Student & Temporary Visa Appeals to Become Paper-Based Under New 2025 Bill
On 3 September 2025, the Australian Government introduced the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, which proposes major reforms in how the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) reviews certain migration cases.
This bill aims to streamline the appeal process, reduce delays, and shift the way visa refusals—especially for student and temporary visa holders—are reviewed.
1. In-Person Hearings Eliminated
The new bill proposes that the ART may now decide certain visa refusal cases “on the papers.”
This means that instead of attending an oral hearing in person or virtually, applicants will have their cases decided solely on written submissions and supporting documents.
2. Mandatory Paper-Based Reviews for Student & Temporary Visas
One of the most significant changes is that refused student visas and certain prescribed temporary visas will undergo mandatory paper-based reviews.
This could later be expanded to other visa categories, but for now, it focuses mainly on students and temporary visa holders.
3. No Impact on Permanent or Protection Visas
Importantly, this reform does not apply to:
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Permanent visa applications
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Protection (refugee) visas
These visa types will continue under the traditional review system, which allows applicants to present their case in hearings.
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
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Student visa holders facing refusal must now ensure their written submissions are extremely strong, clear, and well-documented, since there will be no chance to argue the case in person.
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Temporary visa holders in affected categories will face the same requirement.
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Applicants for permanent and protection visas will not see any change in the review process.
Final Thoughts
This proposed bill represents a major shift in Australian migration law, especially for international students and temporary visa holders. While it may speed up decisions, it also raises concerns about fairness since applicants will lose the opportunity to present their case in person.
For those applying or appealing, expert migration advice will now be more important than ever.
Stay tuned for updates as the bill moves through Parliament and becomes law.
