New Australian Visa Rules: What Changed in September and October 2026

Australia's visa rules changed more in the last three weeks than in most months this year. The headline is the student visa overhaul of 2 October, which pushes most current subclass 500 holders offshore for their next application and limits who can bring family. Two new Ministerial Directions reset the processing queue for employer-sponsored and points-tested visas in September. The Department also issued new guidance on health insurance on 6 October.

Several smaller instruments slipped through with no announcement at all. We read every migration instrument registered since 15 September and list them below, with links to our detailed guides where a change deserves one. We'll update this page as October goes on.

The changes at a glance

Student visas: the biggest change by far

From 2 October 2026, most people who already hold a student visa must lodge their next one from outside Australia, and stay outside until it's granted. School students, doctoral students and students moving up to a higher-level course are among the exceptions. Holders of the subclass 482, 417, 462 and several other visas joined the list of people who can't apply for a student visa onshore. Family members can now only be included in limited cases, and can't be added after grant.

It applies to applications made on or after 2 October. Time your next enrolment around it. Our student visa changes guide has the exempt groups and the full list.

For 482 holders, our guide to subclass 482 changes in 2026 explains what the onshore bar means alongside the year's other 482 changes.

A new processing order for skilled and employer visas

Directions 121 and 122 replaced Direction 119. Construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources occupations, and roles linked to law enforcement or defence, go first. The 482's Specialist Skills stream gets its own band. Onshore applicants come before offshore ones after that.

Nothing about eligibility changed. Only the order in which files are opened did, which our guide to Directions 121 and 122 explains band by band.

Health insurance guidance

On 6 October the Department updated its guidance on adequate health insurance and released a factsheet. It reminds visa holders that most temporary visa holders and visitors can't use Medicare, so you may be responsible for all your healthcare costs in Australia. Depending on your visa, holding appropriate private health insurance can also be what keeps you within your visa conditions.

This is guidance, not a new law. Still, if your visa carries a health insurance condition, now is a sensible time to check that your policy actually meets it.

The smaller instruments nobody announced

These were registered on the Federal Register without a news item. Most are paperwork. They change how you lodge rather than whether you qualify, and the explanatory statements say so.

• Health checks for permanent visas. The list of countries from which a permanent visa application can skip a Medical Officer's opinion, when nothing suggests a health issue, was remade on 24 September. It only updates the names of countries that changed their names. No country was added or removed.
• Visitor (subclass 600) group tours from China. The list of approved travel agents for the Approved Destination Status stream was replaced after an audit. Unverified agents were removed, new verified agents added.
• eVisitor. The arrangements for online eVisitor applications were remade because the 2016 instrument was due to expire. Lodgement stays online.
• Maritime crew. From 1 November 2026, the paper form can also be lodged electronically where the Department authorises it in writing. The shipping industry asked for this.
• Child visas. The GPO Box address for paper applications was corrected on 19 September.
• Designated areas. A new list of designated areas replaced the 2016 one on 18 September. If you hold a 489 or another visa with condition 8549, check your postcode against the new list before you plan a move.

What hasn't changed yet

The Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 still hasn't passed. As at 7 October 2026 it had passed the House on 20 August and was waiting in the Senate. A separate ART law has applied since 1 June, though: most student visa refusal reviews are now decided without a hearing. Our ART changes post explains both, and our refusals and appeals team can help if a review is already under way.

If you missed July, the fee and income threshold increases from 1 July are in our July 2026 changes post, and partner visa costs are in our partner visa cost guide. Holding a permanent visa and planning a long trip? Read the travel facility guide before you book, because a permanent visa doesn't get you back in without a valid travel facility.

FAQ

What are the changes to Australian visas in 2026?

Four big changes so far. Visa charges and income thresholds rose on 1 July, Ministerial Directions reset processing orders on 25 July and again in September, most student visa refusal reviews have been decided without a hearing since 1 June, and the student visa overhaul started on 2 October 2026.

What is the latest news on Australian visas?

On 6 October 2026 the Department of Home Affairs updated its guidance on adequate health insurance for visa holders. On 2 October 2026 new student visa rules started, requiring most current student visa holders to apply for their next student visa from outside Australia.

What happens after 5 years of PR in Australia?

Your permanent residence doesn't end, but the travel facility attached to a permanent visa usually does, often 5 years after grant. Without a valid travel facility you can't re-enter Australia after a trip overseas, so you'd need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) or Australian citizenship.

Do visa holders need health insurance in Australia?

Most temporary visa holders and visitors aren't eligible for Medicare, so the Department of Home Affairs says they may be responsible for all healthcare costs in Australia. Depending on the visa, holding adequate private health insurance can also be needed to meet visa conditions.

Can I apply for a student visa while onshore?

Only in some cases since 2 October 2026. If you hold a student visa as the student, you can apply onshore only if you're in an exempt group, such as a doctoral student or someone moving to a higher-level course. Holders of the 482, 417, 462 and other listed visas must apply from outside Australia.

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Not sure whether one of these changes touches your application? Book a consultation and we'll check your visa against the rules in force on the day you lodge.