Students: what actually changed on 2 October
Three legislative instruments commenced on 2 October 2026. Most existing student visa holders must now be outside Australia to apply for a new student visa, and the bridging visa workaround is closed.
Official source ↗Three legislative instruments commenced on 2 October 2026 affecting subclass 500 and subclass 590, along with limits on course transfers.
The main change
Most existing student visa holders must now be outside Australia to lodge a new student visa application.
Who can still apply onshore
- School students
- Doctoral students
- Defence and Foreign Affairs students
- Students whose provider defaulted
- Students who need another visa to finish their principal course
- Students progressing to a higher AQF level
The workaround is closed
Lodging offshore, flying back and picking up a Bridging visa A no longer works. Where the restriction applies, you must be outside Australia when the decision is made, not only when you lodge.
Partners and children
Secondary applicants can now only apply alongside certain primary applicants, such as doctoral students and government scholarship holders, and must apply at the same time as the primary applicant.
Source
Based on the three instruments that commenced on 2 October 2026. Check your own situation against the student visa page on the Home Affairs site.
Visafold is not a migration agent. If this affects your plans, talk to a MARA-registered agent.