Australian Immigration Daily News

National Code Standard 7: student transfer restriction temporarily extended to 12 months

From 2 October 2026, amendments to Standard 7 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 temporarily extend the provider transfer restriction period for overseas students transferring from non-school providers.

The changes are introduced by the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students Amendment (Overseas Student Transfers) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01351).

The Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/087) commences on 2 October 2026.

The instrument amends LIN 20/158 to specify exemptions relevant to further onshore Subclass 500 applications and the inclusion of family members under the revised Student visa framework.

Further onshore Student visa applications

The Migration (Student Visa Applications to Be Made from outside Australia) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/102) specifies classes of visa holders who must be outside Australia to make a valid application for a Subclass 500 (Student) or Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa.

The instrument commences on 2 October 2026 and repeals and replaces LIN 26/068.

Affected visa holders

The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to restrict further onshore Student visa applications and the inclusion of family members.

The amendments apply to visa applications made on or after 2 October 2026.

Further Student visa applications

Migration Alliance invites Registered Migration Agents and migration lawyers to attend the online National Migration Conference 2026: Home Affairs and OMARA Updates on Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

The program features a 2026 migration law and policy update from immigration lawyer Arnela Tolic, followed by updates from the Department of Home Affairs and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).

Date: Wednesday, 18 November 2026
Time: 10:30 am–12:00 pm AEDT (Sydney time)
Location: Online (Teams)
CPD: 1 Category B CPD point for RMAs; 1 CPD/CLE point for lawyers