Study in Australia, and build a visa file that actually holds up.
Australia's student visa rules changed a lot between 2024 and 2026, most recently on 2 October 2026. This guide explains the new onshore-application and family rules, the fees, the Genuine Student requirement, and how visa officers actually review your file — in plain language, verified against official Home Affairs sources. From Uniallies Immigration & Education Services.
Australia Snapshot
The student visa reforms every applicant should read first
New rules under the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 took effect on 2 October 2026. They change where you can apply from, who you can bring with you, and how easily you can change provider after you arrive.
Onshore applications restricted
Most temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer lodge a Student (500) or Student Guardian (590) application while in Australia. The affected list covers 17 visa categories, including Temporary Graduate (485), Skills in Demand (482), Working Holiday (417), Work and Holiday (462) and Visitor visas. If you are affected, you must be outside Australia when you lodge and when the visa is granted.
Applying for another Student visa
Current student visa holders are affected too, unless an exemption applies. Your existing visa is not affected, and current Student Guardian holders can still lodge a further 590 in Australia. Exemptions include:
- Needing up to 12 more months to finish your main course with the same provider
- PhD study, or primary and secondary school study
- Moving up to a higher AQF level (higher education must be followed by higher education)
- DFAT or Defence sponsorship, or provider default
Family members at application
Most applicants can no longer include a partner or children, including when applying for a further Student visa. Exemptions: PhD students, students sponsored by DFAT or Defence, foreign-government scholarship holders, and eligible students from Pacific or ASEAN countries. For Bangladeshi applicants, this generally means the PhD, sponsored or scholarship categories only.
No adding family later
No student can add family members (subsequent entrants) after the visa is granted, and Home Affairs states there are no exemptions to this rule. Families already together in Australia are not separated, so a current visa holder whose family is already included may include them in the next onshore application. The primary applicant and all family members must be in the same location when lodging.
Stricter provider transfers
Non-school students must now stay in their principal course for 12 months (up from 6) before changing provider, as a transition measure until 30 June 2027. Transfers are still allowed in exceptional circumstances or if a provider or course ceases to be registered. School students stay on the 6-month rule.
- From 1 July 2027: a new Student visa transfer stream applies, and you must hold the new visa before starting at the new provider
- Transfers only at or above the same AQF level, and no onshore move from higher education into VET
Earlier applications & what is next
Applications lodged before 2 October 2026, including those with family members, continue to be assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged. The government has also said similar family restrictions will apply to Temporary Graduate visas, without separating families already in Australia. At the time of this update, no start date for that measure had been published, so check Home Affairs before you plan around it.
Sources: Home Affairs — Changes to Student visa application rules; Assistant Minister's media release, 2 October 2026; Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026; Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026. Exemptions are detailed and can change by instrument — confirm your own situation with Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
A strong education system, now with tighter rules
Australia still offers respected degrees and a real post-study work period. But the system is more selective than it used to be. Knowing the rules before you apply is what actually protects your chances.
Globally respected degrees
Courses at CRICOS-registered institutions are recognised by employers and universities around the world, from diplomas through to doctoral degrees.
Real post-study work rights
Graduates can move onto a Temporary Graduate visa for 2 years or more, with extra time available for study in a designated regional area.
A visible route to residency
Skilled graduates can move toward permanent residency through points-tested visas or employer sponsorship once they build the right experience.
From course choice to visa grant
Choose a CRICOS-registered course
Pick a course and institution that matches your academic background and career goals. This choice shapes your Genuine Student answers later, so make it a real one. If you plan to bring a partner or children, check the family rules in force from 2 October 2026 first — most students can no longer include them.
Check your institution's priority tier
Under Ministerial Direction 115, institutions that have used less of their annual enrolment allocation get faster visa processing. Ask your institution or agent where it currently sits.
Apply and receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Once you accept your offer and pay any required deposit, your institution issues a CoE. You need this before you can lodge your visa application.
Prepare your financial evidence
Gather bank statements, loan letters, or sponsor documents that clearly cover tuition, living costs, and travel — held for at least three months where possible.
Answer the Genuine Student questions carefully
Write specific, honest answers about your course choice, your ties to Bangladesh, and your plans after you finish studying. Generic answers are one of the most common reasons for refusal.
