New Student Visa Rules Starting 2 October 2026

From 2 October 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs is introducing new rules for Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) applications. These changes will affect eligibility rules for who can apply for and be granted these visas, as well as rules about including family members in your application. Australia continues to welcome international students, and you can still apply if you meet the requirements. The changes may affect you if you are currently applying for a Student visa while already in Australia, holding a Student visa and applying for another one, or planning to include family members in your application or bring them to Australia later. Before you make decisions about your visa application, study plans, travel arrangements, or relocation, you should understand how the new rules apply to your situation. For detailed information about the specific changes, Home Affairs recommends visiting the Subclass 500 Student visa page and reviewing the fact sheets and infographics they have published.