Subclass 590 visa: Student Guardian

590 visa requirements

Home Affairs lists these on the Eligibility tab of its Student Guardian visa page:

• Relationship to the student. Be the student's parent, a person with custody of the student, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated in writing by a parent or custodian. A relative is a parent or step-parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew (or step equivalents), partner, or child or stepchild.
• Who is cared for. A Student visa holder under 18, or one 18 or older who needs care and support because of exceptional circumstances.
• Support. Be able to provide accommodation, general welfare and support to the student.
• Money. Enough money for the guardian, accompanying family members and the student visa holder (see below).
• Children under 6. Home Affairs won't grant the visa if any member of the family unit is under 6, unless there are compelling and compassionate reasons, or a significant benefit to the relationship between Australia and another government. This applies even if the child won't travel.
• Children left overseas. Adequate welfare arrangements for any children under 18 who stay behind, such as living with another parent, custodian or a relative aged at least 21.
• Health insurance. Adequate health insurance for the whole stay.
• Genuine temporary entrant. Intend to stay only temporarily and only do what the visa allows, and have substantially complied with previous visa conditions.
• Health. The applicant and family members who apply must meet the health requirement.
• Character. Relatives of the student must meet the character requirement.
• Australian values. Read the Life in Australia booklet and sign the Australian Values Statement.
• Debts. Any debt to the Australian Government has been paid back, or there is an arrangement to pay it.
• Immigration history. A past visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.
• Best interests of the child. Home Affairs may refuse the visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
• Current visa (if in Australia). An eligible substantive visa (see below).

Money for the stay

Home Affairs lists these 12-month amounts on its Student Guardian visa page (Gather your documents):

The guardian also needs 12 months of the student's course fees. Stays under 12 months can use pro rata amounts. Instead, a spouse or de facto partner who is not travelling can show an annual income of at least AUD 102,500 in the 12 months before applying, using official government documents such as tax assessments.

What the visa lets you do

According to Home Affairs' Student Guardian visa page, the visa lets holders:

• come to Australia to provide care and support for a Student visa holder under 18 (or older in exceptional circumstances)
• care for more than one student
• study an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) for less than 20 hours a week, or do other study or training for up to 3 months
• travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid

Holders cannot work. They can't leave Australia without the student unless they have made other welfare arrangements. If the student keeps studying, the guardian can apply for another Student Guardian visa.

Family members and cost

Children 6 or older can travel with the guardian, but must apply for their own Student visa. A child under 6 can be included only in limited cases, and their visa lasts only until their 6th birthday. Children under 6 can't be added after the application is lodged.

Home Affairs' Current visa pricing data lists these charges for the 590:

The price data does not list a charge for an additional applicant 18 or over. It also lists a subsequent temporary application charge of AUD 700, which can apply to some applications made in Australia but not to applications made outside Australia.

A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, including their family members. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics can cost extra.

Step by step

This follows the Step by step tab of Home Affairs' Student Guardian visa page.

Before you apply

1. Apply well before the student's course starts. Applicants in Australia should allow time before their current visa expires.
2. Anyone giving immigration assistance must be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person.

Gather your documents

1. Evidence of the relationship to the student, money for the stay, welfare arrangements for any children left overseas, and health insurance for the first 12 months.

Apply

1. Apply online in ImmiAccount, attach documents and pay the charge. Home Affairs does not process the application until the charge is paid.

After you apply

1. Home Affairs may ask for health exams, biometrics or more information.
2. Applicants in Australia get a Bridging visa A, which starts if their current visa expires. It ends if the holder leaves Australia.
3. Report mistakes on Form 1023 and tell Home Affairs about changes.
4. Home Affairs tells the applicant its decision in writing. It does not refund the charge if the visa is refused.

Applying in or outside Australia

Applicants can be in or outside Australia when they apply and when the visa is decided. Applicants in Australia must hold an eligible substantive visa (Student Guardian visa page).

A current Student Guardian visa holder can apply in Australia if the student keeps studying. Holders of these visas can't apply in Australia: subclasses 400, 403 (Domestic Worker, Diplomatic/Consular), 407, 408, 417, 457, 462, 482, 485, 500 (secondary visa holders), 600, 601, 602, 651, 771, 988 and 995 (primary holders only). People who can't apply in Australia must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

590 visa processing time

Home Affairs publishes current processing times in its visa processing times guide.

Compare: 590 and 500