Australia Student Visa from 2 October 2026: No Family, Apply From Outside Australia, and What Indian Students Should Do Now

From 2 October 2026, most people applying for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500) cannot include a partner or children, cannot add them after the visa is granted, and must lodge from outside Australia. For an Indian student applying from India, the location rule changes little. The family rule changes a great deal. This guide covers who is exempt, what the visa costs and what to do before you pay a deposit for a 2027 intake.

What Changed on 2 October 2026

Home Affairs sets out the change on its page "Changes to Student visa application rules (subclasses 500 and 590)". It covers three things:

• Family. No partner or dependent child unless an exemption applies, including for a further Student visa.
• No later additions. Family cannot apply as subsequent entrants after your visa is granted.
• Location. Most applicants must be outside Australia when they lodge and when the visa is granted.

Your existing Student visa is not affected, and Home Affairs says you can still apply if you meet the requirements.

Who Can Still Include Family

For this visa, family means your partner and your or your partner's unmarried child under 18. They must apply with you, in the same location. A child aged 18 or over when the visa is finished needs their own visa.

Applying From Outside Australia

People in Australia on these visas, as primary or secondary holder, cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia, and Home Affairs says there are no exemptions: subclasses 400, 403 (domestic worker, diplomatic or consular), 407, 408, 417, 457, 462, 482, 485, 600, 601, 602, 651, 771, 988, and 995 (primary only). A visitor, Working Holiday maker or 485 graduate who wants to study must leave and apply from abroad.

Current Student visa holders can apply again in Australia only under limited exemptions, such as needing up to 12 more months with the same provider, a PhD, school study, progression to a higher Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level, or provider default.

What the Visa Costs and What You Must Show

For applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the standard charge is AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, AUD 1,530 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 500 for each under 18. These were AUD 2,000, AUD 1,225 and AUD 400. The Student Guardian (590) charge is AUD 2,500. See the Australia visa fee table and the July 2026 fee guide.

You must show money for travel, 12 months of course fees and 12 months of living costs:

Home Affairs' example of a AUD 50,000 course over 3 years counts as AUD 16,666 for 12 months, so a single student needs about AUD 48,376 with living costs and travel (our arithmetic). Instead of funds, you can show that your parents or partner earned at least AUD 87,856 in the previous 12 months, or AUD 102,500 if you bring family. A balance certificate for a single day does not show how funds were built.

Evidence Levels and the Genuine Student Requirement

Under the Simplified Student Visa Framework, the evidence level of your country and your provider together decides whether you must lodge financial and English evidence or can declare it. The pages we opened do not state India's level. Run the Document Checklist Tool, which is routinely updated on 31 March and 30 September, and run it again just before lodging. If you must attach evidence and do not, Home Affairs may refuse the application without asking for more information.

The Genuine Student requirement applies to applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. The online form asks about your ties to family, community and employment, why you chose this course and provider, and how it benefits you. Each answer has a 150 word limit and carries more weight when backed by documents. A later wish to apply for permanent residence does not count against you.

The Student Guardian Visa (590)

The 590 is for a parent, a custodian, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated in writing, who cares for a student under 18. The guardian cannot work. Home Affairs will not grant it if a family unit member is under 6, unless there are compelling and compassionate reasons.

What Indian Students Should Do Now for 2027 Intakes

The National Planning Level is 295,000 new overseas student commencements for 2026 and for 2027, announced on 15 July 2026. It is a planning tool, not a cap. See our Australia student visa page.

A Warning on the Graduate Visa (485)

The Home Affairs 485 page, updated on 5 November 2026, still says family can be included. On 17 September 2026, though, the Immigration Minister said family members will no longer be attached to student or graduate visas, with no implementation date in the transcript. Do not plan on bringing a spouse on a 485, and check the official page before you rely on it. See our graduate visa page and 485 guide.

Not yet known: the start date of any 485 family restriction, and the evidence level Home Affairs applies to your exact passport and provider, which only the checklist shows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my wife or husband to Australia on a student visa from 2 October 2026?

Only if an exemption applies. Home Affairs lists PhD students, students sponsored by DFAT or Defence, foreign government scholarship recipients, and eligible students from Pacific countries and ASEAN member countries. A Master's by research does not count as a PhD. India is not in the Pacific or ASEAN groups.

Can my partner or child apply later, after I reach Australia?

No. Home Affairs states that family members cannot be added to a Student visa after it is granted and that there are no exemptions to this rule. Family who qualify must apply with you, at the same time and from the same location.

Can I switch to a Student visa from inside Australia if I hold a visitor, graduate or work visa?

No. Holders of subclass 400, 403 (domestic worker), 407, 408, 417, 457, 462, 482, 485, 600, 601, 602, 651, 771 and 988 visas, and primary holders of 995, cannot apply in Australia. Home Affairs says there are no exemptions. You must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

How much money must I show for a Student visa?

Home Affairs lists AUD 29,710 for 12 months of student living costs, plus the first 12 months of course fees and a travel guide of AUD 2,000 when applying from outside Australia. The Document Checklist Tool shows whether you must attach this evidence.

How much does the Student visa cost?

On the standard rate the first instalment is AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, AUD 1,530 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 500 for each under 18. These replaced AUD 2,000, AUD 1,225 and AUD 400 from 1 July 2026. A AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge can apply if you lodge from inside Australia.

Does the Student Guardian (590) visa change?

The offshore lodgement rule covers it too. Current 590 holders can still lodge a further 590 in Australia while the student continues to study there. A guardian must be a parent, a custodian, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated in writing.