Under the new policy, most current student visa holders seeking a further student visa can no longer apply while in Australia, unless they fall into an exempt category.
What the new rules meanUnder the rules that took effect on October 2, most current Student visa holders can no longer apply for another Student visa while remaining in Australia unless they fall within an exempt category.
A new Student visa Transfer stream is planned for 2027, although details are still being developed.
Under Australia’s student visa rules, dependent children must generally be unmarried and under 18 to qualify as dependent children.
In the 2023–24 financial year, 13,301 student visa applications were lodged, and 9,787 student visas were granted.
October 26, 2026
THIMPHU – Many Bhutanese students in Australia are expected to return home to extend their visas after the Australian government introduced rules requiring most student visa holders to apply from outside the country.
According to credible sources and industry experts, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Bhutanese may have to return over the coming years.
The changes took effect on October 2, 2026. Under the new policy, most current student visa holders seeking a further student visa can no longer apply while in Australia, unless they fall into an exempt category. Those who must apply offshore must also remain outside Australia until the visa is granted. There is no guarantee that an application will be approved.
The first wave is expected by February and March 2027, when the visas of many Bhutanese students are due to expire. Those most at risk are students who changed courses or education providers after arriving in Australia, according to a registered Australian migration consultancy.
How badly each student is affected will depend on individual circumstances and on whether they qualify for an exemption.
The changes are part of Australia’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of its international education system, discourage the misuse of student visas and ensure that international students come primarily to study.
What the new rules mean
Under the rules that took effect on October 2, most current Student visa holders can no longer apply for another Student visa while remaining in Australia unless they fall within an exempt category.
Exemptions include certain students undertaking doctoral or school studies, students whose education provider cannot deliver their course, students who need up to 12 additional months to complete their studies with the same provider, and eligible students progressing to a higher-level qualification.
Students who do not qualify for an exemption must leave Australia to lodge their applications and remain outside the country when the visas are granted. There is no guarantee that a new visa application will be approved.
The changes do not automatically cancel existing student visas. Students can continue to stay under their current visas, subject to their visa conditions and expiry dates.
The Australian government has also announced further reforms concerning students transferring between education providers. A new Student visa Transfer stream is planned for 2027, although details are still being developed.
Some education consultancies are reportedly exploring whether affected students could qualify for a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), which allows eligible skilled workers to work for an approved sponsoring employer.
The migration lawyer, however, said this option would not be available to everyone because the visa generally requires an eligible employer willing and able to sponsor the worker, along with the applicant meeting the relevant requirements.
He said students should not assume that finding a job would automatically lead to a sponsored visa.
The changes could also create uncertainty for Bhutanese families living in Australia, including parents whose children are approaching adulthood.
Under Australia’s student visa rules, dependent children must generally be unmarried and under 18 to qualify as dependent children. A child who turns 18 may need to qualify for a visa in their own right. This means dependent children need to exit Australia to lodge the independent student visa after they turn 18.
The October 2 reforms have also tightened the rules on including partners and dependent children in new Student visa applications, subject to specified exemptions.
The migration lawyer said the Australian government was seeking to ensure that student visas were used for their intended purpose and that applicants demonstrated genuine study intentions.
He said the Australian government was also placing greater emphasis on genuine students and skilled workers, rather than allowing people to remain in Australia indefinitely through successive temporary visas without meeting the relevant requirements.
For Bhutanese students already in Australia, migration professionals say the immediate priority should be to establish whether they qualify for an onshore application or need to apply from outside the country before their current visas expire.
Why students changed courses
Bhutanese students have cited the cost of tuition as one of the reasons for changing courses or education providers after arriving in Australia.
Many students initially choose more expensive or well-known institutions while applying for their visas, believing that enrolling in established institutions could strengthen their applications. After arriving in Australia, some transfer to institutions offering lower tuition fees to reduce their financial burden.
Others change courses to pursue qualifications they believe could improve their employment prospects or provide pathways to skilled migration and permanent residency.
However, a registered migration consultancy said students need to understand the long-term immigration implications before changing courses or institutions.
A migration lawyer said education consultancies should have provided students with clearer advice about the possible consequences of changing courses, particularly when such decisions could affect their future visa options. “Students who had made decisions based on incomplete or incorrect advice could now face significant difficulties.”
According to the Department of Home Affairs of Australia, in the 2024–25 financial year, 8,891 student visa applications were lodged, of which 6,186 were granted. In the 2023–24 financial year, 13,301 student visa applications were lodged, and 9,787 student visas were granted.
