Are you studying in Australia on a Student visa (Subclass 500) and have changed education providers or need more time to complete your course?
From 2 October 2026, new Australian Government rules affect when current Student visa holders can apply for another Student visa while in Australia. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to apply from outside Australia and remain offshore until your new visa is granted.
Understanding these requirements is important before making further study, travel, or visa arrangements.
Who May Be Affected by the New Rules?
The changes may affect current Student visa holders who:
Have changed education providers and need another Student visa. Need more than 12 additional months to complete their current course. Need a further Student visa to continue their studies. Do not meet any of the exemptions for applying onshore.
The rules depend on the student's circumstances, including their current course, education provider, proposed studies, and applicable exemptions.
Do You Need to Apply from Outside Australia?
Under the rules effective from 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders generally need to apply for another Student visa from outside Australia unless they meet an applicable exemption.
Students who must apply offshore must also be outside Australia when their new Student visa is granted.
The Department of Home Affairs lists limited exemptions for eligible students, including certain students who:
Need up to 12 additional months to complete their course with the same education provider. Are progressing to an eligible higher-level qualification. Are studying a PhD or primary or secondary school course. Are sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence. Cannot continue their course because their education provider has defaulted. Specific conditions apply to these exemptions. For example, the course progression exemption has restrictions on packaged courses and the level of the proposed qualification.
What If You Have Changed Education Providers? Changing education providers can affect whether you qualify to apply for another Student visa while in Australia.
One important exemption allows eligible students to apply onshore if they need up to 12 additional months to complete their studies with the same education provider. If you have changed providers, you may not meet this particular exemption.
However, other exemptions may apply depending on your circumstances. Changing providers does not, by itself, establish whether every possible exemption is available or unavailable.
The Department of Home Affairs has also indicated that further changes relating to education provider transfers are being developed. Students should check the latest official requirements before making study or visa arrangements.
What If You Need More Than 12 Additional Months?
If your education provider has extended your course and you need more than 12 additional months to finish your studies, you generally cannot rely on the specific onshore exemption for students who need up to 12 additional months with the same provider.
You may need to apply for another Student visa from outside Australia unless another applicable exemption allows an onshore application.
Applying offshore does not guarantee approval. The application must still meet the relevant Student visa requirements.
What Happens If You Apply from the Wrong Location?
If you lodge a Student visa application in Australia when you are required to apply offshore, your application may be invalid.
An invalid application can have serious consequences, particularly if your current visa has expired or is close to expiring. An offshore Student visa application also does not provide a Bridging visa linked to that application.
Students who must apply offshore may return to Australia while their application is being processed on another valid visa, subject to that visa's conditions. However, they must be outside Australia when the Student visa is granted.
Important Points for International Students
Before making arrangements to continue your studies, the relevant considerations include:
Your current visa and its expiry date. Your original and revised course completion dates. Whether you have changed education providers. Your current and proposed course levels. Whether you meet an exemption for applying onshore. Whether you must remain outside Australia until a new visa is granted.
The applicable requirements depend on the individual circumstances and the rules in force when the application is made.
Final Thoughts The Australian Student visa rules changed on 2 October 2026, affecting how current Student visa holders can apply for anotherSubclass 500 visawhile in Australia.
Students who have changed education providers or need more time to finish their courses should check whether an onshore exemption applies. Those who do not qualify generally need to apply from outside Australia and remain offshore until their new Student visa is granted.
Applying from outside Australia does not guarantee a visa grant. All applicants must meet the relevant visa requirements.
Contact EMC Australia
EMC Australia assists with Australian visa application preparation and related services. Migration advice and eligibility assessments are provided by a Registered Migration Agent.
WhatsApp/Call: +61 478 278 410 Website: https://emcaustralia.com.au Melbourne Office: Level 14, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not migration advice. Requirements and exemptions depend on individual circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs makes the final decision on visa applications.
Official Australian Government Sources: Department of Home Affairs: Changes to Student visa application rules (Subclass500and590) https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/changes-to-student-visa-application-rules-500-590 Department of Home Affairs: Applying for a Student visa or Student Guardian visa while in Australia https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/changes-to-student-visa-application-rules-500-590/applying-in-australia Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (Subclass 500) https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500 Australian Government — Study Australia: Student visa changes: October 2026 update https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/student-visa-changes-october-2026