Australia’s student visa rules changed significantly on 2 October 2026. From that date, most people in Australia on another temporary visa can no longer apply for a Student visa onshore, most new students can no longer bring a partner or children, and current students face tighter rules on renewing their visa and changing providers.
The changes follow the Minister for Home Affairs’ announcement on 17 September 2026. They sit on top of a higher visa application charge that started on 1 July 2026. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are still decided under the old rules.
In this post, we will explain what has changed, who is affected, who is exempt and what you should do next. Common questions are answered at the end.
Key changes at a glance
| Change | Start date | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
|
Onshore Student visa applications restricted |
2 October 2026 |
Visitor, working holiday, 482, 485 and other temporary visa holders; most current students |
|
Family members can no longer be included or added |
2 October 2026 |
Most new students and current students planning to bring family later |
|
Visa must be granted while you are outside Australia |
2 October 2026 |
Anyone required to apply offshore |
|
Provider transfers restricted for the first 12 months of the main course |
2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027 (6 months from 1 July 2027) |
Most non-school students wanting to change provider |
|
Student visa charge rises from $2,000 to $2,500 |
1 July 2026 |
Most new applicants; lower rates for ELICOS, non-award, Pacific, Timor-Leste and ASEAN applicants |
|
Processing priority under Ministerial Direction 115 |
14 November 2025 |
Offshore applicants, depending on their provider’s allocation |
|
Family members restricted on Temporary Graduate (485) visas |
Announced, not yet in force |
Future 485 applicants |
The changes explained
The main reforms are in the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 and a new legislative instrument (LIN 26/102). Their stated aim is to stop “visa hopping”, where people stay in Australia through repeated or downward student visa applications.
1. Most people must now apply from outside Australia
Holders of the following visas generally can no longer lodge a Student visa application while in Australia: subclasses 400, 403 (Domestic Worker stream), 407, 408, 417, 457, 462, 482, 485, 600, 601, 602, 651, 771, 988 and 995. Subclasses 400, 407, 408, 417, 457, 462 and 482 are new additions to this list.
Current Student visa holders must also generally apply offshore for their next Student visa, unless an exemption applies (see below). The old pathway for people whose Student visa expired in the previous 28 days has also been removed.
If you are required to apply offshore, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. You will not receive a bridging visa, and a refusal of an offshore application generally cannot be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. Your option is usually to reapply.
2. Most students can no longer bring family members
Most new Student visa applications can no longer include a partner or dependent children. Family members also can no longer be added after the visa is granted, as separate “subsequent entrant” applications have closed.
Where family members can still be included, the whole family must apply together and be in the same location (all in Australia or all overseas) when the application is lodged.
3. Onshore renewals: "only up the qualification scale"
Current students who stay onshore can now generally only finish their existing course or move up to a higher qualification. In the Minister’s words: “You can go up the qualification scale, but only up the qualification scale.” Moving to a course at the same or a lower level, or enrolling in a package of courses, now generally requires an offshore application.
4. Changing providers: a 12-month restriction
Until 30 June 2027, most non-school students cannot transfer to a new provider until they have completed 12 months of their main course. From 1 July 2027, this returns to 6 months. Exceptions apply where the provider releases you, the provider or course loses registration, a government sanction stops the course, or a government sponsor supports the transfer in writing.
5. Higher visa application charge
From 1 July 2026, the Student visa charge for most applicants rose from $2,000 to $2,500. Independent ELICOS and non-award applicants pay a lower charge ($2,050). Passport holders from 13 Pacific nations, Timor-Leste and the 10 ASEAN countries keep the previous charge, indexed annually.
6. Processing priority for offshore applications
Under Ministerial Direction 115, in effect since 14 November 2025, offshore applications are processed in three priority tiers. Priority depends on how close your education provider is to its allocation of new overseas students. The national planning level for 2026 is 295,000 new overseas student commencements.
Coming next: Temporary Graduate (485) visas
The Government has also announced that family members will no longer be able to be attached to most 485 visas, with similar Pacific, ASEAN and PhD exceptions. As at the date of this post, this change has been announced but is not yet law, and no start date has been published.
Who is affected
You are likely to be affected if you are:
- In Australia on a visitor, working holiday (417 or 462), 482, 485, 408, 407, 400 or 457 visa and planning to switch to a Student visa. You now generally need to leave Australia, apply from overseas and wait offshore for the decision.
- A current student planning a new course at the same or a lower level, such as a second master’s degree or moving from a degree to a VET course.
- A current student planning a package of courses (for example, a diploma followed by a bachelor’s degree) on one visa.
- A current student who needs more than 12 months beyond your original course end date to finish.
- A partner or child on a family member’s Student visa who wants to become a student in your own right. You must apply from outside Australia, with no exemptions.
- A new student planning to bring a partner or children, unless you fall within an exemption.
- A current student whose family planned to join you later. Subsequent entrant applications are no longer available.
- A student wanting to change providers before completing 12 months of your main course.
You are not affected merely because the rules changed if you already hold a Student visa (it is not cancelled), you lodged your application before 2 October 2026, or you hold a Student Guardian (subclass 590) visa and want to apply for another 590 onshore.
Exemptions and transitional arrangements
Current students who can still apply onshore
Current Student visa holders can still apply in Australia if they are:
- Doctoral (PhD) students enrolled in a doctoral degree. This does not extend to a master’s by research.
