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Free tool · Student visa (subclass 500) · 2 October 2026 rules
Student Visa Onshore Checker Can I apply in Australia?
From 2 October 2026, many people already in Australia, including most Student visa holders, must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia. Answer a few quick questions to see whether you can still apply onshore, and why.
You may be able to apply in Australia
- You hold a Student visa as the main student
- You have completed your main course, a Bachelor degree (AQF level 7)
- Your new course is a Master degree (AQF level 9), which is a higher level
- It is one further course, with a higher education provider
Student visa changes from 2 October 2026
What changed for onshore Student visa applications
The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 changed who can apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) while in Australia. These rules apply to applications made on or after 2 October 2026.
Student visa holders apply offshore by default
If you hold a Student visa and want another one, you must apply from outside Australia unless one of six exemptions applies to you.
Holders of 17 visas can’t switch to a Student visa onshore
Holders of visitor, working holiday, graduate, work and other listed visas can’t make a valid Student visa application in Australia.
Outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted
If you must apply offshore, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. An application made in Australia would be invalid, and you wouldn’t get a bridging visa.
Earlier applications keep the old rules
Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the rules in force when they were lodged.
Not sure which rule applies to you? The checker works it out in 2–3 minutes.
Who must apply from outside Australia
These visa holders can’t apply for a Student visa onshore
Holders of these visas must lodge a Student visa application from outside Australia (LIN 26/102). The six exemptions don’t apply to them.
Bridging visa or no visa
To apply in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa, and a bridging visa doesn’t count. The old rule that let you apply within 28 days after your Student visa ended has also been removed.
Family members who want to become the main student
If you hold a Student visa as a family member and want your own Student visa, you must apply from outside Australia. There is no exemption.
Student Guardian and unlisted visas
Student Guardian (590) holders and holders of visas not on the list, such as partner visas, can still apply in Australia, as long as their visa doesn’t have a “No Further Stay” condition.
Exemptions for current Student visa holders
Six ways a Student visa holder can still apply onshore
These exemptions only apply if you hold a Student visa as the main student. Meeting one means you can apply in Australia. It doesn’t mean your visa will be granted.
More time to finish your main course
- You have started your main course and haven’t finished it
- You will finish it within 12 months of the course end date on the CoE linked to your visa
- You are still with the same provider. If you changed your main course, the new one must be at the same AQF level or higher
Course progression
- You have completed your main course
- You are enrolled in only one further course
- The new course is at a higher AQF level. If your completed course had no AQF level (for example ELICOS), the new course only needs to have an AQF level. School students can move to any one course
- If your completed course was higher education, the new course must also be higher education, with a higher education provider
Education provider default
- Your course didn’t start, stopped before you finished, or wasn’t fully delivered
- You were enrolled on the day it happened
- You apply within 12 months of the default and haven’t already applied because of it
Doctoral study
- You are enrolled in a course leading to a doctoral degree when you apply
- PhDs and professional doctorates both count
Primary or secondary school
- Your next course is primary or secondary school
DFAT or Defence sponsorship
- You are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (for example, with an Australia Awards scholarship) or the Department of Defence
- Sponsorship by your home government doesn’t count
Changing course onshore
Which course changes count as progression?
These examples are for Student visa holders who have completed their main course. If you move to a course at the same level or a lower level, you must apply from outside Australia.
| Completed course | New course | Can you apply onshore? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate III | Certificate IV | Yes | Higher AQF level |
| Certificate IV | Diploma | Yes | Higher AQF level |
| Bachelor degree | Master degree | Yes | Higher AQF level, with a higher education provider |
| Bachelor degree (not finished yet) | Master degree | After you finish | Apply after you complete your Bachelor degree, while your Student visa is still valid |
| Year 12 (school) | Bachelor degree | Yes | School students can move to any one course |
| ELICOS | Certificate III | Yes | From a course with no AQF level to a course with one |
| Diploma | Certificate IV | No | Lower AQF level |
| Bachelor degree | Diploma | No | Lower AQF level |
| Higher education Diploma | Vocational Advanced Diploma | No | After higher education, the new course must be higher education |
| ELICOS | Another ELICOS course | No | The new course needs an AQF level |
| Certificate IV | Diploma and Bachelor package | No | Only one further course is allowed |
If you need to apply from outside Australia
Plan your offshore Student visa application
Applying offshore takes planning, especially if your current visa expires soon.
