Major changes to Australia’s Student visa system took effect on 2 October 2026.
The Australian Government says these reforms aim to reduce “visa hopping”. They may affect current and future students and their families.
What Has Changed?
The changes:
- restrict most further Student visa applications from being made in Australia with only specific exemptions;
- require students applying onshore for a further visa to meet progression or exemption requirements;
- limit when family members can be included; and
- remove the previous “subsequent entrant” pathway for family members joining later.
Who Can Still Apply Onshore?
Student visa holders generally need to apply offshore unless an exemption applies.
Completing an Existing Course
An exemption may apply if a student has started, but not completed, the principal course linked to their current Student visa and will finish within 12 months after the CoE end date.
It may also cover an alternative principal course with the same provider if it is consistent with the conditions of the visa held. It does not cover a transfer to a different provider or completion taking more than 12 months.
Progressing to Further Study
An exemption may apply after the principal course is completed if the student progresses to more advanced study.
For courses with an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level, the new course must be at a higher level. A completed higher education course must generally be followed by another course delivered by a higher education provider. Certain school and foundation pathways without an AQF level are also recognised.
Other Exemptions
Other exemptions may apply to doctoral and school students, and students affected by provider default. Provider-default cases have specific requirements, including applying within 12 months of the default.
What About Family Members?
The new rules limit when family members can be included in a Student visa application or join a student later.
Pathways remain for family members of Defence, Foreign Affairs and doctoral students, and students holding passports from specified Pacific and ASEAN countries.
Limited pathways also remain for some family members who already hold Student visas as secondary applicants where the same primary student:
- was affected by provider default and needs another Student visa to complete an alternative course; or
- needs another Student visa to complete the relevant principal course within the specified 12-month period.
Limited pathways remain for some family members who already hold Student visas as secondary applicants linked to the same primary student. These include certain provider default and course completion situations. However, there is no equivalent family-member pathway for the separate course-progression exemption. Families should therefore not assume that a primary student’s eligibility to apply onshore for a higher-level course will also extend to accompanying family members.
Generally, the family member must already hold a Student visa as a secondary applicant linked to the same primary student.
Families now need to plan ahead. In most cases, partners and children must be included when the Student visa application is lodged, as they cannot be added after the visa is granted.
Why Early Advice Matters
Students and families should consider:
- whether an onshore exemption applies;
- whether the proposed course meets the progression rules;
- whether a partner or child can be included; and
- how study choices may affect longer-term visa options.
A consultation can clarify these issues and identify other migration options.
If these changes may affect your family, contact our team to discuss your options and next steps.
Sources
- Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01347).
- Item 1222 of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994.
- Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01348) and explanatory statement.
- Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (F2026L01349) and explanatory statement.
- Department of Home Affairs, Changes to Student visa application rules (subclasses 500 and 590), including “Including or adding family members”.
- Assistant Minister Julian Hill, “Student visa integrity reforms take effect today”, 2 October 2026.
