Student visa changes · in force 2 October 2026
They followed the rules. Let them finish here.
Since 2 October 2026, international students who changed education provider, lawfully and under the rules at the time, can no longer apply in Australia for the Student visa they need to finish their course. They must leave to lodge, and be overseas when it is granted. We are asking for one narrow, fair fix.
What changed
The rule changed after students had already moved.
- A Student visa holder could apply in Australia for a new Student visa to finish their studies.
- Students could change provider after six months in their main course, under the National Code.
- Transfers were recorded by providers in PRISMS, the government’s enrolment system.
- Current Student visa holders must apply from outside Australia, and be outside Australia when the visa is granted, unless an exemption applies.
- The exemption for finishing a course covers only students who stayed with the same provider.
- Only applications lodged before 2 October are protected. There is no transition for students who had already changed provider.
Timeline
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announces the package at the National Press Club.
- Four legal instruments, signed by Assistant Minister Julian Hill, are registered.
- The rules take effect the next day. No transition for students who had already changed provider.
- A new Student visa “transfer stream” is planned. Announced, not yet law.
- “Those who transferred to a principal course with a new provider will not be eligible to apply onshore under this provision.”Explanatory Statement, completion-of-studies exemption · LIN 26/087, Class of Persons for Student visa applications amendment (F2026L01349)
- “Limited exemptions will apply, including for school and PhD students, and students affected by provider default or course deferral.”No exemption is listed for students who changed provider · Julian Hill MP, "Student visa integrity reforms take effect today", 2 Oct 2026
- “Non-governmental organisations were not consulted.”Explanatory Statement, consultation section · Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01347)
Who is affected
Who now has to leave Australia to apply
Students who changed provider
Still finishing a course at the same or a lower level, with a visa that ends first. This is the group with no exemption at all.
Students moving sideways or down
For example from a university course to a VET course, or to another course at the same level.
Holders of 17 other visas
Including Temporary Graduate (485), Working Holiday and Skills in Demand visa holders, who can no longer apply for a Student visa in Australia.
Students with family
Most students can no longer include a partner or children, and nobody can add them after the visa is granted.
Not affected: applications lodged before 2 October 2026, current visas until they expire, PhD and school students, students moving up to a higher qualification, and students whose provider collapsed (within 12 months).
Every case is different. One edge case may help some students: if your current visa was itself granted for the new provider’s course, you may already be covered. Check your situation with a registered migration agent or a lawyer before you make plans.
Our ask
Let Student visa holders who changed provider before 17 September 2026 make one final onshore application to finish the course they are already enrolled in.
Why this is reasonable
It needs no new law. The Minister can add a class of people to the existing exemptions instrument (LIN 20/158), the same way the four current exemptions were made.
It is narrow and ends. One application, for students already here, for the course they are already in. The Government’s settings for the future stay as they are.
It keeps faith. These students relied on the rules in force when they moved, and paid fees for courses they are part way through.
LIN 26/087, Class of Persons for Student visa applications amendment (F2026L01349)
Take action
Four things that take less than five minutes
Add your name
Every name is counted on this page and in our letters to the Minister. No email needed.
Add your nameWrite to the Minister
A ready letter to Assistant Minister Julian Hill, who signed the changes. Send it from your own email.
Open the letterSign the petition
Join the existing petition asking to protect students already in Australia.
See petitionsShare your story
Real costs and real people move MPs. Stories are checked before they appear, and can be anonymous.
Tell your storyAdd your name
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Write to the Minister
Assistant Minister Julian Hill signed all four instruments. A letter from you, sent from your own email, carries more weight than any form. Copy in your local MP if you can.
To: Hon Julian Hill MP
Julian.Hill.MP@aph.gov.au
Subject: Please allow students who changed provider one final onshore Student visa application
Sign the petition
A Change.org petition, “Grandfather existing students from 2026 visa changes”, started by MECAA Group on 2 October, already asks to protect students who changed provider. It is run independently of this site.
Only an official House of Representatives e-petition gets a formal response from the Minister. If you know of one on this issue, tell us and we will link it here.
Stories
What the change means for real people. Every story is read by a person before it appears.
Tell your story
Do not include your full name, visa or passport number, student ID, provider name or anything else that identifies you.
Questions
Is this a government website?
No. Fair Go Onshore is an independent community campaign. It is not linked to the Australian Government, the Department of Home Affairs or any education provider.
Is it safe for me to take part on a visa?
Writing to a Minister or an MP, signing a petition and sharing your experience are normal, lawful parts of Australian democracy. This site stores no names or emails with your name count, and stories are published without contact details.
Is this migration advice?
No. It is general information. For your own case talk to a registered migration agent or a lawyer.
Why only students who changed provider before 17 September?
That is the day the changes were announced. Students who moved before then could not have known. A clear date keeps the ask narrow, which makes it easier to say yes to.
Sources
Every claim on this page comes from these documents. Last checked 7 October 2026.
- Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01347)
- LIN 26/087, Class of Persons for Student visa applications amendment (F2026L01349)
- LIN 26/102, Student visa applications to be made from outside Australia (F2026L01348)
- National Code amendment (Overseas Student Transfers) 2026 (F2026L01351)
- Julian Hill MP, "Student visa integrity reforms take effect today", 2 Oct 2026
- Home Affairs factsheet: Changes to Student visa applications
- Tony Burke, National Press Club address, 17 Sep 2026
- Andrew Norton, "New restrictions on onshore applications", 5 Oct 2026
- SBS News, new student visa rules in force, 2 Oct 2026