Australia Student Visa Changes 2026
Australia’s Student Visa Rules Have Changed: What Students and Families Need to Know
The Australian Government has announced changes to the rules for Student visas (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visas (subclass 590).
The new rules begin on 2 October 2026 and affect who can apply for certain visas while they are in Australia, as well as whether family members can be included in a Student visa application.
But what do these changes actually mean for international students and their families?
What Do These Student Visa Changes Mean?
From 2 October 2026, most affected temporary visa holders will need to be outside Australia when they lodge a Student or Student Guardian visa application. They must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
If you are currently in Australia on an affected temporary visa and want to apply for a Student visa, you must leave Australia and lodge your application from outside Australia. You must also be outside Australia when your Student visa is granted.
The changes also affect people who already hold a Student visa and want to apply for another Student visa while remaining in Australia.
However, there are exemptions for certain students and situations.
Before making visa, travel or financial plans, enrolling in another course or applying for a Student visa, you should check whether you must be outside Australia to apply or whether an exemption applies to you.
The new rules also introduce significant changes for students who want to bring their partner or dependent children to Australia.
In general, Student visa applicants will no longer be able to include family members in their application unless they fall within one of the specified exemptions.
Who Does This Affect?
The changes may affect you if you fall into one of the following categories.
1. You are in Australia and want to apply for a Student visa
If you currently hold an affected temporary visa in Australia, you cannot lodge a Student visa application while you are in Australia.
You must be outside Australia when you lodge your application and when the visa is granted.
This is particularly important for people who are already in Australia and were planning to change their visa status to a Student visa.
2. You are already a Student visa holder and want another Student visa
The new rules can also affect current Student visa holders who want to apply for another Student visa while they are in Australia.
However, certain exemptions may apply.
For example, you may be able to apply for another Student visa in Australia if you:
need up to 12 additional months after your original course end date to complete your studies, while continuing with the same education provider. If you are studying a package of courses, the course you need additional time to complete must be your main course
are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence;
are applying to study for a PhD
are applying to undertake primary or secondary school studies
have completed your main course at one Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and are progressing to a higher AQF level
have completed school studies and are progressing to a course without an AQF level
have completed a course without an AQF level and are progressing to a course that does have an AQF level
cannot continue your course because your education provider has defaulted.
There is also an important qualification regarding AQF progression: if you completed a higher education course, your next course must also be a higher education course delivered by a higher education provider.
What is AQF?
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the framework used to classify Australian qualifications. Australian qualifications are organised across 10 AQF levels, from Level 1 to Level 10.
If you are relying on the course progression exemption, check the AQF level of both your current and proposed course.
If you hold a Student visa as a dependant
If you currently hold a Student visa as a dependant and want to apply for a Student visa as the primary applicant, you must lodge your application from outside Australia and remain outside Australia when the visa is granted. There are no exemptions to this rule.
Who Is Not Affected or May Be Exempt?
The changes do not apply in exactly the same way to everyone.
Your current Student visa
The changes do not affect your current Student visa.
In other words, the introduction of the new rules does not itself change your existing Student visa.
However, if you later need to apply for another Student visa, the new rules may become relevant to that new application.
Current Student Guardian visa holders
Current Student Guardian visa holders can continue to lodge a further Student Guardian visa application while they are in Australia.
What About Students Who Already Applied Before 2 October?
If your Student visa application was lodged before 2 October 2026, the new rules do not retrospectively change the rules under which that application was lodged.
Applications lodged before the commencement of the new rules, including applications that included family members, will continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when they were lodged.
What About Bringing Your Family to Australia?
This is another major part of the changes.
Under the new rules, Student visa applicants generally cannot include family members in their Student visa application.
For the purposes of these rules, family members means your:
partner; and/or
dependent children.
There are, however, specific exemptions.
Who Can Still Include Family Members?
You may be able to include family members when applying for a Student visa if you are:
Studying a PhD:
Students studying a PhD may be able to include family members under the exemption.
Sponsored by DFAT or Defence
Students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence may be able to include family members under the exemption.
Receiving a foreign government scholarship
Students receiving a foreign government scholarship may be able to include family members under the exemption.
An eligible student from a Pacific country or ASEAN member country
Certain eligible students from a Pacific country or ASEAN member country may also be able to include family members under the exemption.
Can I Add My Family Later?
This is an important part of the new rules.
If you already hold a Student visa, you will generally no longer be able to add family members after your Student visa has been granted.
So, if you are planning to study in Australia with your partner or dependent children, it is important to understand the family member rules before you apply.
There is a specific situation for people who already have family members included in their current Student visa.
If you already have family members included in your current Student visa, you may be able to include them in your next Student visa application if you apply in Australia.
You may also be able to include those family members if you apply in Australia or outside Australia and you:
need up to 12 additional months to complete the main course covered by your current Student visa; or
need to lodge a further Student visa application because your education provider defaulted.
The primary applicant and all family members included in the application must be in the same location when the application is lodged.
What Happens If You Apply From Australia When You Should Apply Offshore?
If you are required to apply from outside Australia but lodge your Student visa application while you are in Australia, your application will be invalid.
If you do not meet an exemption, you should not lodge your Student visa application in Australia. An invalid application outcome could affect your visa status and you may not be eligible to apply for a further visa if your visa has already expired.
Can I Return to Australia After Lodging My Application?
If you are required to lodge your Student visa application from outside Australia, you may return to Australia on another valid visa while your Student visa application is being processed.
However, you must be outside Australia when your Student visa is granted.
You will also not receive a Bridging visa linked to a Student visa application lodged outside Australia.
A Simple Example
Imagine three students.
Student A: Applying from outside Australia
Sarah is outside Australia and wants to apply for a Student visa.
Because Sarah is applying from outside Australia, the new onshore application restriction does not prevent her from lodging her application.
She will still need to meet the requirements for a Student visa.
Student B: Already in Australia on another temporary visa
Alex is already in Australia and wants to change to a Student visa.
If Alex holds an affected temporary visa, he cannot lodge his Student visa application while in Australia. He must be outside Australia when he lodges his application and when the visa is granted.
Student C: PhD student
Maria is applying to study a PhD.
PhD study is an exemption that may allow a Student visa holder to apply for another Student visa in Australia and may also allow family members to be included in a Student visa application.
Her circumstances would therefore need to be considered under those specific exemption rules.
What Should Students and Families Check?
If you are planning to study in Australia, there are a few questions you should ask before making your plans:
1. Where will I be when I lodge my Student visa application?
2. What visa do I currently hold?
3. Am I applying for my first Student visa or another Student visa?
4. Do I want to include my partner or dependent children?
5. Do I qualify for one of the exemptions?
6. Have I already lodged my application before 2 October 2026?
7. Am I progressing to another course or AQF level?
These questions can make a significant difference to how the new rules apply to your circumstances.
Source: This article is based on information published by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs in its Changes to Student visa application rules (subclasses 500 & 590).
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to change without notice. Australian migration policies and requirements may change over time. Applicants should verify the latest information with the Australian Department of Home Affairs before making any decisions or arrangements.