01/10/2026
π¨Official on DHA Website: Applying for another Student visa
βοΈ There are new rules for current Student visa holders who want to apply for another Student visa while in Australia.
βοΈ Unless you meet limited exemption criteria, you will now need to be outside Australia when you lodge your application. You must also be outside Australia when your visa is granted.
β If you hold a Student visa as a dependant and want to apply for a Student visa as the primary applicant, you must lodge your application from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted. There are no exemptions to this rule.
βοΈ The changes do not affect your current Student visa.
βοΈ Current Student Guardian (subclass 590) visa holders can continue to lodge a further Student Guardian visa application while in Australia.
π₯ Exemptions βοΈ
π― Lodging in Australia if you hold a temporary visa other than a Student visa
πΊThere are no exemptions to the rule if you hold an affected temporary visa.
πΊYou can only apply from outside Australia and you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
π―Lodgiβng in Australia if you currently hold a Student visa
If are a Student visa holder, you may be able to apply for another Student visa in Australia if you:
πΊneed up to 12 more months after your original course end date to complete your studies. You must be continuing to study with the same education provider. If you have a package of courses, the course you need more time to complete must be your main course.
πΊare sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence
πΊare applying to study a PhD Degree
πΊare applying to do primary or secondary school studies
πΊhave completed your main course that has an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and are progressing to a course at a higher AQF level*.
πΊhave completed your school studies and are progressing to a course that does not have an AQF level
πΊhave completed a course that does not have an AQF level and you are progressing to a course that does have an AQF level
πΊcannot continue your course because your education provider has defaulted.β
ββ*Note: If you completed a higher education course, your next course must also be a higher education course delivered by a higher education provider.