New rules for Student visa applications in Australia

From now on, most people on temporary visas need to be outside Australia when they lodge a Student visa (subclass 500) or Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) application. They must also be outside Australia when their visa is granted. This is a significant change to previous rules. Student visa holders have some exemptions and may be able to apply for another Student visa while in Australia in specific situations. These include if you need up to 12 more months to complete your studies with the same provider, if you're sponsored by DFAT or Defence, if you're studying a PhD, doing primary or secondary school studies, or progressing to a higher level course. However, if you hold a Student visa as a dependent and want to apply as the primary applicant, you must apply from outside Australia with no exemptions. Student Guardian visa holders can continue to apply for further Student Guardian visas while in Australia. For a complete list of affected temporary visas and full details, visit the Home Affairs website.