Australia has introduced new student visa rules from 2 October 2026 that narrow who can apply for a Student visa while already in the country, restrict family members from being added to new applications and signal further changes for students who change education providers. The government says the reforms are designed to strengthen visa integrity and keep the program aligned with temporary study purposes.
Key facts
- Most temporary visa holders can no longer apply for a Student visa while in Australia from 2 October 2026.
- Current Student visa holders are generally barred from applying for another Student visa in Australia unless an exemption applies.
- New Student visa applicants can no longer include family members unless they qualify for an exemption.
- Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue under the rules that applied when they were lodged.
What this means for students and applicants
The biggest practical change is for people who were planning to switch onto a Student visa after arriving in Australia. Under the new rules, most temporary visa holders, including Working Holiday Maker and Skills in Demand visa holders, cannot make that application from inside Australia. The government says exempt groups include DFAT- and Defence-sponsored students, doctoral applicants, some school students, provider-default cases, students needing up to 12 extra months to finish with the same provider, and students moving to a higher-level course after completing their main course.
Students should also pay close attention to family arrangements. For first or further Student visa applications, family members can no longer be added unless an exemption applies. The listed exemptions include doctoral students, nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries, fully funded foreign government scholarship recipients, and DFAT or Defence-sponsored students. Students who already had the same family members included before 2 October 2026 may be able to keep them in a further application if they are eligible to apply in Australia.
Anyone considering a provider change should also expect more reform. The government says a new Transfer stream within the Student visa subclass is intended for students who change education providers, although the detailed settings are still being developed.
Who is affected by the new rules?
According to the government update, the changes may affect people planning to apply for a Student visa while in Australia, those wanting to include family members, and students considering changing education providers. Existing Student visas are not affected.
Can students still apply from outside Australia?
Yes. If a person cannot lodge a Student visa application while in Australia, they can still apply from outside Australia. The government says that if a visa must be applied for offshore, the applicant must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
What should applicants do now?
The government advises people to check how the changes affect their plans before making visa, study, travel or relocation decisions. It also points applicants to the Department of Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool for financial capacity and English language evidence, and says people with individual questions can contact a registered migration agent.
Temporary Graduate visa settings are also shifting
The update says restrictions on including family members in Temporary Graduate visa applications will be introduced later. It also notes that the Temporary Graduate visa application charge increased to A$5,750 on 1 July 2026, with exemptions for eligible applicants from Pacific Island countries, Timor-Leste and ASEAN member states. Temporary Graduate visa holders continue to have unlimited work rights.
