Australia dependant visa update, announced on 17th September 2026

Dependants not allowed anymore? According to the new proposed rules for Australian student visas announced on 17th September 2026 by the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, future students (with certain exceptions) and temporary graduate visa holders will no longer be able to bring their dependants to Australia. To understand what this means for Nepali students wanting to study in Australia, read this blog. In this blog, we will take a deep dive into why these changes may be happening, who is affected, and what the next steps could be. So, let’s get started.

NOTE: This policy change isn’t completely rolled out yet. This blog discusses possible future scenarios, not the actual future. The Australian government aims to implement these visa rule changes progressively over the next 12 months.

Watch the full announcement below. For a quick summary, please read our blog for the important points.

Under the new proposed rules for Australian student visas announced by Mr Burke, future international students (with exceptions) and temporary graduate visa holders will not be able to bring dependants to Australia. Only students from countries (listed below) and PhD students will be allowed to bring their dependants.

Note: The announcement did not clarify what happens to Master of Research students.

Unfortunately, Nepal doesn't fall under the Pacific Islands or ASEAN countries. So, Nepali students planning to study in Australia will not be able to take their dependants after the new proposed Australian student visa rule is rolled out, unless, of course,  they enrol in a PhD. If you want to take your dependants with you in the future (under any other course), it may no longer be possible.

The new Australian student visa update doesn't affect students who have already taken their dependants to Australia. Students who apply after the rule change will be affected, according to Mr Burke.

Under the new proposed Australian student visa rule:

1) Future international students (and temporary graduate visa holders) may not be able to bring dependents; the exemption applies to PhD students and students from Pacific Island and ASEAN countries. So, plan accordingly.

2) International students studying any AQF-level courses may be allowed to move “only up the qualification scale”.

For instance, students enrolled in a bachelor's degree (AQF Level 7) may move up the qualification to AQF Level 8 and above, not 6 or lower.

According to AQF.org, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy guide for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. It defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the senior secondary education, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education systems. Its categories include:

• AQF Level 1 – Certificate I
• AQF Level 2 – Certificate II
• AQF Level 3 – Certificate III
• AQF Level 4 – Certificate IV
• AQF Level 5 – Diploma
• AQF Level 6 - Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree
• AQF Level 7 – Vocational Degree, Bachelor Degree
• AQF Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
• AQF Level 9 – Masters Degree
• AQF Level 10 – Doctoral Degree

3) As the Australian government aims to lower the Net Overseas Immigration (NOI) to 245,000 this fiscal year and to 225,000 by 2027-28, and with Nepal’s assessment level at 3, the visa success rate may still suffer.

After the new proposed Australian student visa rules are rolled out, students planning to study in Australia can:

1) If you are planning to take your dependant to Australia, check with a trusted Migration Agent for possible scenarios according to your profile.

2) Students can focus on preparing strong financial documents, gaps in study (if there are any, explain them clearly), and preparing other documents for a better chance of Australian visa success.

Staying up to date and navigating all the Australian student visa rule changes can be daunting. So, students should consult with experts with years of experience in this field. Such experts can help students navigate the regulatory framework (or any changes) for studying in Australia. The best expert is, of course, Search Education.

We have 10+ years of experience navigating the regulatory framework of studying abroad. We offer test preparation classes taught by our CELTA & PGCTE-certified instructor with 20+ years of experience and mock tests (for both IELTS and PTE). We also offer career counselling, requirements, program & university selection, GS guidance, scholarship guidance, visa lodgement, interview prep, and, of course, pre-departure counselling.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/australian-government-migration-policy-changes