Lodge your visa application through ImmiAccount
Submit your CoE, financial evidence, English test result, and OSHC details, then pay the AUD $2,500 visa application charge.
Complete biometrics and health checks if requested
Some applicants must give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre or complete a health examination with an approved panel physician.
Receive your visa and plan your travel
Once granted, your visa is generally valid for the length of your course, up to a maximum of six years.
Processing priority & financial thresholds, visualised
Two things decide most of what happens to your application: which priority tier your institution sits in, and whether your funds clearly cover your family size.
Postgraduate research (PhD) students and a few strategic cohorts get high priority regardless of their institution's tier. MD115 governs offshore applications only, which matters for anyone who must now lodge from outside Australia.
These figures cover living costs only — tuition, travel, and OSHC are shown and paid separately. The spouse and child amounts apply only where family can still be included under the rules in force from 2 October 2026.
Indicative split only — tuition varies enormously by course and institution; the living-cost figure is set by Home Affairs and reviewed periodically.
What a case officer actually looks at
The Genuine Student requirement is not one question. It is three separate lenses that your whole file gets checked against.
The Genuine Student (GS) policy exists to separate people who genuinely want to study from people using a student visa mainly as a way into Australia for other reasons. It replaced the older Genuine Temporary Entrant test on 23 March 2024. The name changed, and so did the format — but the underlying goal is the same: officers want a coherent, honest picture of who you are, why this course, and what you plan to do afterwards. A well-prepared applicant with a genuine study purpose has nothing to fear from the GS policy. It mainly catches applications that look inconsistent, generic, or copied.
Does your money make sense?
Officers look at where your funds came from, not just how much sits in the account today.
- Large, unexplained deposits shortly before lodging are a common red flag.
- Funds should be visible in statements for at least three months, where possible.
- If a sponsor is supporting you, their income and relationship to you must be clearly documented.
Does your course connect to your future?
Officers check whether your chosen course is a logical step from your past study and toward your stated career goal.
- A vague or mismatched course choice weakens an otherwise strong file.
- Study gaps need a clear, evidenced explanation — not just a mention.
- Explain what the qualification adds that you don't already have.
What connects you to Bangladesh?
This is not about proving you'll never want to stay in Australia. It's about showing a credible, current picture of your life at home.
- Family, property, or job prospects at home all count as evidence.
- Be honest — vague or copied-sounding answers are easy for officers to spot.
- If you hope to work in Australia after graduating, say so; the Genuine Student test allows for genuine post-study plans.
Financial requirements & health cover
Two separate things get checked here: how much money you can show, and whether your health cover meets the rules.
Living-cost proof
AUD $29,710 for the student, plus AUD $10,394 for a spouse and AUD $4,449 for each dependent child where family can still be included, on top of tuition and travel.
Overseas Student Health Cover
OSHC is mandatory for the full length of your visa, for you and any family members travelling with you. Five providers are approved: Allianz Care, Bupa, Medibank, NIB and ahm.
School-age children
Children aged 5 or older must be enrolled in an Australian school for the length of your stay, with schooling costs of at least AUD $13,502 per year factored into your funds. This applies only where children can still be included.
Bangladesh is an Evidence Level 3 country. On 8 January 2026 Home Affairs moved Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan to Evidence Level 3, the highest-risk tier, citing emerging integrity issues. In practice that means closer scrutiny and heavier documentation, including evidence of your financial capacity and academic history. Levels are reviewed periodically, so check the current level on the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool before you lodge.
A visa-officer's checklist for your application
Most refusals don't come from one big mistake. They come from small inconsistencies between your documents, your answers, and your actual situation. This checklist closes those gaps.
Match every name and date exactly
Your name, date of birth, and passport number must match precisely across your CoE, financial documents, English test result, and application form. Small mismatches trigger manual review.
Explain large deposits before you're asked
If a large sum entered your account recently, add a short letter explaining its source now — a salary bonus, a property sale, a loan disbursement — with matching documentation.
Write GS answers about your own life
Mention the specific course, specific modules, and specific reasons this institution fits your goals. Answers that could apply to any applicant are the easiest ones for an officer to doubt.
