Australia has brought in tougher student visa rules that limit who can apply from inside the country and who can bring family along. The changes take effect from today, Oct 2, 2026 .
The reforms cover the Student Visa (subclass 500) and the Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590). They were made law on October 1,2026 under the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026. They apply to applications lodged on or October 2.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced the plan in mid- September 2026. It is part of a wider push to cut migration. The government wants to brings net overseas migration down to 225,000 by 2028.
Most people on temporary visas can no longer apply for a new student visa while they are in Australia. They must apply from outside the country and be offshore when the visa is granted.
The ban covers holders of 17 temporary visas. These incudes the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), the Sponsored Training visa (407), the Temporary Activity Visa (408), the Working Holiday Visa (417), the Work and Holiday visa (462) and the Temporary work ( Short Stay Specialist) visa (400).
Some people can still apply from inside Australia. They include current student visa holders moving to a higher qualification, PhD applicants and students sponsored by a foreign government, such as through DFAT or Defence scholarships. Some school students and a few other narrow groups are also exempt.
Family members:
Most new students visa applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their application. Family members also cannot be granted after the visa is granted.
Some groups are exempt. Applicants can still bring family if they are studying for a PhD, are sponsored by DFAT or Defence, or hold a foreign government scholarship. Nationals of ASEAN and Pacific countries, and some other groups can also still include dependants. This does not apply to families already in Australia, they wont be broken up. Existing dependants' visas stay valid.
The rules also limit when students can move to a different education provider. They are meant to stop visa hopping and also stop study that is not genuine. Students who want to extend their stay must generally move up to a higher level of study. A student who finishes a bachelor's degree, for example , can go on to a master's.
FEES AND CAPS: The student visa application fee has risen from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, which is about USD 1,729 which is a 25% increase. Citizens of ASEAN countries pay AUD 2,050. Lower fees apply to applicants from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste and to English-language (ELICOS) and Non- award applicants.
The government has set an indicative cap of 295,000 new international student visas for 2026. That is about 9.3% higher than last year. The Genuine Student test also remains in place. It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant Test on March 23,2024. It looks at an applicant's academic background, course choice, money and study plans. Applicants answer five questions of up to 150 words each.
Message from the government: In its notice on October 1,2026, the Department of Home Affairs said the rules change who can apply for and be granted a visa while in Australia, and whether family members can be included. It also stated that Australia continues to welcome international students and that people can still apply if they meet the visa requirements.
