On 13 July 2026 the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) released a joint sector alert warning universities and vocational colleges about marketing practices that encourage international students to switch providers mid-course. The alert follows evidence that some education agents are still receiving commissions for on-shore transfers despite a government ban introduced last year to protect students from exploitation. TEQSA and ASQA say such inducements undermine the integrity of Australia’s education export sector and may conflict with the intent of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act. Providers have been told to audit agent contracts, advertising and transfer policies, and to ensure any move between institutions is genuinely in a student’s academic interest.
![Regulators issue compliance alert to curb questionable on-shore transfers of overseas students]()
For institutions, students and employers needing clarity on how these compliance shifts affect visa obligations, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify the latest Australian visa conditions and prepare applications correctly. Their Australia portal consolidates current requirements, forms and processing times, allowing mobility managers and international students to stay ahead of regulatory changes with confidence.
Non-compliant institutions face targeted investigations, potential suspension from the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and hefty civil penalties. For global mobility managers, the crackdown signals stricter scrutiny of student visa compliance—particularly where staff dependants study in Australia—or where companies sponsor upskilling programs. Employers should confirm that sponsored students remain enrolled with their original provider, as unreported transfers could breach visa conditions and jeopardise future applications. Education providers must update due-diligence checklists for agents, cease any commission payments tied to on-shore transfers and brief enrolment staff on the new expectations. Transparency around tuition refunds and transfer letters of release will be critical to avoiding regulatory action and reputational damage. The alert underscores the government’s broader migration reset: lifting visa standards, capping international student numbers at 295,000 by 2027 and steering providers towards higher-quality, skills-focused offerings that align with labour-market demand.
For institutions, students and employers needing clarity on how these compliance shifts affect visa obligations, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify the latest Australian visa conditions and prepare applications correctly. Their Australia portal consolidates current requirements, forms and processing times, allowing mobility managers and international students to stay ahead of regulatory changes with confidence.
Non-compliant institutions face targeted investigations, potential suspension from the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and hefty civil penalties. For global mobility managers, the crackdown signals stricter scrutiny of student visa compliance—particularly where staff dependants study in Australia—or where companies sponsor upskilling programs. Employers should confirm that sponsored students remain enrolled with their original provider, as unreported transfers could breach visa conditions and jeopardise future applications. Education providers must update due-diligence checklists for agents, cease any commission payments tied to on-shore transfers and brief enrolment staff on the new expectations. Transparency around tuition refunds and transfer letters of release will be critical to avoiding regulatory action and reputational damage. The alert underscores the government’s broader migration reset: lifting visa standards, capping international student numbers at 295,000 by 2027 and steering providers towards higher-quality, skills-focused offerings that align with labour-market demand.
