The Australian Department of Home Affairs confirmed that 2 October 2026 Since then, new application rules have been introduced for student visas (subclass 500) and student guardian visas (subclass 590); The Government also announced 1 July 2027 Since then, when international students change courses or educational institutions, visa processing will be more directly linked to new learning arrangements.
You can't just read the expiration date of the original visa.
Applicants are required to check whether they are required to reapply for a visa in accordance with the new curriculum, the educational institution and the certificate of admission. The Guardian reports that the government has targeted measures to discourage "visa hopping" with frequent or prolonged shifts, and has pushed forward with a 12-month transfer limit.
The details of the policy will vary depending on the date of application, the current visa conditions, the level of the course and whether the educational institution is changed. Students cannot be presumed to be automatically covered by any new curriculum simply because the original visa is still valid.
Impact on students in Taiwan
Before accepting a new school or course, Taiwan students should obtain a new CoE and confirm their visa requirements using the Australian Department of the Interior's official verification tool. If the course is simply an in-school adjustment, involves a downgrading or a change of institution, the application may have different results; A written statement from the school should be maintained to avoid the possibility that new visa or transfer conditions are not completed after the original course has been cancelled.
