Australia bars Hongkongers from bringing family on study-to-migrate pathway

Hongkongers aiming to settle in Australia through a bespoke study-to-migrate pathway will not be exempt from new rules barring applicants from bringing along their families, the country’s home affairs authorities have said.

The new rules, announced last month, have raised concerns among some Hongkongers, especially those who had hoped to bring their families while pursuing their studies in Australia before applying for temporary graduate visas to settle in the country.

On September 17, Tony Burke, who serves as both Australia’s minister for home affairs and as its minister for immigration and citizenship, said authorities would no longer allow international students to attach family members to their student or graduate visas.

But he added that the government would not break up “families onshore”.