Australia will detain tourists who overstay visas as part of new reforms intended to deter unauthorised stays, officials said. Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite cited around 77,000 visa overstayers and said detention would provide a warning to would‑be overstayers. The government plans to add 250 beds and recruit 100 compliance officers, while tourism and refugee groups warn of reputational, legal and safety concerns.
Australia to Detain Tourist Visa Overstayers in New Deterrence Policy, Government Says
People run past the Sydney Opera House on the first day of spring in Sydney on September 1, 2026 (DAVID GRAY)
Australia will begin detaining tourists who overstay their visas as part of a package of measures intended to deter unauthorised stays and reduce overall migration, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite said on Friday. The government says the measure is one element of broader reforms announced on Thursday.
The ruling Labor Party has denied the changes are a reaction to the rising popularity of the far‑right One Nation party. The reforms also include ending the right of family members to accompany international students, introducing a ballot system for working holidaymakers and tougher enforcement against visa overstayers.
Thistlethwaite told broadcaster News24 that tourists found to have overstayed would be placed in immigration detention to address a reported rise in visa overstayers, now estimated at about 77,000. He said: "Once the word gets around — 'I overstayed my tourist visa, I got picked up and spent a couple of weeks in immigration detention, it's not a nice place, I'm going home' — we expect that deterrent effect to lead people to comply with visa conditions." He added that those without the right to remain would face "a consequence" and be removed.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke said the government would open 250 additional detention beds and recruit 100 compliance officers to manage the policy across different facilities. Officials noted that detention centres have already grown since 2015, in part because of a policy that mandated cancellation of some permanent visas for certain criminal offences.
Reactions And Concerns
Erin McLeod, chief executive of the Australian Tourism Industry Council, warned that detaining tourists could harm Australia's reputation as a welcoming destination and damage the tourism industry, which is an important part of the economy. The council represents thousands of small tourism businesses.
Rebecca Eckard, director of policy at the Refugee Council of Australia, said the policy raises safety and legal concerns. Speaking to AFP, she described the move as a punitive behavioural deterrent and argued that "the use of punitive detention is not permitted under Australia's immigration act." Eckard also pointed to longstanding problems in immigration detention flagged by the government ombudsman, including insufficient staffing and limited access to healthcare.
Critics say the policy's effectiveness as a deterrent is unproven and warn that expanding detention capacity without addressing legal safeguards and welfare needs could create additional risks. The government maintains the measures are intended to restore integrity to Australia's visa system.
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