From 1 July 2024, Australia has tightened rules to curb “visa hopping”. Visitor visa holders and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders can no longer apply for a Student (subclass 500) visa while in Australia. If you want to begin or continue study, you’ll generally need to apply from outside Australia to prevent people from stringing together temporary visas to remain long-term.

Key Changes Affecting Your Stay

• No onshore switch to a Student visa (600/485 to 500): If you hold a Visitor (subclass 600) or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, you can’t apply for a Student (subclass 500) visa from within Australia.
• Who it affects: The onshore restriction extends to other visa subclasses too, including eVisitor (651), Electronic Travel Authority (601), Medical Treatment (602), and some temporary work visas.
• Offshore application required: To study, you may need to leave Australia and lodge your student visa application offshore meaning you may not be able to rely on a bridging visa to stay while it’s processed.
• Stronger “Genuine Student” requirement: Introduced in March 2024, the Genuine Student requirement asks applicants to show a credible study plan and course progression, limiting course changes made mainly to extend time in Australia.

What This Means For You

• If you’re on a 485 visa: You can’t move from a Temporary Graduate visa to a Student visa while onshore. Your practical options are to pursue eligible skilled work pathways (including employer sponsorship/PR where available) or leave Australia and apply offshore.
• If you’re on a Visitor/Tourist visa: You can’t apply for a Student visa from inside Australia. Short study (up to 3 months) may still be allowed, but longer courses will usually require an offshore student visa application.
• Overstay risk: If your current visa expires while you’re working through these changes, overstaying can lead to serious consequences—including a possible 3-year re-entry ban.

Each persons’ circumstances are different, and we recommend booking a consultation to discuss your situation with us.