Australia's student visa reform takes effect on 2 October: onshore renewals largely closed, dependants restricted
Australia · Study abroad · In force 2026-10-02 (announced 09-17)
| Country / region | Australia |
|---|---|
| Category | Study abroad |
| Date | In force 2026-10-02 (applies to applications lodged on or after that date) |
| What happened | The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 commenced 10-02: (1) onshore renewals largely closed — subclass 500 holders seeking a further student visa must generally lodge outside Australia and be outside Australia at grant; holders of Visitor/ETA, 417/462 working holiday, 485, 482, 407/408 visas (including as dependants) also cannot lodge 500/590 onshore; (2) seven exemption categories can still lodge onshore: PhD, school studies, DFAT/Defence sponsorship, government scholarships, provider default with application within 12 months, same provider/same principal course needing up to 12 more months (completion within 12 months of the original CoE end date), and progression to a course at a higher AQF level after completing the principal course; (3) partners and children may be included only under limited exceptions (PhD, government scholarships, Pacific and ASEAN passports, etc.) and must apply at the same time and place as the primary applicant — the subsequent entrant route is closed; (4) the 28-day onshore grace period after visa expiry is removed (only a narrow ART exception remains); (5) non-school students generally must complete 12 months of their principal course before changing provider (previously 6 months), reverting to 6 months on 2027-07-01. |
| Impact on applicants | Three long-standing routes — visitor-to-student, onshore renewal, and study first then bring family — are closed. Students already in Australia should check their expiry date in VEVO today and work backwards from the course end date for renewal, further study or departure plans, with no reliance on any grace period; families planning to bring dependants should note they can only be added with the primary application, and if the primary must be lodged offshore the family waits offshore too. The reform direction announced on 09-17 has now landed in full as implementing rules. |
| Source | Department of Home Affairs (Australia) — student visa application rules (in force 2026-10-02) ↗ Note on scope: in effect; affected visa list, exception categories and transitional arrangements per the official site and legislative instruments |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia) — student visa application rules (in force 2026-10-02) ↗ · Last verified: 2026-10-15 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.
FAQ
What are the core changes in Australia's student visa rules effective 2 October?
The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 commenced 10-02, applying to applications lodged on or after that date (earlier applications are assessed under the old rules): (1) onshore renewals largely closed — subclass 500 holders seeking a further student visa must generally lodge outside Australia and be outside Australia at grant; holders of Visitor/ETA, 417/462 working holiday, 485, 482, 407/408 visas (including as dependants) also cannot lodge 500/590 onshore; (2) seven exemption categories can still lodge onshore (PhD, school studies, DFAT/Defence sponsorship, government scholarships, provider default within 12 months, same provider/same principal course with up to 12 more months, progression to a higher AQF level); (3) partners and children may be included only under limited exceptions and must apply at the same time and place as the primary applicant — the subsequent entrant route is closed; (4) the 28-day onshore grace period after visa expiry is removed (only a narrow ART exception remains); (5) non-school students generally must complete 12 months of their principal course before changing provider (reverting to 6 months on 2027-07-01).
What does this mean for students already in Australia and families planning to bring dependants?
Three long-standing routes — visitor-to-student, onshore renewal, and study first then bring family — are closed. Students already in Australia should check their expiry date in VEVO today and work backwards from the course end date for renewal, further study or departure plans; families should note that dependants can only be added with the primary application, and if the primary must be lodged offshore the family waits offshore too.
Where does this information come from?
Department of Home Affairs (Australia) guidance on student visa applications (in force 2026-10-02) (Note on scope: in effect; applies to applications lodged on or after 2026-10-02), verified by us on 2026-10-15.
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