Address any past refusal directly
If you've been refused an Australian or other country's visa before, explain what changed. Silence on a past refusal reads worse than the refusal itself.
Get certified translations for every foreign-language document
Academic transcripts, marriage certificates, and bank letters not in English need certified translations attached alongside the originals.
Apply for the correct visa the first time
Switching visa types after a refusal makes every later application harder. Confirm you're applying for the visa that actually matches your circumstances before you lodge. Since 2 October 2026, switching to a student visa from inside Australia is closed to most temporary visa holders.
Work rights during your course
You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while classes are running, and there's no cap during scheduled course breaks. Staying within these limits protects your visa — working over the limit is treated as a breach of your visa conditions.
The 2026 route from graduation to permanent residency
Most graduates don't move straight from a student visa to permanent residency. There's a working stage in between, and it now has firmer rules than it used to.
Temporary Graduate visa (485)
- Apply within 6 months of finishing your course, while still in Australia
- Must be 35 or under for most streams (research master's, PhD, and HK/BNO passport holders can apply up to 50)
- English requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 5.5, test taken within the last 12 months
Build skilled work experience
- Work in a role connected to your qualification while on your 485 visa
- Track your points: age, English level, qualifications, and Australian work experience all count
- A regional postcode adds extra 485 duration and, separately, extra points toward some visas
Apply for permanent residency
- Points-tested pathways: Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), Skilled Work Regional (491)
- Employer-sponsored pathway: the Skills in Demand visa, which replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage visa
- Occupation lists and points requirements are reviewed periodically — confirm your occupation's current status before planning around it
Since 1 July 2024, Temporary Graduate visa holders can no longer switch to a student visa while in Australia. From 2 October 2026 this restriction sits in the Migration Regulations alongside 16 other visa categories, including Skills in Demand and Working Holiday visas, and the government has said family-member restrictions will also extend to Temporary Graduate visas. Plan your pathway in order, since backtracking is now harder than it used to be.
Your PR roadmap after finishing your degree
The realistic sequence most graduates follow, from course completion to a permanent visa grant.
Confirm your course completion date
Your 6-month window for the 485 visa starts from your official completion letter date, not your graduation ceremony date.
Sit your English test early
You need IELTS 6.5 overall (or equivalent) with no band below 5.5, taken within 12 months of lodging your 485 application.
Choose the right 485 stream
Most degree graduates apply through the Post-Higher Education Work stream; vocational graduates in a listed occupation use the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
Work in a role linked to your qualification
Build the kind of experience that supports a skills assessment later — this matters more than just staying employed.
Get a skills assessment in your nominated occupation
Most points-tested pathways require a positive assessment from the relevant assessing authority before you can submit an Expression of Interest.
Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI)
Lodge for the Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), or Skilled Work Regional (491) visa — or pursue an employer-sponsored route if you have a job offer.
Receive an invitation and apply
Once invited, submit your full application with medicals, police checks, and evidence supporting every point you claimed.
Receive your permanent visa
Once granted, you hold permanent residency — the final step before Australian citizenship eligibility, subject to residency requirements.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (Subclass 500). Occupation lists, points requirements, and visa settings are reviewed periodically — confirm the latest version before you plan around it.
Visa fees at a glance
| Visa | Fee (Indicative, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student Visa (Subclass 500) | AUD $2,500 | Effective from 1 July 2026, primary applicant. Reduced AUD $2,050 for ELICOS/non-award and eligible Pacific, Timor-Leste and ASEAN applicants |
| Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) | AUD $5,750 | Effective from 1 July 2026; rose from AUD $4,600 on 1 March 2026 |
| 485 — Second Post-Higher Education stream | AUD $2,265 | For eligible regional-area applicants only |
| Skilled Independent Visa (189) | AUD $6,135 | Points-tested, primary applicant |
| Skilled Nominated (190) & Skilled Work Regional (491) | AUD $6,140 | Points-tested, primary applicant — plus any state nomination charge |
Both the student visa fee and the 485 visa fee rose again from 1 July 2026 — the 500 visa fee moved from AUD $2,000 to AUD $2,500, and the 485 fee moved from AUD $4,600 to AUD $5,750. Treat any figure on this page, including these, as provisional, and note that family-member charges only matter where family can still be included. Always confirm the current amount on the official Department of Home Affairs website before paying anything.
