International education is a major part of Perth's economy, and the student visa rules have changed again. If you are planning to study in Australia, or you are already here and thinking of changing course or visa, these are the changes to understand.
What changed on 2 October 2026
- Dependants. Most new student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their application. Some groups are exempt.
- Onshore applications. Holders of certain visas can no longer apply for a student visa from within Australia.
Which exemptions apply depends on your nationality, the course and your current visa, so get advice before you enrol or pay a deposit.
The planning level, in plain terms
Each year the Government sets a National Planning Level (NPL) for new overseas student commencements. For 2026 it is 295,000, and the Government has confirmed it will stay at 295,000 for 2027.
The NPL is not a hard cap on visas. It works as a prioritisation system: each education provider is given an allocation, and applications for places within an allocation are processed first. Applicants can still apply when a provider's allocation is used up, but processing may be slower.
The Genuine Student requirement
Since 2024, the Genuine Student requirement has replaced the older Genuine Temporary Entrant test. Applicants must show they genuinely intend to study, with clear reasons for choosing this course, this provider and Australia. Your answers must be consistent with your study history, your finances and your plans. Generic or copied statements are a common reason for refusal.
What happens after study
A student visa is temporary. After graduation, many people apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (485), which has Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work streams, plus a second stay for some graduates who studied in regional areas. The age limit is generally 35 (with some exceptions).
A 485 is also temporary, so plan your next step early: build the work experience, English results and skills assessment you need for a skilled or employer-sponsored visa.
Practical checklist
- Check your current visa before you apply or change courses.
- Check dependants early: if you plan to bring a partner or children, find out first whether an exemption applies.
- Write a real Genuine Student statement that fits your history.
- Keep your enrolment and visa conditions in order, since breaches can lead to cancellation.
- If refused, act quickly: a review application to the Administrative Review Tribunal has a short deadline that generally cannot be extended, and applicants outside Australia may need a new application instead.
We advise students and their families on student, graduate and refusal matters, and on planning a pathway to a skilled or sponsored visa.
Student & graduate visas · Book a consultation
General information only, current at November 2026. Immigration rules change often; it is not legal advice.
