Major changes to Australia’s Subclass 500 Student visa rules commenced on 2 October 2026.

The reforms significantly restrict who can apply for a Student visa while in Australia, affect existing Student visa holders seeking further study, and introduce tighter rules for spouses and dependent children.

Who Can No Longer Apply for a Student Visa Onshore?

From 2 October 2026, holders of a wider range of temporary visas generally cannot lodge a Subclass 500 Student visa application while in Australia.

The affected visas include:

• Subclass 400
• Subclass 407 Training visa
• Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa
• Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa
• Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa
• Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa
• Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa
• Subclass 600 Visitor visa
• Subclass 601 ETA
• Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa
• Subclass 651 eVisitor visa
• Subclass 771 Transit visa
• and certain other specified temporary visas.

For many applicants, this means they will need to leave Australia and apply for a Student visa from overseas.

Existing Student Visa Holders Are Also Affected

Holding a Subclass 500 visa does not automatically allow a student to lodge another Student visa from inside Australia.

Many existing students seeking another qualification must now apply offshore unless they fall within a specific exemption.

Exemptions can apply in circumstances involving:

• PhD students
• certain school students
• Defence or Foreign Affairs students
• provider default
• additional time genuinely required to complete the existing principal course
• qualifying progression to a higher-level course.

Whether an exemption applies depends on the student’s individual study history and proposed course.

Course Progression Is Now More Important

Students considering further study should carefully assess whether the new qualification represents genuine academic progression.

Where AQF levels apply, the new course will generally need to be at a higher AQF level for the relevant course-progression exemption.

A new CoE by itself does not guarantee that another Student visa can be lodged onshore.

New Restrictions for Spouses and Children

The reforms also significantly restrict Student visa applications involving family members.

Spouses and dependent children can generally only be included where a specific exemption applies.

Certain exemptions can apply to eligible:

• doctoral students
• Defence and Foreign Affairs students
• government-funded students
• specified Pacific and ASEAN passport holders
• existing Student visa families covered by transitional provisions.

In many eligible cases, family members must also apply at the same time and in the same place as the primary applicant.

This means the previous practice of routinely bringing a spouse or child later as a Student visa subsequent entrant has been substantially restricted.

Applications Lodged Before 2 October 2026

Student visa applications validly lodged before 2 October 2026 are generally considered under the previous rules.

The exact date of lodgement can therefore be very important.

What Should Students Do Before Changing Courses?

Before changing education providers or enrolling in a new course, students should first check:

• whether their current visa allows an onshore Student visa application
• whether they need to apply from outside Australia
• whether a course-progression exemption applies
• whether the new course is at an appropriate AQF level
• whether their spouse or children can be included
• whether they need to be outside Australia when the visa is decided.

Paying tuition fees or obtaining a new CoE does not necessarily mean a Student visa application can be validly lodged in Australia.

Need Advice About the New Student Visa Rules?

If you currently hold a Student visa, 407, 408, 417, 462, 482, 485, Visitor visa or another temporary visa and are considering further study in Australia, it is important to check your visa options before changing courses or making payments.

Oxford Immigration & Educational Consultancy can assess your current visa, proposed course, family situation and whether your next Student visa application can be lodged in Australia or must be lodged offshore.

Contact Oxford Immigration & Educational Consultancy before making major study or visa decisions.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Migration laws and policies can change, and individual circumstances vary.