Australia's Student Guardian Visa Explained: Eligibility and Requirements

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Key Takeaways

• Student Guardian visa subclass 590 allows guardians to live with and care for students under 18 in Australia.
• From July 1, 2024, visa fees increased to AUD 1,600 with new financial requirements of AUD 29,710 minimum.
• Recent rule changes include a Genuine Student assessment replacing the old GTE rule to verify support intentions.

Australia’s Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590) is a special visa that lets parents, legal guardians, or close relatives come to Australia 🇦🇺 to care for international students under 18 years old or those with special needs. This visa is important because it helps young students feel safe and supported while they study far from home. In 2025, there are several new rules, higher costs, and stricter requirements that families must know before applying. This guide explains everything you need to know about the Student Guardian visa, including who can apply, what is needed, the application process, rights and limits, and what changes to expect in the future.

Australia’s Student Guardian Visa Explained: Eligibility and Requirements

What Is the Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)?

The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) allows a parent, legal custodian, or a close relative to stay in Australia 🇦🇺 to look after a student visa holder who is under 18 years old. In some cases, it can also be used for students over 18 who need extra care because of physical or cultural reasons. The main goal of this visa is to make sure young international students have someone they trust to help them with daily life, school, and any problems that might come up.

This visa is not for people who want to work or study in Australia 🇦🇺 themselves. Instead, it is for those who want to support a student during their studies. The visa holder must live with the student and provide proper care, accommodation, and support.

Who Can Apply for the Student Guardian Visa?

To get a Student Guardian visa, you must meet several strict rules. The Australian government wants to make sure only the right people can come and look after young students. Here are the main requirements:

Basic Eligibility

Relationship: You must be a parent, legal guardian, or a close relative of the student. Close relatives can include a spouse, child, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
Age: You must be at least 21 years old.
Character: You must show you are a person of good character. This usually means providing police checks from every country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years.
Health: You must meet health requirements. This may include a health check.
Financial: You must show you have enough money to support yourself and the student during your stay.
Special Cases: In rare situations, someone who is not a relative may be allowed to apply, but this is very uncommon and requires extra checks.

Who Cannot Apply

People who want to work in Australia 🇦🇺
People who do not have a close family relationship with the student (except in rare cases)
People who cannot show enough money to support themselves and the student

Key Requirements and Conditions

The Student Guardian visa comes with several important rules and limits. If you do not follow these, your visa could be canceled.

Main Conditions

No Work Allowed: You cannot work in Australia 🇦🇺 while on this visa.
Limited Study: You can only study for up to three months.
Health Insurance: You must have approved overseas visitor health cover for the whole time you are in Australia 🇦🇺.
No Switching Visas: You cannot apply for most other Australian visas while you are in Australia 🇦🇺 on this visa.
Live With the Student: You must live with the student and provide proper care, accommodation, and support.
No Leaving Without Arrangements: You cannot leave Australia 🇦🇺 without either taking the student with you or making proper arrangements for their care. This usually means getting approval from the school and the Department of Home Affairs.
Keep Meeting Visa Rules: You must keep meeting all the requirements for the Student Guardian visa during your stay.

Recent Changes and Updates for 2025

The Australian government has made several changes to the Student Guardian visa program in 2025. These changes affect fees, financial requirements, and how applications are checked.

Higher Visa Fees

Standard Application Fee: From July 1, 2024, the main visa application fee is AUD 1,600 (up from AUD 710).
Extra Applicants (18 or older): AUD 1,190 per person.
Extra Applicants (under 18): AUD 390 per person.
Special Fee Reduction: Citizens from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste now pay lower fees as of March 22, 2025. This is to help support students from these regions.

Increased Financial Requirements

Financial Proof: You must now show you have at least AUD 29,710 to support yourself and the student. This is a big increase and is meant to make sure guardians can pay for living costs, school, and emergencies.

New Assessment Rules

Genuine Student (GS) Requirement: Since March 23, 2024, applications are checked under the GS rule, which replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) rule. This means you must show you really plan to support the student and will follow all visa rules.

Application Process: Step-by-Step

Applying for the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) takes careful planning and the right documents. Here’s how to do it:

1. Gather Your Documents

You will need:

Form 157G (Student Guardian visa application form). You can find the official form here.
Valid Passport: For you and any dependents.
Proof of Relationship: Birth certificates, family books, or court documents.
Financial Evidence: Bank statements, proof of income, or proof of assets showing at least AUD 29,710.
Health Insurance: Proof of overseas visitor health cover.
Character Documents: Police checks from every country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years.
Health Checks: If asked, you may need to do a health examination.
Accommodation Arrangements: Proof of where you and the student will live.

2. Submit Your Application

Apply online through the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
Upload all required documents.
Pay the visa application fee.

3. Wait for a Decision

The Department of Home Affairs will check your application.
They may ask for more documents or information.
Processing times can vary, so apply as early as possible.