Check your visa expiry date
You won’t get a bridging visa with an offshore application, so plan to leave Australia before your current visa expires.
Get your CoE and documents
Arrange your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), proof of funds, English test results and OSHC before you leave.
Apply from outside Australia
An application made while you are in Australia would be invalid and wouldn’t be considered.
Stay outside Australia until it’s granted
If you had to apply offshore, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
Changing provider? Until 30 June 2027, a new provider generally can’t enrol you until you have completed 12 months of your main course. From 1 July 2027, this drops to 6 months. Some exceptions apply.
FAQ
Student visa onshore rules: common questions
When did the new Student visa rules start?
The new rules apply to Student visa applications made on or after 2 October 2026. Applications lodged before that date are assessed under the rules in force when they were lodged.
Can I apply for another Student visa in Australia if I already hold one?
Only if one of six exemptions applies to you: you need up to 12 more months to finish your main course; you have completed your main course and are moving to one further course; your provider defaulted; your new course leads to a doctoral degree; your new course is primary or secondary school; or you are sponsored by DFAT or the Department of Defence. Otherwise, you must apply from outside Australia.
Can I switch from a 485, working holiday or visitor visa to a Student visa in Australia?
No. Holders of 17 visas, including Temporary Graduate (485), Working Holiday (417), Work and Holiday (462), Visitor (600), Electronic Travel Authority (601), eVisitor (651) and Skills in Demand (482), must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia and be outside Australia when it is granted.
Can I change to a lower-level course and still apply onshore?
Generally, no. The progression exemption requires a course at a higher AQF level. A changed main course at a lower AQF level also doesn’t qualify for the “more time to finish” exemption. You would need to apply from outside Australia.
I haven’t finished my course yet. Can I apply onshore for my next course?
Yes, once you have completed your main course, as long as you meet the other progression conditions. The progression exemption only applies after you finish, so apply once your results are finalised and while your current Student visa is still valid. If your visa expires first, you will need to apply from outside Australia.
Can I move from Year 12 to a bachelor degree onshore?
Yes, if you hold a Student visa, have completed your school studies as a school student, and are enrolled in only one further course. After school, you can move to any one further course.
What happens if my education provider closes or stops my course?
If your course didn’t start on the agreed date, stopped before you finished, or wasn’t fully delivered, you may be able to apply onshore within 12 months of the default. You must have been enrolled on that day and must not have already applied because of it.
Will I get a bridging visa if I apply from outside Australia?
No. You don’t get a bridging visa with an offshore application. If you apply in Australia when you had to apply offshore, your application is invalid. Plan to leave Australia before your current visa expires.
Does this checker cover partners and children?
No. The rules for including a partner or children in a Student visa application also changed on 2 October 2026. If you want to include family members, book a free counselling session.
Is this checker official?
No. It is an independent tool made by ApplyOn, based on the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026, LIN 26/102 and LIN 26/087, and reviewed by a MARA-registered agent. It gives a preliminary screening result only and is not migration advice.
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Disclaimer: This checker gives a preliminary screening result based on the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026, LIN 26/102 and LIN 26/087. ApplyOn is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. Meeting an exemption means you can apply in Australia. It doesn’t mean your visa will be granted. This is not migration advice.
Official sources: Changes to Student visa application rules (Home Affairs) · Student visa (subclass 500) · F2026L01347 · F2026L01348 · F2026L01349
