Australia will suspend new applications from vocational education and training (VET) providers seeking to enrol international students for 12 months, as the government moves to tighten oversight of the international education sector.
The announcement was made on May 18 by Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill. The suspension applies to new applications for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registrations and courses submitted to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Integrity concerns in VET sector
The Australian government said the pause will give regulators more time to deal with integrity concerns in the sector while reviewing existing applications with “rigour, scrutiny and integrity”.
The move follows findings from the Nixon Review and the Migration Review in 2023, which raised concerns about misuse of Australia’s visa system and integrity issues in parts of the international education industry, especially the VET sector.
The government said it has already introduced several reforms, including the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2025, which allows authorities to suspend new CRICOS applications.
Public institutions such as government schools, TAFE providers and Table A universities are exempt from the suspension.
Existing providers will still be allowed to add new teaching locations for approved courses and register replacement courses listed on the National VET Register.
In a statement, Hill said, “Australia welcomes genuine international students seeking a premium Australian education and the Government is committed to further strengthening integrity and sustainability in the international education sector.”
He added, “Suspending new registrations to teach international students VET or English language onshore is not a decision taken lightly and will allow the Government to address integrity concerns about new market entrants and oversaturation in the international VET and ELICOS sectors.”
Hill also said, “Australia’s continued success as a destination of choice for international students requires a ruthless focus on quality, integrity and student experience.”
