Student visa and dependant restrictions take effect

Position before 2 October 2026

Onshore lodgement

Eligible temporary visa holders could generally lodge a Student or Student Guardian visa application while in Australia, subject to the applicable visa rules and individual circumstances.

Dependants

Applicants could generally include eligible partners and dependent children in the initial application.

Subsequent entrants

Existing Student visa holders could generally consider whether eligible family members could join later as subsequent entrants, subject to the rules in force at the time.

Key changes since 2 October 2026

01 Onshore lodgement

Most temporary visa holders can no longer lodge a Student visa subclass 500 or Student Guardian visa subclass 590 application while in Australia.

02 Offshore requirement

Affected applicants generally need to be outside Australia both when the application is lodged and when the visa is granted.

03 Dependants at lodgement

Student visa applicants generally cannot include partners or dependent children, subject to limited exemptions.

04 Subsequent entrants

Current Student visa holders cannot add family members after grant. The Department of Home Affairs fact sheet states that no exemptions apply to this restriction.

Transitional position

Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue under the rules in force when lodged. The position remains fact-specific: the applicant's current visa, intended course, provider, sponsorship arrangements, family circumstances and any applicable exemption should be reviewed before action is taken.

For employers and mobility teams

Identify cases

Identify any planned Student visa or Student Guardian visa applications and confirm whether the applicant's current visa permits the intended status transition.

Plan offshore travel

Build offshore travel into both lodgement and visa-grant timing; do not assume the applicant can remain onshore while the application is processed.

Review dependant strategy

Review dependant strategy at the initial application stage, since current Student visa holders can no longer add family members as subsequent entrants.

Recheck assumptions

Recheck bridging-visa, travel and work-right assumptions, and reflect any changes in assignment start dates and payroll planning.

Seek advice

Obtain case-specific advice before changing study, assignment or relocation plans.