{"id":25770,"date":"2026-09-23T17:07:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/?p=25770"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:07:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:37:44","slug":"australia-student-visa-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/news\/australia-student-visa-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia Student Visa Rules 2026: Family, Fees, English &amp; GS\u00a0Requirements\u00a0Explained\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Australian Government, through Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, has announced that most international students will no longer be allowed to bring their partners or children to Australia under their student visas starting 17 September 2026. This policy change applies to those who wish to immigrate to the country as an international student starting in 2026. Exceptions apply for those already living in Australia, PhD candidates, and selected Pacific and ASEAN students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This update is part of a list of new rules for the Australia student visa 2026, including new requirements such as an increased Subclass 500 visa fee and an English language requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Changes at a Glance<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table below provides a comparison of Australia student visa 2026 against the current requirements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ul-table-wrap\"><figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"ul-table-wrap\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\" style=\"table-layout:fixed;width:100%;\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Area<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>Status (as at 23 September 2026)<\/strong> <\/td><td><strong>What is known<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Family and dependant restrictions <\/td><td>Announced; not yet in force <\/td><td>Most student and graduate visa applicants will be unable to add partners or children <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Families already in Australia <\/td><td>Announced assurance <\/td><td>Families already onshore will not be separated <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Course progression and visa hopping <\/td><td>Announced; details pending <\/td><td>Visa renewals for progression limited to moving up the qualification scale <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student visa fees <\/td><td>In force from 1 July 2026 <\/td><td>Primary Subclass 500 charge from AUD 2,500 <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English-language evidence <\/td><td>In force <\/td><td>Minimum scores depend on course pathway; exemptions apply <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Genuine Student requirement <\/td><td>In force since 23 March 2024 <\/td><td>Replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Processing priority <\/td><td>In force since 14 November 2025 <\/td><td>Offshore applications prioritised under Ministerial Direction 115 <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student work limits <\/td><td>In force <\/td><td>Generally 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Has Australia Announced About Student Dependants?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most student visa applicants submitting for the first time will find that adding partners or children as secondary applicants is no longer available. The Minister for Home Affairs announced these Australia student visa family restrictions 2026 in a speech at the National Press Club on 17 September 2026, as part of a broader package of temporary migration reforms. No start date has been set yet. The following are the details of the announcement for Australia student visa 2026: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Secondary Applicant:<\/strong> A family member, normally a partner or dependent child, who applies for their visa as part of the student\u2019s primary visa application. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Visas Affected:<\/strong> The minister stated that the restriction would affect both student visas and graduate visas. Therefore, this falls under the changes made to Australia Temporary Graduate visa 485 made on the same day. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reasoning Stated:<\/strong> The minister stated that he was comparing the existing student visa arrangement with the multi-year wait faced by Australian citizens when they apply for a visa for an overseas partner. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Grant Statistics:<\/strong> In the last fiscal year, there were 337,427 student visa grants, of which 45,991 were secondary applicants, as per the statistics provided on 17 September 2026. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who May Be Exempt From the Family Restrictions?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The minister has identified two groups as being exempt from the changes to the Australia student visa 2026 program; however, no eligibility criteria have been released. Individuals must refer only to exemptions specified by Home Affairs. This includes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pacific and ASEAN countries:<\/strong> The minister noted that special visa requirements would still exist, allowing families for students from these countries. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Some Courses: <\/strong>Examples of courses for which a student can bring a family include PhD courses. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>List of Eligible Courses and Countries and Conditions not yet Determined:<\/strong> No official instrument has provided a list of eligible courses, countries, and conditions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Claimed Exemptions Not yet Confirmed: <\/strong>Some articles claim that all research or government-funded postgraduates are exempt from this rule. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Happens to Families Already in Australia?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government said it would not separate families currently living in Australia. No guidelines have been released on this issue, and each visa holder\u2019s situation depends on their circumstances. Following are the things that will happen after Australia student visa 2026 changes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Duration of the Assurance:<\/strong> The minister said families currently residing in Australia would remain in their current situation until they leave Australia, unless they become eligible for a permanent visa. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recommended Test: <\/strong>Visa holders should check their visa grant notice and conditions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Much Does an Australian Student Visa Cost in 2026?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The starting fee for the main Subclass 500 visa 2026 application process will be $2,500 from July 1, 2026. The Australian government sets the Australia student visa 2026: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Previous Fee:<\/strong> The principal applicant fee was AUD 2,000 before the hike. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Exception and Concession:<\/strong> According to the<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.studyaustralia.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.studyaustralia.gov.au\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" title=\"Study Australia website\">Study Australia website<\/a><\/strong>, the Student Visa application fee is AUD 2,500; however, some exceptions may apply. Additionally, a concessional fee continues to apply to the Temporary Graduate visa for citizens of the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dependents:<\/strong> Other fees will apply for any partners or dependants applying for a visa. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Other Expenses:<\/strong> An Australia student visa 2026 budget should include Overseas Student Health Cover, medical examinations, biometrics, and English test fees. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fee Details: <\/strong>Use the Australia visa pricing estimator provided by Home Affairs to check charges before lodging. