The student visa changes from 2 October 2026 are now law. The new rules decide who can apply for a Student visa (Subclass 500) inside Australia, who must apply from overseas, and who can bring a partner or children. This guide explains each change and what it means for Indonesian students.
There is good news for Indonesian families. Indonesian passport holders can still include family members, but the family must apply together in the first application.
Last updated: October 2026
What Changed on 2 October 2026
The student visa changes of 2 October 2026 come from the Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 and three related instruments, registered on 1 October 2026. They put into law part of Tony Burke’s 2026 migration announcement.
| Change | New rule from 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Other temporary visa holders | Holders of 16 listed subclasses must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia |
| Current Student visa holders | Must apply offshore for a new Student visa, unless an exception applies |
| Family members | Only exempt groups can include family, and only in the first application |
| Provider transfers | Minimum study period before transfer rises from 6 to 12 months |
Important: applications lodged before 2 October 2026 follow the old rules, according to the Department of Home Affairs.
Who Can No Longer Apply for a Student Visa Inside Australia
From 2 October 2026, you cannot switch to a Student visa inside Australia if you hold a visa listed in the Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026.
The 16 Visa Subclasses That Must Apply Offshore
| Status | Visa subclasses |
|---|---|
| Newly added on 2 October 2026 | Subclass 400, Subclass 407 Training, Subclass 408, Subclass 417 Working Holiday, Subclass 457, Subclass 462 Work and Holiday, Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand and TSS) |
| Already restricted before | Subclass 403 (Domestic Worker stream), Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate, Subclass 600 Visitor, Subclass 601, Subclass 602, Subclass 651, Subclass 771, Subclass 988, Subclass 995 |
For Indonesians on a Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462), this is the biggest change. To study after your working holiday, you must lodge the Student visa application from Indonesia or another country. An application made inside Australia is invalid, and the Department of Home Affairs will not consider it.
You Must Also Be Outside Australia at Grant
You must also be outside Australia when the Student visa is granted. Some applicants used to fly out, lodge, and return on another visa while waiting. That strategy no longer works. Plan to stay outside Australia until the decision arrives.
Applying for Another Student Visa Onshore: The New Exceptions
Current Subclass 500 holders who want a new Student visa must now generally apply from outside Australia. The LIN 26/087 instrument lists the exceptions.
Moving Up to a Higher AQF Level
You can apply onshore if you completed your principal course and enrolled in one further course at a higher AQF level. A bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree qualifies. A second master’s degree, or a VET diploma after a bachelor’s degree, does not qualify.
Finishing Your Current Course
You can apply onshore if you started your principal course and will finish it within 12 months of the end date on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). See our guide on how to extend your student visa in Australia.
Other Exceptions
- Enrol in a doctoral (PhD) course
- Apply within 12 months after your provider defaults on your course
- Hold the visa as a school student, Defence student, or Foreign Affairs student
Important: these exceptions apply only to the main Student visa holder. A dependant partner who now wants to study as the main applicant must apply offshore.
Not sure which rule applies to you? Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia before you enrol in your next course.
Bringing Your Partner or Children: Indonesia Is on the Exemption List
Under the Student Visa Reform Regulations, family members can join a new Student visa application only in exempt cases. One exempt case is a student with a Pacific or ASEAN passport. Indonesia is named in the list. PhD students and students fully funded by a foreign government are also exempt.
Family Must Apply at the Same Time
Your partner and children must apply at the same time and from the same place as you, in one combined application. Subsequent entrant applications are no longer available, with no exemptions.
In our experience, many couples plan for the student to go first and the partner to follow later. Under the new rules, that plan fails. A partner left out of the first application cannot be added later.
Families Already in Australia Are Protected
Family members who held a dependent student visa on 2 October 2026 are protected. Children born in Australia after that date to a current student are also covered.
Changing Provider: The New 12-Month Rule
From 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, you must generally complete 12 months of your principal course before you transfer provider, up from 6 months, according to the National Code amendment. An earlier transfer is possible if your provider releases you or loses its registration.
What Has Not Changed Yet
These announced measures are not yet law as of early October 2026:
- Subclass 485 family limit: new Temporary Graduate visa applicants are expected to lose the right to include family members.
- Working Holiday ballot: second-year and third-year visas move to a ballot capped at 45,000 and 5,000 places.
- Visitor visa condition: future Subclass 600 grants are expected to carry a “No Further Stay” condition.
- Provider transfer visa: a new Student visa will be required before changing provider, planned from 1 July 2027.
How RACC Indonesia Can Help You
Under the new rules, small timing mistakes have serious costs. A course at the wrong AQF level can force you to leave Australia.
RACC Indonesia’s consultants are MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 1572961) with 20 years of experience. We check your visa, your next course, and your family plan before you pay a deposit or lodge. Explore our Student visa services or book a consultation with RACC Indonesia.
This article is general information only and is not personal migration advice. Migration rules change often. For advice on your specific situation, speak with a MARA-registered migration agent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I switch from a Working Holiday visa to a student visa in Australia?
No. From 2 October 2026, Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 visa holders must apply for a Student visa from outside Australia. You must also stay outside Australia until the Department of Home Affairs grants the visa. An application lodged inside Australia is invalid and will not be considered.
Can Indonesian students still bring their family to Australia?
Yes. Indonesia is one of the ASEAN countries named in the new rules, so Indonesian passport holders can still include a partner and dependent children. The family members must apply in the same application as the student, at the same time and from the same place.
Can I add my spouse after my student visa is granted?
No. Since 2 October 2026, subsequent entrant applications are no longer available for any student, including Indonesian students. Your partner must be included in your original Student visa application. If your partner is left out, your partner will need a different visa in their own right.
Can I do a second master’s degree onshore in Australia?
Generally no. A second master’s degree is at the same AQF level as your completed master’s degree, so the course progression exception does not apply. You would need to apply for the new Student visa from outside Australia and remain offshore until the visa is granted.
Do the changes affect student visa applications lodged before 2 October 2026?
No. The new rules apply only to applications made on or after 2 October 2026. Applications lodged before that date, including family member applications, are assessed under the old rules. Your current Student visa is not cancelled or shortened by the changes.
Has the 485 visa family rule started?
Not yet. The government announced a limit on family members for new Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) applications on 17 September 2026. However, the laws registered on 1 October 2026 cover Student visas only. Check the Department of Home Affairs website before you lodge a 485 application.
