Applicants
Before making visa, travel or financial plans, enrolling in another course or applying for a Student visa:
- check whether you must be outside Australia to apply or whether an exemption applies to you
- leave Australia before lodging if you cannot apply onshore
- if you must apply from outside Australia, you must also be outside Australia when your Student visa is granted.
You can check current visa timeframes via our
Visa processing times guide.
If you lodge an application in Australia when you are required to be offshore, your application will be invalid.
If you do not meet an exemption,
you should not apply in Australia. An invalid application outcome could affect your visa status and you may not be eligible to apply for a further visa if your visa has already expired.
If you include a family member who is not eligible to be included, their application will be invalid.
After applying from outside Australia, if you are not eligible to apply in Australia
You may return to Australia on another valid visa while your Student visa application is being processed, but you must be outside Australia when your Student visa is granted.
You will
not receive a Bridging visa linked to an application lodged outside Australia.
Education providers, education agents and migration agents
You should understand which temporary visa holders are affected, which current Student visa holders may meet an exemption, and the offshore lodgement and grant requirements.
You should confirm that applicants can meet the new requirements before encouraging them to enrol, make financial commitments, or lodge an application.
Applications lodged before 2 October 2026
Student visa applications lodged before the new rules started, including applications that included family members, will continue to be assessed under the rules that were in place when they were lodged.
Make sure you know how the new rules affect you before making visa, study, travel or relocation plans. For more information visit Subclass 500 Student visa.