- School students at primary or secondary school.
- Defence or Foreign Affairs (DFAT) sponsored students.
- Finishing their current course, with the same provider, within 12 months of the original end date on their CoE.
- Moving up one level after finishing their main course, into a single course at a higher AQF level. After a higher education course, the next course must also be higher education. After a non-AQF course such as ELICOS, any AQF course is acceptable.
- Affected by provider default, where the course did not start, stopped or was not delivered in full, and they apply within 12 months.
Students who can still include family members
Partners and dependent children can still be included where the primary applicant is:
- A PhD or other doctoral student
- A Defence or DFAT sponsored student
- A recipient of a fully funded foreign government scholarship
- A passport holder from an ASEAN country (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
- A passport holder from an eligible Pacific country (check the Department’s current list before lodging)
If you apply onshore, you must still meet one of the onshore exemptions above. The family must apply together and be in the same location at lodgement.
Transitional arrangements
- Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are decided under the rules that applied when they were lodged.
- Existing Student visas are not cancelled because of the reforms.
- Family members already on a Student visa on 2 October 2026 (or who applied before and were granted after that date) may be included in the student’s next application in specified circumstances.
- Children born in Australia on or after 2 October 2026 can be included.
- Student Guardian (590) visa holders can still apply for a further 590 visa onshore.
- Students whose visa cancellation was set aside by the Tribunal have a narrow onshore pathway, generally within 28 days of the Tribunal’s notification.
What you should do now
- Check your current visa and its expiry date. Work out early whether you can apply onshore or must apply from overseas.
- Do not enrol, accept a CoE or book travel until you know your pathway. A course choice that once worked may now force an offshore application.
- Choose your next course carefully. For an onshore application it should be a single course at a higher AQF level, in the right sector, after you have finished your current course.
- Plan for time offshore if you must apply from overseas. There is no bridging visa, you must be outside Australia at grant, and a refusal generally cannot be appealed.
- Check family eligibility before you lodge. If your family can be included, everyone must apply together and be in the same location.
- Keep your documents in order. Hold on to your CoE, transcripts, completion letters and any provider default or release letters.
- Get advice before you act. Small timing and sequencing mistakes can now have serious consequences.
How Maryam Migration Lawyers can help
Our team advises students, graduates and families on Student, Student Guardian and Temporary Graduate visas. We can assess whether you can still apply onshore, whether your family can be included, and the safest timing for your next application. We also assist with refusals and Tribunal matters where review is available.
Frequently asked questions
When did the new student visa rules start?
The new rules apply to Student visa applications lodged on or after 2 October 2026.
I lodged my application before 2 October 2026. Do the new rules apply to me?
No. Your application is decided under the rules that applied when you lodged it. You must still meet all the usual criteria.
Will my current Student visa be cancelled?
No. The reforms do not cancel or change a Student visa you already hold.
I’m on a visitor or working holiday visa. Can I apply for a Student visa in Australia?
Generally no. You will need to apply from outside Australia and remain outside Australia until the visa is granted.
I hold a 485 or 482 visa. Can I go back to study?
Yes, but you will generally need to apply from outside Australia. Holders of 482 and 485 visas are now on the list of visas that cannot apply onshore.
I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree. Can I apply onshore for a master’s?
Usually yes, if you have finished your bachelor’s and are enrolling in a single coursework master’s at a higher education provider. A master’s by research does not qualify, so that application would need to be made offshore. Meeting the onshore exemption does not guarantee the visa will be granted.
Can I start a second master’s degree or a lower-level course onshore?
Generally no. Courses at the same or a lower AQF level now require an offshore application, unless another exemption applies.
I need more time to finish my course. What can I do?
You can apply onshore if you will finish your current course, with the same provider, within 12 months of the original end date on your CoE.
Can I bring my partner and children?
Only if you fall within an exemption: PhD students, Defence or DFAT sponsored students, fully funded foreign government scholarship holders, and eligible Pacific and ASEAN passport holders.
I already have a Student visa. Can my family join me later?
No. Family members can no longer be added after a Student visa is granted, and there are no exemptions to this rule.
My family is already with me on my Student visa. What happens when I renew?
Family members who held a Student visa as your dependants on 2 October 2026 may be included in your next application in specified circumstances. Get advice before you lodge, as the timing matters.
I’m on my partner’s Student visa. Can I apply for my own Student visa onshore?
No. Secondary visa holders who want to become the main student must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia at grant. There are no exemptions.
Can I change my education provider?
Until 30 June 2027, generally not until you have completed 12 months of your main course (6 months from 1 July 2027). Exceptions include a formal release from your provider or your provider losing registration.
If I apply from overseas and I’m refused, can I appeal?
Generally no. Refusals of offshore Student visa applications are not usually reviewable by the Administrative Review Tribunal. You would normally need to reapply.
How much does a Student visa cost now?
From 1 July 2026, the charge for most applicants is $2,500. Lower charges apply to independent ELICOS and non-award applicants, and to Pacific, Timor-Leste and ASEAN passport holders.
Does the family restriction apply to 485 graduate visas?
Not yet. The Government has announced it, but as at the date of this post the change is not law and has no start date.
Speak to us
If you are unsure how these changes affect you or your family, contact Maryam Migration Lawyers before you lodge, enrol or travel.