On 2 October 2026 the Government confirmed that international students who want to change education provider after arriving in Australia will need to apply for a new Student visa through a new Student visa transfer stream from 1 July 2027. The announcement was made in a media release and a keynote speech to the Migration Institute of Australia by the Assistant Minister for International Education, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
The regulations for the new stream have not yet been registered. This article sets out what has been announced so far, and we will update it when the legislation is published.
What has changed
From 1 July 2027, a student who wants to transfer to a different provider will need to be granted a new Student visa in the transfer stream. Based on the Government's announcement:
- No study at the new provider until the visa is granted. A student will not be able to commence with a new provider unless and until the new visa is granted.
- Same visa end date. The new visa will keep the same end date as the student's original visa.
- Six months at the first provider. Students will need to have commenced with the provider that issued the CoE for their visa and studied their principal course for at least six months.
- Sideways or up only. Transfers will only be allowed to a course at the same level or higher in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Students will not be able to come to Australia for higher education and then transfer onshore to VET.
- No transfers into more packaged courses.
Until the new stream starts, the transition rule that commenced on 2 October 2026 applies: non-school students must stay in their principal course for 12 months before transferring, up from six months. We covered this in our article on the 12-month provider transfer restriction.
The Government has also said that, after finishing a course, a student seeking a new onshore Student visa for further study must apply for a course that is higher on the AQF, and that onshore applications from higher education to VET are not allowed. See our summary of the student visa changes from 2 October 2026.
Who it affects
International students in Australia on a Student visa (subclass 500) who may want to change provider or course after 30 June 2027, and education providers and agents who advise them. School students remain subject to the existing six-month restriction for their first registered school course.
When it starts
The transfer stream is due to start on 1 July 2027. The 12-month transition restriction applies from 2 October 2026 until 30 June 2027. The Government has not yet published a visa application charge, processing arrangements or the final legislative wording for the new stream.
What you should do now
- Choose your course and provider carefully before you apply, as changing provider after 1 July 2027 will require a new visa application.
- If you are thinking about changing provider, check whether you meet the current 12-month rule or one of the exceptions, such as a provider or course ceasing to be registered.
- Plan any change of course around your current visa end date, which will not be extended by a transfer.
- Get advice before you withdraw from a course or accept a new offer.
Read more on our Student visa (subclass 500) page, or book your consultation to talk through your study plans.
Source
- Assistant Minister for International Education, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs - Student visa integrity reforms take effect today (2 October 2026)
- Assistant Minister - Migration Institute of Australia keynote speech (2 October 2026)
This article is general information only and is not migration advice. Rules can change and individual circumstances differ. For advice on your situation, book your consultation with Nanak Migration Group.