From September 2026 several leading immigration systems will modify entry conditions for international students, skilled workers and short‑term visitors.

In Australia, most new international students and recent graduates will no longer be permitted to bring partners or children, with limited exemptions for PhD candidates and nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries; applicants already in Australia with family members are not affected.

The Australian Working Holiday programme will shift to a ballot system, offering 45,000 places for a second year and 5,000 for a third year, while UK citizens retain special access under the bilateral trade agreement.

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked a Department of Homeland Security proposal that would replace the current duration‑of‑status system with fixed admission periods, leaving the existing flexible system in place while the government considers an appeal.

The blocked U.S. rule would have limited student and exchange‑visitor stays to four years and capped journalists’ stays at 240 days unless an extension was granted.

European interior ministers from 17 countries met in Munich on 26 September to discuss stronger border cooperation and the creation of return centres in third countries; the proposals do not alter Schengen visa rules directly.

Japan reports a 20‑40 % decline in arrivals under its main skilled‑worker category compared with 2025, attributed to stricter screening, higher language standards, tighter intra‑company transfer checks and higher capital requirements for business visas.

In the United Kingdom, a Statement of Changes (HC 584) effective 8 October will allow modern‑slavery victims on skilled‑worker visas to take up self‑employment or voluntary work, and dependent children of Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to settle with their parents without a separate five‑year residence period.

From 30 November, UK universities will raise the monthly maintenance requirement for international students to £1,570 in London and £1,203 elsewhere.