Visa Hopping in Australia: 2026 Student Visa Changes

"Visa hopping" is the Government's term for moving from one course to another, or from another temporary visa to a Student visa, to extend a stay in Australia without progressing in study. From 2 October 2026 new rules limit who can apply for a Student visa while in Australia.

Who must now apply from outside Australia

LIN 26/102 lists the visas whose holders cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia. They include the Visitor (600), Electronic Travel Authority (601), eVisitor (651), Working Holiday (417), Work and Holiday (462), Temporary Graduate (485), Skills in Demand and Temporary Skill Shortage (482), Temporary Work (Skilled) (457), Training (407), Temporary Activity (408), Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (400), Medical Treatment (602), Transit (771) and Maritime Crew (988) visas, and some diplomatic visas. Holders of these visas must apply, and be granted the visa, outside Australia.

Current Student visa holders

A person who holds a Student visa and applies for another one must also be outside Australia, unless an exemption applies. The exemptions include:

• completing your current course, where you have started it and will finish within 12 months of the end date on your Confirmation of Enrolment;
• progressing to a higher qualification: you have completed your course and are enrolled in no more than one further course at a higher AQF level (a higher education graduate must move to another higher education course);
• doctoral (PhD) study;
• school students, Defence students and Foreign Affairs students;
• provider default, where your provider cannot deliver your course.

These exemptions apply to a person who holds the Student visa as the main student. A partner or child who holds a Student visa as a dependant and now wants to study in their own right must apply from outside Australia.

Grant location

If you were required to apply from outside Australia, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Applications already lodged

Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged.

Where Migration Star can help

Migration Star is a Brisbane-based registered migration practice, and our principal agent Rohit Sharma holds MARN 1797395. Which rules apply to you depends on the visa you hold, where you are, your course and your family circumstances, and we confirm this before anything is lodged. No agent can promise a visa outcome or a processing time.

Free written eligibility assessment: https://www.migrationstar.com.au/eligibility-assessment

Book a consultation (30 minutes AUD 165 or 1 hour AUD 330, incl GST, credited against our fees): https://www.migrationstar.com.au/book-a-consultation

General information current as at 2 October 2026. It is not advice for your circumstances. Migration Star, Rohit Sharma, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1797395.

Sources

• Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 (F2026L01347)
• LIN 26/102, Student visa applications to be made from outside Australia (F2026L01348)
• LIN 26/087, classes of persons for Student visa applications (F2026L01349)
• Department of Home Affairs factsheet: Changes to Student visa application rules