Student visa and family members: what changed on 2 October 2026
New rules limit who can apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) or Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) while in Australia, and whether a partner or children can be included. Check where you stand before you enrol, travel or apply.
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What changed from 2 October 2026
From 2 October 2026, new rules change who can apply for and be granted a Student visa (subclass 500) or Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) while in Australia. They also change whether family members can be included.
The changes do not affect a Student visa you already hold.
Including a partner or children
Student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or dependent children in their application, unless an exemption applies. This also applies to people lodging a further Student visa application.
You may be able to include family members if you are:
studying a PhD,
sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence,
receiving a foreign government scholarship, or
an eligible student from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country.
Adding family after your visa is granted
Current Student visa holders can no longer add family members after their Student visa has been granted. There are no exemptions to this rule.
If you already have family members included in your current Student visa and you apply in Australia, you may be able to include them in your next Student visa application. You and all family members in the application must be in the same location when it is lodged.
Applying for a Student visa while in Australia
Most temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer lodge a Student or Student Guardian visa application while in Australia. Current Student visa holders applying for another Student visa are also affected, unless an exemption applies. This includes people who hold a Student visa as a dependant and want to apply as the primary applicant.
If the new rules stop you applying in Australia, you will need to be outside Australia when you lodge your application and when your visa is granted. Current Student Guardian visa holders can continue to lodge a further Student Guardian visa application while in Australia.
Exemptions for applying again in Australia
A Student visa holder may be able to apply for another Student visa in Australia if they:
need up to 12 more months after their original course end date to finish, and continue with the same education provider (the course that needs more time must be the main course),
are sponsored by DFAT or Defence,
are applying to study a PhD, or primary or secondary school studies,
have completed their main course and are progressing to a course at a higher Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level,
have completed school studies or a course with no AQF level and are progressing to the next stage described by Home Affairs, or
cannot continue their course because the education provider has defaulted.
If you completed a higher education course, your next course must also be a higher education course delivered by a higher education provider.
Applications lodged before 2 October 2026
Student visa applications lodged before the new rules started, including applications that included family members, continue to be assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged.
This page is general information based on the Department of Home Affairs factsheet, Changes to Student visa application rules. It is not legal advice and your circumstances may differ. Check homeaffairs.gov.au for the current rules and book a consultation with a registered migration agent before you act.
Before you enrol, travel or apply: what to check
The new rules can change your plans. Work through these questions first:
Will you apply while in Australia? Most temporary visa holders can no longer do this unless an exemption applies.
Do you plan to include a partner or children? Check whether an exemption applies before you enrol.
Is your partner or child already on your Student visa? You may be able to include them in your next application.
Did you lodge before 2 October 2026? The earlier rules continue to apply to that application.
Are you changing courses? An exemption may apply, depending on your course level and provider.
A registered migration agent can map this out before you commit to tuition fees or flights.
How can Migration Unity help you?
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Check your options
We review whether you can apply in Australia or need to lodge from outside Australia under the new rules.
Assess exemptions
We check whether an exemption applies to you or to your family members.
Plan around family
We map out options for your partner and children, including other visa pathways.
Prepare your application
We prepare your application and evidence so it is clear and complete.
Plan your timing
We help you plan around course dates, travel and your visa expiry.
Clear updates
You get plain-language updates from a registered migration agent at every stage.
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