Studying in Australia, under the rules that started on 2 October 2026.
The biggest change for students in years: most people can no longer apply for a Student visa while they are in Australia, and most students can no longer bring family with them. Here is what that means, in plain words.
What changed on 2 October 2026.
The new rules cover the Student visa (subclass 500) and the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590).
The earlier rules
- Many temporary visa holders could apply for a new Student visa from inside Australia. Visitor and Temporary Graduate visa holders were already barred from 1 July 2024.
- Students could include a partner and children in the application, or add them later.
The new rules
- Most temporary visa holders, including most Student visa holders, can no longer lodge a Student or Student Guardian application in Australia.
- Most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members.
- Family members cannot be added after the visa is granted.
Choose the course after you know the rules.
From 2 October 2026 most Student visa applications are made from outside Australia. Check where you can apply from before you enrol or pay.
Who can still apply in Australia
The Department lists exemptions to the onshore rule. In general terms, they cover students who:
- need up to 12 more months to finish with the same education provider;
- are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence;
- are studying a PhD;
- are school students;
- are progressing to a higher qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework;
- are affected by their provider defaulting on their course.
Each exemption has its own conditions. We check the exact wording against your situation before you rely on it.
Bringing your family
From 2 October 2026, most students cannot include family members. Family can still be included where the student is a PhD student, sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence, holds a foreign government scholarship, or is an eligible Pacific or ASEAN student. There are no subsequent entrants after the grant.
If your family plans depend on coming together, that conversation needs to happen before you choose a course, not after.
The Genuine Student requirement
Since 23 March 2024 every applicant must show they are a genuine student. It replaced the earlier genuine temporary entrant test. Expect to explain, in your own words, why you chose the course and provider, how it fits your study and work history, and your circumstances at home and in Australia.
Generic statements copied from the internet weaken an application. Your answers should be true, specific and supported by documents.
Showing you can pay
You must show genuine access to enough money for travel, course fees and living costs. The Department's 12-month living cost figures, current on its Student visa page in October 2026, are:
As an alternative, you may be able to show annual income of A$87,856 from a parent or partner, or A$102,500 if family members are included. School fees for children of school age are extra.
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500). Figures in force since 10 May 2024 and current at 22 October 2026.
English tests the Department accepts
From 7 August 2025 the accepted tests, taken at a secure test centre, are:
- C1 Advanced
- CELPIP General
- IELTS Academic or General Training
- LanguageCert Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET)
- OET
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS One Skill Retake and the MET Single Section Retake are included.
- From 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT candidates must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia".
- At-home and online tests are not accepted.
- Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 remain usable up to 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.
Your course may set a higher score than the visa does. The Department publishes score tables for each level.
Source: Department of Home Affairs, English language requirements
The visa charge and processing
The Student visa application charge is A$2,500 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, up from A$2,000. A concession (the current charge plus CPI) continues for ASEAN passport holders, independent ELICOS and non-award students, and Pacific and Timor-Leste passport holders.
For applications lodged from 14 November 2025, offshore Student visa applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 115, which sets the order by each provider's share of its allocation. The National Planning Level is 295,000 for 2026 and is held at 295,000 for 2027.
Sources: Study Australia; Department of Home Affairs, student visa processing priorities; Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Education providers, transfers and commissions
We do not publish a list of providers, and we do not steer you to a provider for our own benefit. If The Immigration Worldwide Pty Ltd or a related business (such as Career Calling International Pty Ltd, which owns the business name Khalsa Education) receives a commission from an education provider, we tell you in writing who receives it and how much before you choose, and you sign a statement that you received the notice before we act.
- Changing provider: from 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, most international students who are not school students cannot transfer to another provider in their first 12 months of study without their provider's release.
- No commissions on onshore transfers: since 1 April 2026, education agents cannot be paid commissions when a student in Australia transfers between providers.
Source: Department of Education, changes for overseas students
Source: TEQSA
Study visas, page by page.
What students ask the desk.
I am on a visitor visa. Can I switch to a Student visa here?
Generally no. Visitor visa holders have been unable to apply for a Student visa in Australia since 1 July 2024, and from 2 October 2026 the bar covers most temporary visa holders. In most cases you would need to apply from outside Australia.
My Student visa is ending. Can I apply for another one onshore?
Only if an exemption applies, for example if you need up to 12 more months with the same provider, or you are progressing to a higher qualification. We check this against the Department's exact wording before you rely on it.
Can my partner and children come with me?
For most students, not any more. Family can only be included if you fall into one of the listed groups, such as PhD students or certain sponsored and scholarship students, and family cannot be added after the grant.
Will a strong statement get my visa approved?
No statement can promise a result. A clear, true and specific explanation, backed by documents, gives the decision maker what they need to assess the Genuine Student requirement. The decision belongs to the Department.
Do you get paid by the college I choose?
If we receive a commission or fee from an education provider, we tell you in writing, with the amount or an estimate, before you choose. You are free to choose a provider we have no relationship with.
Planning to study? Start with the rules, then the course.
The first 15 minutes are free. A call covers where you can apply from, family plans, funds and English, before you pay a deposit to anyone.