4. After Approval

You will get a visa grant letter with your visa number and conditions.
Make sure you follow all the rules listed in your grant letter.

How Applications Are Checked

The Department of Home Affairs looks at several things when checking your application:

Your Relationship to the Student: You must prove you are a close relative or legal guardian.
Your Intention: You must show you really plan to support the student and not use the visa for other reasons.
Your Finances: You must prove you have enough money.
Your Living Arrangements: You must show you have a safe place to live with the student.
Your Character and Health: You must pass police and health checks.
Your Past Visa History: If you have had problems with visas before, this may affect your application.

Rights and Limits of Student Guardian Visa Holders

What You Can Do

Live in Australia 🇦🇺: Stay for as long as the student’s visa is valid, or until they turn 18 (unless they need you for longer).
Support the Student: Help with daily life, school, and emergencies.
Travel: You can travel in and out of Australia 🇦🇺, but you must make proper arrangements for the student if you leave.

What You Cannot Do

Work: You cannot work in Australia 🇦🇺.
Study: You can only study for up to three months.
Change Visa Types: You cannot apply for most other visas while in Australia 🇦🇺 on this visa.
Leave the Student Alone: You cannot leave Australia 🇦🇺 without making proper care arrangements for the student.

Extensions and Changes

If you need to stay longer, you can apply to extend your Student Guardian visa. Here’s what you need to know:

First Extension Fee: AUD 1,600.
Further Temporary Extensions: AUD 700 per application.
Documents Needed: You must provide updated proof of finances, health insurance, and accommodation.
Apply Early: Apply before your current visa expires.

Real-World Example

Let’s look at a real-life situation:

Maria’s Story:
Maria is from the Philippines. Her 16-year-old daughter, Ana, got a student visa to study high school in Sydney. Maria applied for a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) to go with her. She showed her birth certificate to prove her relationship, provided bank statements showing she had more than AUD 29,710, and bought health insurance. Maria also found a rental apartment close to Ana’s school and included the lease agreement in her application. After a few months, Maria’s visa was approved. She moved to Australia 🇦🇺 with Ana, helped her settle in, and made sure Ana was safe and happy during her studies.

Practical Tips for Applicants

Budget Carefully: The costs are high. Make sure you have enough money for the visa fee, living costs, and emergencies.
Prepare Documents Early: Some documents, like police checks, can take time to get.
Get Health Insurance: You must have approved health cover before you arrive.
Plan Accommodation: Find a safe and comfortable place to live with the student.
Follow All Rules: Breaking visa rules can lead to your visa being canceled.

Comparing the Student Guardian Visa to Other Visas

It’s important to know how the Student Guardian visa is different from other visas:

Student Visa (subclass 500): For students who want to study in Australia 🇦🇺. Allows limited work rights for students.
Visitor Visa (subclass 600): For short visits. Does not allow you to stay long-term or care for a student.
Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590): Only for parents, guardians, or close relatives who want to care for a student. No work rights.

Future Changes and What to Watch For

The Australian government is always reviewing its visa policies. Here are some possible changes:

Higher Fees: There are proposals to raise student-related visa fees even more. The Labor Party suggests AUD 2,000, and the Coalition suggests up to AUD 5,000 for some students. If these changes happen, Student Guardian visa fees may also go up.
Student Caps: In 2025, there is a cap of 270,000 new international student enrollments. This could mean fewer Student Guardian visas if fewer students are allowed in.
Stricter Checks: The government is making it harder to get visas by checking applications more closely.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes mean that families must be extra careful when preparing their applications and should always check the latest rules before applying.

Where to Find Official Information

For the most up-to-date and official details about the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590), visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs Student Guardian visa page. This page has all the latest forms, requirements, and news.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) is a helpful way for parents and relatives to support young international students in Australia 🇦🇺. But with higher costs, stricter rules, and more checks in 2025, it is more important than ever to be well-prepared. Make sure you:

Check you are eligible
Gather all your documents early
Budget for all costs, including the higher financial requirement
Follow all visa rules during your stay

By planning ahead and staying informed, you can help your child or relative have a safe and successful study experience in Australia 🇦🇺. If you have questions or need help, always use official government sources or speak to a registered migration agent.

Learn Today

Student Guardian visa → A visa allowing parents or relatives to care for international students under 18 in Australia.
Genuine Student (GS) Requirement → A rule assessing if applicants truly intend to support the international student.
Subclass 590 → The specific visa category for guardians accompanying international students in Australia.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover → Mandatory health insurance covering medical costs for visitors during their stay in Australia.
Financial Requirement → The minimum amount of money applicants must prove they have to support themselves and the student.

This Article in a Nutshell

Australia’s Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) enables parents or relatives to care for young students. New 2025 rules include higher fees, stricter financial proofs, and updated application checks demanding genuine intent and proper care.
— By VisaVerge.com