Student Visa Update
Unsure about recent visa changes or conflicting information in the media?
New rules were announced on 2 October, identifying who can apply for a student visa in Australia, and whether family members can be included.
Get the fast facts from the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs Changes to Student visa applications factsheet.
Students can also explore the information below, as MigrationNT have created Q&A's for international students in the Northern Territory, following a webinar hosted by Study NT, MigrationNT and the Department of Home Affairs.
Student visa changes - Questions and Answers
From 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders may apply for a further Student visa in Australia only if they meet an exemption specified by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Applicants who do not meet an exemption must apply from outside Australia and must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
Students applying for a Student visa to undertake a new course must meet one of the prescribed exemptions to apply onshore. Students who need up to 12 additional months after their original course end date to complete their main course with the same education provider may also meet an exemption.
A change of education provider does not, by itself, provide an exemption. Unless the current provider has defaulted or another exemption applies, the student must apply from outside Australia and must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
The Australian Government intends to introduce a new Student visa transfer stream in 2027, providing a pathway for students seeking to change education providers. Further information on the proposed transfer stream will be made available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
You may be eligible to apply for a further Student visa in Australia if you have completed your main course and are progressing to a course at a higher AQF level. A separate exemption applies to students applying to undertake a PhD. Students progressing to an honours or research master’s degree should confirm that their proposed course progression meets the relevant exemption requirements.
Students who need additional time to complete their current course with their current institution may extend their studies for up to 12 months, subject to the relevant requirements.
If a Student visa (subclass 500) application is required to be lodged offshore, all applicants included in the application, including dependants, must be outside Australia at the time of lodgement and decision.
Applicants should be cautious about returning to Australia while the application remains under assessment. As visa processing timeframes cannot be guaranteed, an applicant who returns to Australia before a decision is made may not satisfy the requirement to be offshore at the time of visa grant. Students should discuss study arrangements with their education provider and carefully consider their visa requirements before making travel arrangements.
Each application is assessed on its individual circumstances by the Department of Home Affairs. As part of the assessment, the Department may consider the applicant's overall visa history, study history and compliance with visa conditions. If you are unsure how your circumstances may affect a future Student visa application, you should seek professional advice from a registered migration agent or suitably qualified immigration professional.
Home-country requirements are separate from Australian visa requirements. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they meet any laws, approvals or other requirements imposed by their home country in relation to overseas study or travel. Australian authorities cannot provide advice on, interpret or waive requirements imposed by another country. Applicants should seek advice from the relevant authorities in their home country where necessary.
Family members may only be included in a new Student visa application where an exemption for including family members applies. Exemptions may apply to PhD students, students sponsored by DFAT or Defence, recipients of foreign government scholarships and eligible students from Pacific or ASEAN countries.
If family members are already included in the primary applicant’s current Student visa, they may be able to be included in the next application where the relevant requirements are met. The primary applicant and all included family members must be in the same location when the application is lodged.
Family members cannot be added as subsequent entrants after the Student visa has been granted. There are no exemptions to this restriction.
Under the new arrangements, there is no subsequent entrant pathway for family members once the Student visa has been granted, regardless of the applicant’s circumstances.
The Department of Home Affairs has a specific process for notifying the Department of a newborn baby for certain visa subclasses, including the Student visa (subclass 500).
Student visa holders should notify the Department of the birth and follow its requirements to ensure the child’s visa status is appropriately recorded. Individual circumstances may vary, and further advice should be sought from Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Learn more: Informing the department of your newborn baby for subclasses 476, 482, 485, 494, 500 or 590 visa
The new requirements apply to new Student visa applications lodged from 2 October 2026. Applications lodged before this date will continue to be assessed under the requirements that applied at the time of lodgement.
Bridging visa arrangements depend on the circumstances of the individual application, including when and where the Student visa application was lodged. Student visa applications lodged before 2 October 2026 will continue to be assessed under the rules that applied at the time of lodgement. Students should check their individual visa status and bridging visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs, particularly where their application is under review.
Depending on your individual circumstances and subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements, other visa options may include:
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa
Employer-sponsored Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa
As eligibility depends on individual circumstances, applicants should seek professional advice from a registered migration agent.
Information on Changes to Student visa application rules (subclasses 500 and 590) is available on the Department of Home Affairs website. Students should refer to Home Affairs for current visa requirements and seek advice from a registered migration agent where advice on individual circumstances is required.