Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590)
A temporary visa for eligible guardians providing accommodation, care and welfare support to a qualifying international student. It is a guardianship visa—not permission to work or a student’s own study visa.
- Status
- Temporary · stay depends on the student and approved arrangements
- Apply from
- In Australia only if eligible; affected visa holders must apply offshore
- Genuine purpose
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)
- Work rights
- No work permitted
Important cautions
- Subclass 590 holders cannot work in Australia. Do not rely on Australian employment to fund the stay.
- Do not leave Australia without the student unless the required alternative welfare arrangements have been made. Check the applicable approvals and conditions before travelling.
- Children under six in the family unit can affect eligibility even if they will not travel. Limited exceptions and specific child arrangements apply; assess the full family circumstances before lodging.
- Application and grant location depend on eligibility and the visa held. Affected temporary visa holders must apply and be outside Australia at grant. Current 590 holders can apply for a further 590 onshore, subject to the other requirements.
- This visa is not unrestricted study permission and does not provide a direct permanent residence pathway. The approved stay must be checked in the grant notice.
Student visa changes effective 2 October 2026
Application location, location at grant and family inclusion are separate eligibility questions. Check the rules before making study, travel or family plans.
- 590: Affected temporary visa holders must apply and be outside Australia at grant. Current 590 holders can apply for a further 590 in Australia, subject to eligibility.
Application, grant-location and transitional details
- Where you are at grant
- Applicants affected by the offshore rules must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Check the requirements for the exact visa and exemption; do not assume application location and decision location are interchangeable.
- Transition
- Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the rules applying when lodged. These changes do not cancel an existing Student visa. Further applications must satisfy the rules applicable to them.
Key requirements
- Be the student’s parent or legal custodian, or a qualifying relative aged at least 21 who is nominated in writing by the parent or custodian. These are distinct eligibility categories.
- Provide accommodation, welfare and support to a student generally under 18, or an older student where exceptional circumstances qualify.
- Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for the guardian’s temporary stay. This differs from the student’s GS requirement.
- Have genuine access to sufficient funds to support yourself, the student and any permitted accompanying family members without relying on Australian employment.
- Maintain adequate health insurance and meet the relevant family-unit, application-location and visa requirements.
- Meet health, character, identity and other applicable visa requirements.
What this visa allows
- Stay in Australia to provide the approved care, accommodation and welfare support.
- Support more than one eligible student where the approved arrangements permit.
- Undertake ELICOS for less than 20 hours per week, or other study or training for no more than three months, subject to the visa conditions.
- Travel only in accordance with the visa and applicable student welfare requirements.
Evidence to prepare
- Evidence of parentage, custody or the qualifying relationship, with written nomination where required.
- The student’s visa, age, study and welfare arrangements, and evidence of your ability to provide the support.
- GTE statement and supporting circumstances demonstrating the guardian’s genuine temporary purpose.
- Acceptable financial access evidence, insurance, identity, health and character documentation.
- Information about members of your family unit, including children under six even if not travelling, and the current visa if seeking to apply onshore.
How the process works
- Assess the student’s welfare needs, the proposed guardian’s relationship and the complete family and immigration circumstances.
- Check onshore or offshore application eligibility and the relevant location-at-grant rules.
- Prepare relationship, custody or nomination evidence, GTE material, finances, insurance and welfare documentation.
- Lodge the application from the permitted location and respond to any Department requests.
- If granted, check the stay period and comply with no-work, limited-study, travel and welfare conditions.
How we actually help
- Assess guardian eligibility and the student’s welfare and family circumstances.
- Review GTE, financial access, insurance and guardianship documentation.
- Prepare the application and explain how travel, study and further applications interact with guardianship obligations.
Related pathway
Subclass 590 supports temporary guardianship, not employment or permanent residence. A further guardian application or any different visa requires its own assessment; it does not extend the existing visa automatically.
General information, not an individual eligibility assessment. Requirements, charges and processing times change and are not promised. Official sources:
About the 590
No. Work is not permitted. You must demonstrate sufficient financial support without relying on Australian employment.
The official criteria distinguish a parent, a person with custody and another qualifying relative. The relative category requires age 21 or over and written nomination. Assess the relevant category rather than treating the categories as identical.
No. The guardian visa uses the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. The subclass 500 student has the separate GS requirement.
Limited study is allowed: ELICOS for less than 20 hours per week or other study or training for no more than three months. Check the actual visa conditions before enrolling.
Do not leave Australia without the student unless the required alternative welfare arrangements have been made. Check the applicable approvals and conditions before travelling.
Only if eligible under the current rules. Restrictions apply to affected temporary visa holders. Current 590 holders can apply for a further 590 in Australia, subject to other requirements. If affected by the offshore rules, you must also be outside Australia when granted.
Family-unit members under six can affect eligibility even if they are not travelling. Limited exceptions apply. Do not assess the application using only the family members intending to travel.
It depends on the student’s circumstances, welfare arrangements and the period granted. Check the grant notice; guardianship does not provide indefinite residence.
Your matter:
Student Guardian Visa (590).
Selected service · Student Guardian Visa (590)
A consultation assesses your circumstances, discusses realistic options and outlines possible next steps. It is not a visa or review application and not a representation agreement. Any further work, its scope and fees are agreed separately.
- 01Book your appointment
Choose an available appointment time and check the details before confirming.
Book appointment (opens booking page in a new tab) - 02Complete the visitor registration form
After booking, add your details and circumstances for your student guardian visa (590) consultation.
Complete registration form (opens in a new tab) - 03Attend your consultation
Appointments are normally by phone, via Zoom, or in person at our Melbourne office. Follow your appointment confirmation for the arrangements.
Urgent matter or approaching deadline? Call our office on 03 9620 3195 or mobile +61 415 997 528.Message (SMS)WhatsAppA booking does not lodge anything, preserve rights or extend a deadline.