Student Guardian Visa 590: Full Eligibility, Cost & Application Guide (2026)

Who Needs the Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)?

You need the Subclass 590 if you're providing care and support for a student visa holder under 18, or a student 18 or older who needs care due to exceptional circumstances.

 

To qualify as the guardian, you must be one of the following: 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. For this visa, "relative" specifically means the student's parent or step-parent, grandparent or step-grandparent, sibling or stepsibling, aunt/uncle or step-aunt/step-uncle, niece/nephew or step-niece/step-nephew, partner, or child/stepchild — a narrower definition than "family" in everyday use.

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What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Student Guardian Visa 590?

You must meet all of the following criteria.

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Substantive visa if applying onshore

If you're in Australia when you apply, you generally need to hold an eligible substantive visa. The same excluded-visa list applies as for the Student visa 500: the Visitor visa (subclass 600), Temporary Graduate visa (485), ETA (601), Medical Treatment visa (602), eVisitor (651), Transit visa (771), Maritime Crew visa (988), and a few others don't qualify. Without an eligible visa, you can still apply within 28 days of holding a Student visa, a special purpose visa, or having a cancellation set aside by the Tribunal.

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Relationship to the student

As above — parent, custodian, or a nominated relative 21+.

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Ability to provide for the student

You must be able to provide accommodation, general welfare, and support to the student.

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Financial capacity

You must show enough money to cover your own stay, any accompanying family members, and the student visa holder's costs. See the exact dollar figures in the dedicated section below.

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Bringing children under 6

The Department will not grant your visa if any family member is under 6 years old, unless there are compelling and compassionate reasons, or granting it would significantly benefit Australia's relationship with another government. This applies even if the under-6 child isn't travelling with you. If granted anyway, the visa is only valid until that child's 6th birthday — after that, they need their own Student visa. You can't add a child under 6 to the application after you've submitted it.

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Welfare arrangements for non-migrating children overseas

If you have children under 18 who aren't coming to Australia and don't hold a Student visa, you must arrange adequate accommodation, support, and welfare for them — generally by having them live with another parent, custodian, or a relative 21+. You'll need evidence and a letter from the appointed guardian accepting financial responsibility, plus a copy of the guardian's passport bio-page or driver's licence.

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Health insurance

You're personally liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia, so you must maintain adequate health cover for your whole stay, covering medically necessary treatment including transport. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia.

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Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement

You must intend to stay only temporarily and only do what your visa permits, and you must have substantially complied with the conditions of your last substantive or bridging visa. The Department assesses your personal circumstances at home, your potential circumstances in Australia, your immigration history, and anything else relevant to your temporary intentions.

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Note — this is different from the Student visa 500's test. The 590 uses the GTE requirement, not the Genuine Student (GS) requirement that applies to the 500. This is a meaningful distinction: many general guides treat "genuine student" rules as visa-wide, but the Department only replaced GTE with GS for the Subclass 500, not the 590.

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Health and character requirements

You and any family members applying with you must meet the health requirement. If you're applying as a relative (not a parent or custodian), you must also meet the character requirement.

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Australian Values Statement

You must have read or had explained to you the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Values Statement.

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No outstanding debt, clean immigration history, and best interests of the child

Any debt you or your family owe the Australian Government must be repaid or arranged. A prior visa cancellation or refusal may count against you. The Department can also refuse the visa if it isn't in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

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How Much Money Do You Need for the Student Guardian Visa 590?

Since 10 May 2024, the Department requires the following minimum funds, set at 75% of the national minimum wage — the same financial capacity instrument covers both the Student visa 500 and the Student Guardian visa 590:

• Primary applicant (you, the guardian): AUD$29,710

• Each dependent child: AUD$4,449

• Annual school costs (per school-aged dependant): AUD$13,502

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Note: the "spouse or de facto partner" income threshold that applies to Subclass 500 applicants does not apply to Student Guardian applicants — this row is specific to the student, not the guardian.

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If you're relying on a sponsor's income instead of savings, the thresholds are:

• No family members included: AUD$87,856 a year

• With a family member included: AUD$102,500 a year

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These figures cover the first 12 months of your stay (or the pro-rata equivalent) and sit alongside the student's own financial capacity requirement — you're not covering their costs instead of them, you're covering your own stay, your family, and your contribution to supporting the student. If you lodged before 10 May 2024, the Department assesses you against the older, lower thresholds instead.

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How Long Does the Student Guardian Visa 590 Take to Process?

Based on the Department's own processing times guide, 50% of Student Guardian visa applications are decided within 0 days (same-day for straightforward, decision-ready cases), and 90% are decided within 39 days.

