Australia's new student visa rules from 2 October 2026: what to check before you borrow

The short answer

• From 2 October 2026 there are new rules for the Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590).
• Most temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer lodge a Student visa application from inside Australia. Unless an exemption applies, you must be outside Australia when you lodge and when the visa is granted.
• Applicants generally can no longer include a partner or dependent children in a Student visa application, unless an exemption applies.
• Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged.

What the Australian government says

• The Department of Home Affairs page, last updated 14 October 2026, says: "From 2 October 2026, there are new rules for Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) visas."
• It says the rules change who can apply and be granted a visa while in Australia, and whether family members can be included.
• Home Affairs' fact sheet lists exemptions. For applying for another Student visa from inside Australia, they include needing up to 12 more months to finish your main course with the same provider, PhD study, school studies, progressing to a higher AQF level, DFAT or Defence sponsorship, or a provider default.
• For including family members, exemptions may apply if you are studying a PhD, are sponsored by DFAT or Defence, receive a foreign government scholarship, or are an eligible student from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country.
• Current Student visa holders cannot add family members after their visa is granted, and the fact sheet lists no exemptions to that rule.

What did not change

• The 2027 National Planning Level for new international students is 295,000, the same as 2026 (Study Australia, 15 July 2026). It is a planning level, not a cap on student numbers.
• Evidence levels were updated on 30 September 2026. They guide the financial and English evidence you may be asked for. Study Australia says they do not affect visa eligibility.
• We did not find India's current level on an official page, so we do not state it.

The visa fee: what is reported, what we could confirm

Two news reports from July 2026 say the Student visa (subclass 500) fee rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Home Affairs' pricing page shows an update on 1 July 2026, but the amounts were not in the text we read. Confirm the amount on the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you budget.

What this means for a loan

• Family plans. If your plan assumed a partner or child on your Student visa, the plan may not work unless you meet an exemption. The loan and living-cost budget should be built for the people who can actually go.
• A second visa costs again. If your pathway needs another Student visa, you may have to apply from outside Australia and pay the visa fee again, unless an exemption applies. Ask your education provider early.
• Gaps cost money. Time spent waiting outside the country is time with rent, fees or interest running. Interest on a moratorium loan keeps building. See the calculator.

Five checks before you borrow for Australia

1. Check the exemption list for your case. Read the Home Affairs page and fact sheet, then ask your provider which rule applies to you.
2. Build the budget for the people who can go. If family cannot join, the living-cost line changes. Test both versions in the calculator.
3. Add a second visa fee if your pathway needs one. Use the Home Affairs estimator for the current amount.
4. Run the Bad scenario. It assumes the first job starts 9 months later and pays 70 percent of the salary you enter. See Reality Check.
5. Ask your lender in writing. If my visa is delayed or I must apply again from outside Australia, does my moratorium, disbursement or EMI date change?

How other guides compare

GyanDhan's proof of funds page for Australia, updated 1 June 2026, shows a visa fee of AUD 2,000 and living costs of AUD 29,710. It does not mention the 2 October 2026 rules. We did not independently confirm the living cost amount, so check it on the Home Affairs site. Careers360's explainer, updated 1 October 2025, covers the 2025 settings and also shows AUD 2,000. Use these pages for context and read Home Affairs for current rules. We do not recommend or rank any lender or marketplace.

What this site will and will not do

We do not promise visas, jobs or salaries. We do not recommend or rank lenders, and no lender pays us. This is general information, not immigration advice. For your case, ask your education provider or a registered migration agent.

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