Australians earning good money overseas will soon have to repay their university debts as if they were still living at home.
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation to extend the repayment system for university and trade course loans to Australians living overseas.
Vocational Education and Skills Minister Luke Hartsuyker said former students living overseas would have the same repayment obligations as those in Australia.
Under the new system, Australians with study loans going overseas for more than six months from the start of 2016 will have to register with the Tax Office.
Australians already living overseas will have until July 1, 2017, to register. Repayment obligations will start from that date.
Labor supported the measure, which should save $26 million over four years, but warned it would be challenging to implement.