 

The standard processing timeframe extends up to 7 months for more complex cases. Since your application is generally assessed alongside the student's Subclass 500 application, delays on either application can affect both — lodge both applications complete and at the same time to avoid holding up the student's case.

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How Much Does the Student Guardian Visa 590 Cost in 2026?

The base charge is AUD$2,500 for the main applicant. The additional applicant charge for a family member under 18 is AUD$500 — the Department's pricing table doesn't list a separate additional applicant charge for family members 18 and over.

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A lower visa cost applies to eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. Unlike the Student visa 500, there's no ASEAN concession for the 590 — this is a real distinction, not an oversight, so don't assume ASEAN passport holders automatically get a discount on this visa.

 

The concession is applied automatically in ImmiAccount based on the primary applicant's passport, and isn't shown as a flat published rate — confirm your exact figure using the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator. None of these fees are refunded if your application is refused.

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What Can You Do on a Student Guardian Visa 590?

You can come to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder under 18 (or 18+ in exceptional circumstances), and you can care for more than one student at once. You can study an ELICOS course for under 20 hours a week, or any other study or training for up to 3 months — this visa isn't designed as a study pathway in its own right.

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You cannot work

If your visa carries condition 8101, you must not do work that a person would normally be paid for. You also can't leave Australia without the student unless you've made alternative welfare arrangements, backed by compassionate or compelling reasons, suitable alternative arrangements, and the approval of the student's education provider — leaving without this risks breaching condition 8538 and having your visa cancelled.

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How Long Can You Stay on a Student Guardian Visa 590?

Your stay is tied to the student visa holder's stay and age — generally until the student turns 18, or for the length the Department specifies on your grant letter. You can't extend this visa directly; to stay longer, you need to apply for a further Student Guardian visa. If the student's visa ceases, your guardian visa may also cease.

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How Do You Apply for the Student Guardian Visa 590?

Step 1. Before you apply

Organise any required health exams and get help if you need it.

Step 2. Gather your documents

You'll need identity documents, student guardianship documents, genuine temporary entrant documents, evidence of financial capacity, health insurance evidence, a polio vaccination certificate (for relevant countries), character documents, and documents for any dependants under 6.

Step 3. Apply online — at the same time as the student

The Department recommends lodging your application alongside the student's Subclass 500 application, not separately.

Step 4. After you apply

Check ImmiAccount for status updates rather than calling — the Department can't give further updates within standard processing times. Provide biometrics or health exams if requested. If you find a mistake in your application, correct it with Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers).

Step 5. Visa outcome

You'll get a written decision with your grant number, start date, and conditions if approved — or the refusal reason and your review rights if not. The application fee is never refunded if you're refused.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)?

It's a temporary visa for a parent, custodian, or relative (21+) who comes to Australia to support a student visa holder under 18, or 18+ in exceptional circumstances. It costs from AUD$2,500, and its length is tied to the student's stay and age.

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Can I work on a Student Guardian visa 590?

No. You cannot work at all on this visa. You can study an ELICOS course for under 20 hours a week, or other study or training for up to 3 months.

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Who counts as a "relative" for the Student Guardian visa 590?

The student's parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, aunt, uncle, step-aunt, step-uncle, niece, nephew, step-niece, step-nephew, partner, child, or stepchild — a nominated relative must be 21 or older.

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How much does the Student Guardian visa 590 cost in 2026?

AUD$2,500 for the main applicant, plus AUD$500 for each additional applicant under 18. A lower cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens — there's no ASEAN concession for this visa.

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How much money do I need for a Student Guardian visa 590?

AUD$29,710 for you as the primary applicant, plus AUD$4,449 for each dependent child and AUD$13,502 in annual school costs per school-aged dependant. Unlike the Student visa 500, there's no separate spouse/de facto threshold for Student Guardian applicants.

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How long does the Student Guardian visa 590 take to process?

50% of applications are decided within 0 days, and 90% within 39 days. The standard processing timeframe extends up to 7 months for more complex cases.

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Does the Student Guardian visa 590 use the same genuine student test as the Student visa 500?

No. The 590 uses the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement applies only to the Subclass 500.

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Can I bring my other children on a Student Guardian visa 590?

Children under 6 generally can't be included unless there are compelling or compassionate reasons. Children not travelling with you must have adequate welfare arrangements in place, such as living with another parent or a relative 21 or older.

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Get Help With Your Student Guardian Visa 590 Application

Meeting every criterion for the Student Guardian visa 590 — the GTE requirement, financial evidence, welfare arrangements for children staying behind — takes careful preparation, especially since your application is assessed alongside the student's. Our MARA-registered migration agents can assess your eligibility, confirm exactly which documents you need, and help you prepare a complete, decision-ready application for both of you. Book a one-on-one consultation today.