Australia introduced new rules for Student Visa subclass 500 and Student Guardian subclass 590 applications from October 2, 2026.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs says the changes affect who can apply for and be granted a student visa while inside Australia and whether family members can be included.

Australia has not stopped accepting international students.

People who meet the relevant requirements can continue to apply for Student visas.

However, under the new rules, most Student visa applications must be lodged from outside Australia.

Only people who hold an eligible visa and satisfy the applicable requirements or exemptions may lodge a Student visa application while in Australia.

The changes also substantially restrict family-member arrangements.

Most Student visa applicants can no longer include partners or dependent children in their application unless they qualify under a limited exemption.

The Australian Government identifies exemption categories that can include certain PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students, foreign-government scholarship recipients and eligible students from Pacific countries and ASEAN member countries.

There are also limited provisions affecting some existing Student visa holders applying for another Student visa.

Current Student visa holders generally cannot add family members after their Student visa has been granted.

Home Affairs states that family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants under the new arrangements.

Applications lodged before October 2, 2026, including applications containing family members, continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when the application was lodged.

Because individual circumstances and exemptions differ, applicants should check their exact visa status and eligibility against current Australian Department of Home Affairs requirements before making study, travel, relocation or financial commitments.

The changes should not be reported as an Australian ban on student visas or as a ban specifically targeting Sri Lankan applicants.

They form part of Australia's general Student Visa subclass 500 and Student Guardian subclass 590 rules.

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