Legislative & policy updates that shape your file
Genuine Student requirement replaces GTE
Structured, in-form questions replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant statement for all Subclass 500 applications.
Financial capacity raised to $29,710
The annual living-cost benchmark rose sharply from AUD $24,505, and it remains the current figure through 2026.
Onshore visa-hopping restricted
Temporary Graduate visa holders can no longer switch to a student visa while in Australia — part of a broader integrity push.
Ministerial Direction 115 takes effect
A new three-tier priority system for offshore student visa processing, based on each institution's enrolment allocation usage.
National Planning Level raised to 295,000
The government increased the 2026 student visa planning level by 25,000 places compared to 2025, while keeping tight integrity checks in place.
Bangladesh moved to Evidence Level 3
Home Affairs adjusted the Evidence Levels of several South Asian countries, placing Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan in Level 3, the highest-risk tier, to manage emerging integrity issues. Expect closer scrutiny and heavier documentation.
485 visa fee doubles, then rises again
The Temporary Graduate visa fee rose from AUD $2,300 to $4,600 in March, then to AUD $5,750 in July — a rapid, two-step increase within a single year.
Student & skilled visa fees rise again
The Subclass 500 fee rose from AUD $2,000 to AUD $2,500, with a reduced AUD $2,050 charge for ELICOS/non-award and eligible Pacific, Timor-Leste and ASEAN applicants. The Skilled Independent visa (189) rose to AUD $6,135, and the Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas rose to AUD $6,140.
2027 National Planning Level held at 295,000
The Department of Education confirmed no increase for 2027, and no active provider will receive a lower allocation than in 2026. From 2027 the Australian Tertiary Education Commission will oversee higher-education allocations, while the government keeps setting the overall level.
Migration reform package announced
The Minister for Home Affairs announced measures to stop student visa hopping, restrict secondary applicants on most student visas, update Ministerial Direction 119 for priority skilled processing, add a No Further Stay condition to visitor visas, and introduce a ballot for the second and third Working Holiday Maker years. These were announcements; the student measures took legal effect on 2 October.
Student visa reforms take effect
The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 and related instruments (LIN 26/102 and LIN 26/087) restrict onshore Student and Student Guardian applications, remove family inclusion for most students, end the adding of family after grant, and extend the provider-transfer lock to 12 months. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 follow the earlier rules.
New Student visa transfer stream
The government has said a new transfer stream replaces the 12-month interim rule. Transfers will be allowed only at or above the same AQF level, and the new visa must be granted before you start at the new provider.
Study & visa FAQs
Since 10 May 2024, a single applicant generally needs at least AUD $29,710 for living costs, plus tuition and travel. A spouse adds AUD $10,394 and each dependent child adds AUD $4,449, but only where family can still be included under the rules in force from 2 October 2026.
It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test on 23 March 2024. You answer several structured questions inside the application itself, roughly 150 words each, about your study choice, your ties to home, and your plans after the course.
It sorts offshore applications into three priority tiers based on how much of your institution's annual enrolment allocation is used. Institutions under 80% get the fastest processing; those at or above 115% get the slowest.
Most temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer lodge a Student (500) or Student Guardian (590) application onshore, and current student visa holders applying for another Student visa need an exemption. Most applicants can no longer include family, no one can add family after grant, and non-school students must stay 12 months in their principal course before changing provider. Applications lodged earlier follow the old rules. See the full summary above.
Generally no. Family can be included at application only for PhD students, DFAT- or Defence-sponsored students, foreign-government scholarship holders, and eligible students from Pacific or ASEAN countries. Family cannot be added after the visa is granted, and Home Affairs says there are no exemptions to that rule. Families already together in Australia are not separated.
Most graduates move to a Temporary Graduate visa (485), build skilled work experience, then apply for permanent residency through the Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), Skilled Work Regional (491), or an employer-sponsored pathway. See the full step-by-step roadmap above.
Get an honest, document-level review before you lodge
Uniallies Immigration & Education Services checks your CoE, financial evidence, and Genuine Student answers against what case officers actually assess — before submission, not after a refusal.