Student Visa Reforms: Home Affairs Opens Consultation (Nov 2026)

The Department of Home Affairs has opened a public consultation on possible changes to two parts of the Student visa (subclass 500) assessment: the Genuine Student requirement and the financial capacity rules. Here's a neutral summary of what the official page says, and what has been reported.

What Home Affairs is consulting on

• Genuine Student requirement: possible updates to Ministerial Direction 106, which guides how decision makers assess whether an applicant genuinely intends to study.

• Financial capacity: ways to strengthen the financial requirements that are currently set out in a legislative instrument.

• The discussion paper also covers an interim option of stronger financial evidence for primary applicants from Evidence Level 3 countries while longer-term reforms are considered.

• Deadline: written submissions close at 12:00 pm AEDT, Monday 23 November 2026.

• Status: Home Affairs says no decisions have been made. Feedback will inform advice to Government on whether the reforms go ahead, and on their scope, timing and design.

Source: Home Affairs consultation page (last updated 30 October 2026).

What has been reported

On 30 October 2026, ABC News reported that the Assistant Minister for International Education, Julian Hill, outlined the work in a speech in Sydney. According to the ABC, the government says it wants visa grant rates to improve and more certainty for applicants, and it has raised a possible longer-term deposit system similar to New Zealand's. The ABC also reported that student visa refusal rates have risen since the current direction began in 2024, and that universities and education agents will be consulted in November. Views on student visa settings differ across the sector and across political parties, and the final shape of any change is not yet known.

What it means for you right now

• The current Student visa rules still apply. Nothing in this consultation has changed the requirements yet.

• If you're planning a Student visa application, prepare clear evidence of your study plans and finances under the current rules, and check the official Home Affairs pages before you apply.

• Avoid making decisions based on proposals or social media posts. We'll share an update when Home Affairs announces an outcome.

This article is general information only, not migration advice. We International Education & Visa is an education agency, not a migration agent. For advice about your visa, we can refer you to a registered migration agent: weintervisa.com/migration-support.

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