Australia has introduced significant changes to Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa application rules from 2 October 2026, changing who can apply while in Australia and how family members can be included.
This is not a complete ban on every onshore Student visa application. Most applicants are affected, but limited exemptions remain for eligible current Student visa holders.
Most Student visa applications must now be lodged offshore
From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders need to be outside Australia when lodging a Student or Student Guardian visa application.
The new rules also affect current Student visa holders who want to apply for another Student visa while remaining in Australia. Unless they meet an exemption, they need to lodge from outside Australia and also be outside Australia when the new Student visa is granted.
Who may still apply in Australia?
Home Affairs provides limited exemptions for certain current Student visa holders. Depending on the circumstances, these include students who:
- Need up to 12 additional months to complete their main course with the same education provider.
- Are sponsored by DFAT or Defence.
- Are applying to study a PhD.
- Are applying for eligible primary or secondary school studies.
- Have completed their main AQF qualification and are progressing to a higher AQF-level course, subject to the applicable rules.
- Meet specified progression arrangements involving courses without an AQF level.
- Cannot continue their course because their education provider has defaulted.
A person who holds a Student visa as a dependant and wants to become the primary Student visa applicant must lodge outside Australia and must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Home Affairs states there are no exemptions to this rule.
Major change for partners and children
Most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members in their application unless they meet an exemption. Family members for this purpose include a partner and eligible dependent children.
Limited exemptions are available for specified groups including PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students, foreign government scholarship recipients and certain eligible Pacific and ASEAN students.
Subsequent entrants can no longer be added later
One of the most significant changes concerns family members who were not included with the primary application.
Home Affairs states that current Student visa holders cannot add family members as subsequent entrants after their Student visa has been granted. There are no exemptions to this rule.
What happens to applications lodged before 2 October?
Student visa applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when the application was lodged. This also applies to relevant applications that already included family members.
Check before enrolling in another course
Home Affairs advises students, education providers and agents to check whether an applicant can meet the new requirements before making study, travel or financial commitments.
Where a person is required to apply offshore, lodging the application while in Australia can result in an invalid application.