What was changed
The federal government has amended the instrument that defines which groups of people can apply for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa without paying the usual visa application charge (VAC), or while located outside Australia. The amending instrument is registered as F2026L01349 on the Federal Register of Legislation and is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.
Categories covered by the amendment
The amendment updates rules relating to the following classes of persons:
- Doctoral students
- Students affected by a provider default
- Students seeking to complete their studies
- Students applying on course progression grounds
- Family members of persons in each of the above categories
- Family members of foreign government scholarship recipients
The source document does not specify the precise changes made to each individual category.
Transitional provisions
Part 3 of the instrument contains transitional provisions that address how the changes in the earlier instrument LIN 26/087 apply.
Commencement
The instrument commenced on 1 October 2026.
Where to find the full instrument
The full text of the instrument and its explanatory statement are available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01349. The explanatory statement on that page provides plain-language detail on what specifically changed in each class of persons.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.