Australia student visa changes in 2026 took effect on 2nd October, altering where some students can lodge applications and how families can be included. The major change is that those applying for a Student visa 500 or Student Guardian visa 590 must stay outside of Australia at the time of lodging the application.
These regulations do not allow Student visa holders to bring their families after the grant of their visas. However, applications made prior to 2nd October shall be governed by the old regulations.
Australia Student Visa Changes 2026
Effective from 2nd October 2026, the new Australia student visa updates are about strict measures to tackle “visa hopping” by banning multiple temporary visa holders from applying for an Australian student visa. There’s another factor that states that student visa holders can no longer bring subsequent applicants unless there’s an exception.
The visa 500 is the Student visa category covered by the change. The student subclass 500 continues to be the same visa designation, whereas the subclass 590 is the Student Guardian Visa.
Who Can Still Apply in Australia?
Some people can also apply for a new Student visa while in Australia if they fall within the category of exemptions. These are as follows:
1. After the first or initial course is completed, the additional time period can be extended almost up to a year/12 months. However, it is important to note that the curriculum has to be conducted by the same academic institution. For package courses, this same time period will be applicable to the main or lead course.
2. The applicant is being sponsored by DFAT or Defence.
3. The applicant is applying for PhD studies.
4. The applicant is applying for school studies.
5. School studies are followed by a non-AQF level course.
6. You choose a non-AQF level course after an AQF-level course.
7. The course provider or the academic institute turns out to be a defaulter, and the course cannot be continued.
With the help of an education consultant in Perth, you can easily comprehend the relevant study and visa pathway before lodging.
Temporary Visas Affected
A separate restriction applies to specified temporary visa holders. The visa holders of the following subclasses cannot lodge a valid Student or Guardian visa application while in Australia:
1. Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)
2. Subclass 403 – Domestic Worker – Diplomatic/Consular stream
3. Subclass 407 – Training
4. Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity
5. Subclass 417 – Working Holiday
6. Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled)
7. Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday
8. Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand
9. Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate
10. Subclass 600 – Visitor
11. Subclass 601 – Electronic Travel Authority
12. Subclass 602 – Medical Treatment
13. Subclass 651 – eVisitor
14. Subclass 771 – Transit
15. Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew
16. Subclass 995 – Diplomatic (Temporary) – primary visa holder only
Applicants with complicated situations can consult with a migration agent in Perth before lodging an application.
The student visa subclass 500 requirements must now be considered with the applicant’s current visa and course progression.
Family Members Face New Restrictions
The majority of individuals who apply for the Student visa (subclass 500) would not be permitted to include their partners or eligible dependent children in their visa application anymore, unless they meet certain criteria for exceptions. Additionally, family members won’t be eligible to apply for this Student visa as fresh applicants in the future.
Relatives may still be included at the application stage when the student is:
1. Studying a PhD.
2. Sponsored by DFAT or Defence.
3. Receiving a foreign government scholarship.
4. A qualified applicant from an ASEAN member state or a Pacific Country.
Review the subclass 500 checklist before lodging to confirm the relevant requirements and supporting documents. The cost to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) is currently AUD 2,500, with some limited discounts possibly available. It is important to note that visa fees may change, so applicants should confirm the current fee set by the Department of Home Affairs before submitting their application.
People with family members who were already included can include them again in their future application for an onshore student visa class 500. The main and the included applicant should be present in the same location while applying.
Four Steps Applicants Should Take Now
The latest student visa application update 2026 lists four practical checks:
1. Check the current visa subclass against the affected list.
2. Check whether you meet an exemption that allows you to lodge a Student visa application in Australia.
3. If an onshore application is unavailable, plan to lodge from outside Australia and remain outside until grant.
4. Determine who is to be covered prior to making your submission, and ensure that the family exemption provision applies because additional members cannot be added to the grant later on.
Existing Student visa holders remain subject to their current visa conditions. However, the new rules affect whether they can lodge another Student visa application while in Australia.
Applications Lodged Before 2nd October 2026
Applications submitted before 2nd October 2026 will still be processed according to the rules that were in effect at the time they were submitted. It applies to applications that already have family members. Individuals who are reviewing an older application can consult with a visa consultant in Perth to learn how the rules that applied when the application was initially lodged may impact their case.
FAQ’s
1. What Are the New Australia Student Visa Rules?
Applications for a student visa cannot be submitted by those residing in the country with temporary visas. Apart from that, additional applications can also be affected unless there is an exemption.
2. How Strict Are Australian Student Visa Requirements Now?
These revised policies will now limit the places at which some applications can be lodged and ways in which family members can be included. The exemptions provided will continue to exist under the circumstances mentioned.
3. Are Student Visas Being Cancelled in Australia Right Now?
No, the recent changes will not replace existing subclass 500 visas. Applications submitted before 2nd October 2026 will be assessed under the rules that applied when the application was lodged.
