New Rules Affect Students Planning Further Study in Australia

Australia Changes Student Visa Rules From 2 October 2026

Australia has introduced new rules that affect how certain people can apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) or a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) while they are already in Australia.

The changes started on 2 October 2026. They also affect whether students can include their partners or dependent children in a new Student visa application.

Therefore, students and families planning to study in Australia should understand these changes before making their next visa application.

Can You Apply for a Student Visa While in Australia?

From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders can no longer lodge a Student visa or Student Guardian visa application while they are in Australia.

The restriction also applies to current Student visa holders who want to apply for another Student visa from inside Australia.

For example, a person who currently holds a Student visa as a dependant and wants to apply for a Student visa as the primary applicant may also face this restriction.

However, these changes do not cancel or change your current Student visa.

If you do not qualify for an exemption, you must stay outside Australia when you lodge your new application and when the government grants the visa.

There is one important exception. Current Student Guardian visa holders can still lodge another Student Guardian visa application while they are in Australia.

Who Can Apply for Another Student Visa in Australia?

Although the new rules restrict many applications, some current Student visa holders can still apply from inside Australia.

You may qualify for an exemption if you:

• Need up to 12 additional months to complete your studies and will continue with the same education provider.
• Have sponsorship from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence.
• Plan to study a PhD.
• Plan to study at the primary or secondary school level.
• Have completed a course at an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and plan to move to a course at a higher AQF level.
• Have completed school studies and plan to move to a course without an AQF level.
• Have completed a course without an AQF level and plan to move to a course with an AQF level.
• Cannot continue your course because your education provider has defaulted.

Therefore, current students should check these exemptions before deciding whether they can apply from inside Australia.

What Does the AQF Rule Mean?

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) classifies qualifications and education levels in Australia.

For students who have completed a higher education course, an additional rule applies. Their next course must also qualify as a higher education course and the provider must qualify as a higher education provider.

As a result, students should check the level and type of both their current and future courses before relying on this exemption.

Can You Include Your Family in a Student Visa Application?

The new rules also change how students can bring their family members to Australia.

Generally, Student visa applicants can no longer include their partner or dependent children in a Student visa application unless an exemption applies.

The same restriction applies when someone applies for another Student visa.

However, certain applicants can still include their family members.

Who Can Still Include Family Members?

Specific exemptions apply to some students.

You may still include your family members when you apply for a Student visa if you:

• Are studying for a PhD.
• Have sponsorship from DFAT or Defence.
• Receive a foreign government scholarship.
• Qualify as a student from an eligible Pacific country or ASEAN member country.

Therefore, students in these categories should check the relevant exemption before they submit their application.

Can Current Students Add Family Members Later?

Another important change affects current Student visa holders.

From 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders cannot add family members as subsequent entrants after the government grants their Student visa.

Importantly, this rule has no exemptions.

Therefore, students who want their partner or dependent children to join them later should consider the family visa rules carefully before applying.

What About Family Members Already Included in Your Current Visa?

A separate rule may help families who already have family members included in their current Student visa.

If you already have family members included in your current Student visa and you apply for another Student visa while in Australia, you may be able to include those family members again.

However, one important condition applies.

The primary applicant and every family member included in the new application must be in the same location when they lodge the application.

As a result, families should check this requirement before submitting their application.

What Happens to Applications Lodged Before 2 October 2026?

The new rules do not change applications that people lodged before 2 October 2026.

The Australian authorities will assess those applications under the rules that applied when applicants lodged them.

This also applies to applications that included family members.

Therefore, applicants who lodged their application before 2 October 2026 should continue to follow the rules that applied at that time.

Who Could Be Affected by These Changes?

The new rules may affect people who:

• Want to apply for a Student visa while they are already in Australia.
• Hold a Student visa and want to apply for another Student visa.
• Want to include their partner or dependent children in a Student visa application.
• Plan to bring family members to Australia at a later stage.
• Want to change their course or move to a different education level.
• Need to rely on an exemption to apply from inside Australia.

Because each situation can differ, students should check their circumstances carefully before lodging a new application.

Key Changes From 2 October 2026

Here are the main changes in simple terms:

Applying from inside Australia
Most temporary visa holders cannot lodge a Student visa or Student Guardian visa application from inside Australia.

Current Student visa holders
Current students cannot generally apply for another Student visa from Australia unless they qualify for an exemption.

Family members
Students generally cannot include their partner or dependent children in a new Student visa application unless an exemption applies.

Subsequent entrants
Current Student visa holders cannot add family members after the government grants their visa. This rule has no exemptions.

Special exemptions
PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students, foreign government scholarship recipients and eligible Pacific or ASEAN students may qualify for specific exemptions.

Applications lodged before 2 October 2026
The authorities will assess these applications under the rules that applied when applicants lodged them.

Final Takeaway

Australia’s Student visa rules changed on 2 October 2026, particularly for people who want to apply from inside Australia or include family members.

However, certain exemptions still apply to specific students, including some PhD students, sponsored students and scholarship recipients.

Therefore, before lodging a new Student visa application, check where you can apply, whether you qualify for an exemption and whether you can include your family members.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).