Changes commencing on 2 October 2026 restrict onshore Student visa applications and the inclusion of family members. The amendments apply to applications made on or after that date.
More Temporary Visa Holders Must Apply Offshore
The prescribed visa list includes Working Holiday (Subclass 417/462), Training (Subclass 407), Temporary Activity (Subclass 408), Temporary Work (Subclass 400), Skills in Demand (Subclass 482), Temporary Graduate (485) and Visitor (Subclass 600/601/651) visas, among others.
Holders of these listed visas cannot lodge a valid Student visa application whilst in Australia.
Current Students: Exceptions For Further Onshore Applications
Current primary Student visa holders generally need to apply offshore for another Student visa unless they qualify for an exception.
Exceptions cover eligible Defence, Foreign Affairs and school students, doctoral enrolment, provider default, completion of unfinished studies and course progression. Each has specific requirements.
For the completion exception, the student must have commenced an eligible principal course, not yet completed it, and will complete it within 12 months of the end date specified in its Confirmation of Enrolment. An eligible alternative principal course must be with the same provider and comply with the existing visa conditions.
For course progression, the relevant principal course must already be completed, with enrolment in no more than one further course. Where the previous course has an AQF level, the next must have a higher level. If the previous course was higher education, the next must also be higher education, delivered by a higher education provider. Separate requirements apply where the previous course has no AQF level.
For the provider default exception, the student must meet the specified conditions, apply within 12 months of the provider default day and not have previously applied because of the same provider default.
Dependants Becoming Primary Students
A current secondary Student visa holder seeking a Student visa as the primary applicant must apply offshore. The exceptions available to eligible current primary students do not extend to this situation.
Family Members: Restricted Eligibility
Specified categories include families of eligible Defence or Foreign Affairs students, students with qualifying Pacific or ASEAN passports, doctoral students and students whose enrolled courses are entirely funded by a foreign government.
Conditional provisions also cover existing dependants of students affected by provider default or needing to complete unfinished studies.
Transitional provisions may protect family members applying in Australia who held the relevant secondary Student visa when the changes commenced, or applied beforehand and were subsequently granted it. These provisions require a qualifying connection to the same primary student.
Certain children born in Australia on or after 2 October 2026 may also qualify if they are in Australia when applying and the primary student held a qualifying Student visa at commencement, or had applied before commencement and was subsequently granted that visa.
Family eligibility does not itself establish that the primary student can apply onshore.
No New Subsequent Entrant Applications
For applications made from 2 October 2026, family members cannot use a new subsequent entrant application to join a student after visa grant. Eligible family members must apply at the same time and place as the primary student.
Offshore Application And Grant
Applicants who must apply offshore because of these location restrictions must also be outside Australia when their Student visa is granted.
Existing Visas And Lodged Applications
These changes do not affect current Student visas. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the previous rules.
Before enrolling, booking travel or preparing another application, check how the requirements affect your circumstances.
Speak with PAX Migration Australia about your Student visa options and next steps.
General information only. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and the applicable requirements.