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Also Read About: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/news\/new-us-visa-rules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"New US Visa Rules 2026: What Changes from September 15 for Students?\"><strong>New US Visa Rules 2026: What Changes from September 15 for Students?<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are the English Requirements for an Australian Student Visa?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">English requirements for the Australia Student Visa 2026 depend on the course pathway, the test taken, and any exemptions available. Home Affairs sets the visa requirements, while providers set their own admission requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pathway of ELICOS:<\/strong> As per Study Australia, if the student is taking an English course before their course, they need an overall IELTS score of 5.0 (or equivalent). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Foundation and Pathway Programs:<\/strong> Students enrolled in any approved program should have an IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Direct Entry: <\/strong>The minimum benchmark for this visa is generally an IELTS score of 6.0 (overall). Confirm this on the Home Affairs English language requirement webpage. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>University Admission:<\/strong> University admission requirements for any provider are separate from the visa requirements and are generally higher. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Exemptions: <\/strong>Some students are not required to provide test scores. You can find out your eligibility at Home Affairs. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read More: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/immigration\/uk-student-visa-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"UK Student Visa Guide 2026: Step-By-Step Application Process\"><strong>UK Student Visa Guide 2026: Step-By-Step Application Process<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Financial Capacity and Required Documents<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need evidence of sufficient funds to finance your time in Australia. The Australian student visa financial requirement for 2026 is stipulated by the Department of Home Affairs, and it varies. So, confirm the figures beforehand. Following are the financial another formal documents required for Australia student visa 2026: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tuition:<\/strong> Proof of sufficient finances to cover the tuition cost for the first year. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Living Costs: <\/strong>The cost as stipulated by Home Affairs is AUD 29,710 starting from 10 May 2024. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family Members: <\/strong>The figures increase when applying for accompanying partners and children. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>School Expenses: <\/strong>Additional costs apply when applying for school-aged children. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Travel:<\/strong> Funds for traveling to and from Australia. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Core Documents:<\/strong> Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), a valid passport, OSHC, academic documents, English test scores, and financial documentation such as bank statements, loans, and income details. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">International students spend a large share of their living costs on accommodation. Look at verified<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/country\/australia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"student accommodation in Australia\">student accommodation in Australia<\/a> <\/strong>near your university, including accommodation types, contract length, and what is included in the rent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Check them out today via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"University Living\">University Living<\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four conditions currently apply to the Australia student visa 2026. These include the $2,500 Subclass 500 fee effective from 1 July 2026, the Genuine Student Condition, the English language requirement, and the processing priority condition under Ministerial Direction 115. The condition relating to partners and dependent children, introduced on 17 September 2026, has not yet been implemented, along with the condition relating to progress of studies. This condition includes exceptions for Pacific and ASEAN countries and certain courses, such as Ph.D. The effective date, exclusion list, and treatment of the non-Australia family members have yet to be determined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790162883250\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can international students still sponsor family members for Australia? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, for now. The announced restriction, set to begin on 17 September 2026, does not yet have a commencement date. Once enacted, most new student visa and graduate program applicants will not be able to sponsor partners and dependent children. Exceptions apply to students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and certain programs, such as Ph.D. degrees. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790162913754\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Do current students and their dependents face any restrictions? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The government has assured that families currently in Australia will not be separated and can stay until they leave the country or obtain a permanent residency visa how this applies to those family members who are not in Australia yet remains unknown. Visa holders should check visa conditions and Home Affairs website for more information. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790162976919\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the cost of an Australian student visa in 2026? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>From 1 July 2026, the main Subclass 500 application fee is AUD 2,500 (previously AUD 2,000). Some concessions apply, and additional fees apply for dependent family members. We recommend using the Home Affairs Pricing Estimator when preparing an Australia student visa 2026 application. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790162996110\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What English proficiency is needed? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The required English proficiency varies by course stream. Study Australia reports that an IELTS 5.0 is required for packaged ELICOS programs while IELTS 5.5 is the requirement for recognized foundation or pathway programs. The minimum direct entry benchmark would have to be confirmed from the Department of Home Affairs\u2019 English language webpage. The university may ask for a score that is above the minimum visa score. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790163010406\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the GS requirement?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The GS requirement introduced from 23rd March 2024, evaluates whether the primary objective of coming to Australia is to study. It will look at the applicant\u2019s personal background, study background, course choice, value of the course and migration history. Answers should be up to 150 words. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Australian Government, through Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, has announced that most international students will no longer be allowed to bring their partners or children to Australia under their student visas starting 17 September 2026. This policy change applies to those who wish to immigrate to the country as an international student starting in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":25771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[942],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-25770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-australia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25770"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25775,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25770\/revisions\/25775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}