AI CV is one way to get a job-ready version together.

Common mistakes while a proposal is in the news

The biggest error is treating a proposal as law and cancelling plans, or the reverse, treating it as irrelevant and ignoring risk. A second is relying on a post-study visa as the whole plan for your career. A third is trusting social media posts over the official pages. A fourth is paying for advice from anyone who promises to "beat" the proposal. For background on the debate, see the story behind the graduate visa boom and what the Coalition's migration cap could mean for skilled workers. If your goal is work, look at the roles listed on this site.

Questions readers in Kenya ask

Has the graduate visa been abolished?

No. This is an Opposition proposal. It would apply only if the Coalition wins government and then makes the changes.

How long would the change take?

The plan describes a four-year transitional phase before the visa is abolished.

Would every graduate have to leave?

Under the proposal, graduates who want to stay would have to go home and apply for a separate temporary visa, with some exceptions in priority areas and some regional areas.

Does the plan name Kenya?

No. It applies to international students in general.

Where do I check the current rules?

Use the official Department of Home Affairs visa pages.

What to remember

The plan was released on 6 October 2026 and is a proposal, not law.
It would abolish temporary graduate visas after a four-year transition, with exceptions.
Commencements would fall to 240,000 from a planning level of 295,000.
Plan under today's rules and follow official announcements.

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