02/10/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐บ๐
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced new rules affecting Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) applications made in Australia.
These changes may significantly affect temporary visa holders who are planning to switch to a Student visa, current Student visa holders planning further study, and students considering bringing family members to Australia.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐
๐
๐๐๐๐๐?
From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders in Australia will no longer be able to lodge a Student visa or Student Guardian visa application while they are in Australia.
This also affects some current Student visa holders who want to apply for another Student visa in Australia.
Importantly, the changes do not cancel or change your current Student visa.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
If the new rules prevent you from lodging your Student visa application in Australia, you will generally need to:
๐ Be outside Australia when the application is lodged
๐ Remain outside Australia when the visa is granted.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
A current Student visa holder may still be able to apply for another Student visa in Australia in certain circumstances.
These include situations where the student:
๐น Needs up to 12 additional months to complete the original course, while continuing with the same education provider
๐น Is sponsored by DFAT or Defence
๐น Is applying to study a PhD
๐น Is applying for primary or secondary school studies
๐น Has completed a course at an AQF level and is progressing to a higher AQF level
๐น Has completed school studies and is progressing to a course without an AQF level
๐น Is progressing from a course without an AQF level to a course with an AQF level
๐น Cannot continue their course because their education provider has defaulted.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ
Student visa applicants can generally no longer include their partner or dependent children in a Student visa application unless an exemption applies.
The change also applies to people applying for a further Student visa.
Even more importantly, current Student visa holders can no longer add family members as subsequent entrants after their Student visa has been granted.
The Department states there are no exemptions to this subsequent-entrant rule.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐?
There are specific exemptions allowing some students to include family members at the time of applying.
These include students who are:
๐ Studying a PhD
๐ฆ๐บ Sponsored by DFAT or Defence
๐ Receiving a foreign government scholarship
๐ Eligible students from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Where family members are eligible to be included, the primary applicant and all family members included in the application must be in the same location when the application is lodged.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
This is particularly important.
Student visa applications lodged before 2 October 2026 will continue to be assessed under the rules that were in place when the application was lodged.
This includes applications that included family members.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐
If you are planning to change courses, apply for another Student visa, bring family members to Australia, or move from another temporary visa to a Student visa, carefully check how the new rules apply to your individual circumstances.
Do not make travel, relocation or enrolment decisions based only on general social media information.
Visa eligibility and exemptions can depend on your current visa, previous study, proposed course, education provider, sponsorship and family circumstances.
๐ Always check the current requirements before lodging an application.
๐ Consider obtaining professional migration advice if your circumstances are complex.
๐ Do not assume that a previous pathway will remain available after 2 October 2026.
The Department of Home Affairs recommends understanding the new requirements before enrolling in a course, making travel or relocation plans, or applying for a Student visa.
๐ข Share this update with international students, temporary visa holders and families who may be affected.
Read Full News :https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Visa-subsite/files/changes-to-student-visa-applications-factsheet.pdf
Follow for more Australian migration and visa updates ๐ฆ๐บ
DISCLAIMER: This disclaimer applies to all social media posts from Belong Migration and Education Services. The content shared does not constitute immigration, legal, or professional advice and must not be relied upon as such. All information is provided as a general guide only, based on details available at the time of publication and subject to change.
