This blog post is for anyone considering applying for a student visa in Australia. The Australian government is implementing new restrictions on applying for student visas onshore, which will take effect on July 1, 2024.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
Changes to Onshore Student Visa Eligibility:
You cannot apply for a student visa onshore in Australia if you currently hold one of the following visas (including as a spouse or child, except for the 995 visa):
- Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
- Subclass 600 (Visitor)
- Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority)
- Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment)
- Subclass 651 (e Visitor)
- Subclass 771 (Transit)
- Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew)
- Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – Applies only to primary visa holders
- Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
- Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
This also applies to applicants who want to be included as dependents on a student visa application after July 1st, if they hold one of the listed visas.
Important Points to Remember:
- Applications for student visas lodged before July 1, 2024, are not affected by these changes.
- You can still apply for a student visa offshore and travel to Australia to wait for a decision, provided you have a valid visa to enter the country.
- If you apply for a student visa offshore and don’t hold another valid visa when you lodge your application, you won’t be eligible for a Bridging visa to stay in Australia while your application is being processed.
For Working Holiday visa holders:
* Holders of Working Holiday(Subclass 417), Work and Holiday (Subclass 462), and 408 visas are not affected by these changes.
If you have any further questions about these changes or require assistance with your student visa application, we recommend consulting our registered migration agent MARN(2318164) at Pathway Education and Visa services.
