Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)
The 590 visa allows a parent, custodian or relative to live in Australia as the guardian of an international student younger than 18 who is studying on a student visa (subclass 500). It’s granted for the same period as the student’s visa, or until the student turns 18.
As a subclass 590 visa holder, you must live in Australia with the student, provide accommodation and welfare support, and generally cannot work. Below you’ll find the full 590 visa requirements, who qualifies, the documents you need, and how to prepare a strong application.
Not sure whether a guardian visa or another pathway fits your family’s situation? Get a free student visa assessment and we’ll map your options.
Features
The subclass 590 visa allows you to stay in Australia as the guardian of an international student younger than 18 years of age who is studying in Australia on a student visa. It’s a temporary visa, usually granted to match the length of the student’s stay, and in special circumstances it can also cover guardianship of a student over 18 who needs care.
Requirements
To meet the 590 visa eligibility criteria, you must:
- Be a parent or person with custody of the student, or a relative aged 21 or older nominated in writing by a parent or custodian
- Have enough money to support yourself and the student during your stay in Australia
- Not bring family members younger than 6, except in limited circumstances (see Bringing Children below)
- Be able to provide accommodation, general welfare and other support to the student — unless you’re applying with the support of the government of your home country
- Meet health and character requirements, and hold adequate health insurance for your stay
Pre-Qualifying Visas (Applying Onshore)
If you apply while in Australia, you must hold a current substantive temporary visa — any visa except a bridging, criminal justice or enforcement visa. The following do not qualify:
- Domestic Worker (Temporary) — Diplomatic or Consular visa (subclass 426)
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or consular) stream
- Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) — primary holder only; a family member of a subclass 995 holder can apply for this visa in Australia
- Transit visa (subclass 771)
- Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Sponsored Family stream or Approved Destination Status stream
A substantive temporary visa is any visa except a bridging visa, criminal justice or enforcement visa. It allows the visa holder to remain temporarily in Australia.
Bringing Children on a 590 Visa
You can only include children under six years old if either:
- There are compelling and compassionate reasons, or
- Granting the visa would significantly benefit relations between the Australian Government and the government of another country — in this case you must be at least 21, and the student must be supported in writing by a parent or person with custody
Any child included must meet the same health requirements as you and hold health insurance for the duration of their stay.
Children aged six or older can come with you to Australia, but they must apply for their own student visa — school enrolment is compulsory at that age.
To meet the 590 visa eligibility criteria, you must:
- Be a parent or person with custody of the student — or a relative aged 21 or older, nominated in writing by a parent or someone who has custody of the student
- Not bring family members younger than 6 years of age — except in the limited circumstances covered under Bringing Children in the Requirements tab
- Be able to provide accommodation, general welfare and other support to the student for the duration of their stay — unless you are applying with the support of the government of your home country
You must also:
- Meet health and character requirements — including police certificates if requested
- Have enough money to support yourself, any dependants accompanying you, and the student — the funds evidence mirrors the student visa financial capacity rules, so prepare both applications together
- Hold adequate health insurance for yourself and any dependants coming with you, for your entire stay — guardian visa holders typically take Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), as OSHC covers students only
- Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government — or have already arranged to repay any money owed
- Genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily — the 590 is not a pathway to permanent residency, and your ties to your home country support this
- Provide biometric information if the Department asks for it
590 Visa Cost & Financial Capacity Documents
You need enough money, genuinely available, to support yourself, the student and any children coming with you for your full stay in Australia. You declare this in your visa application and back it up with evidence.
Provide one of the following:
- Evidence of funds covering travel costs and 12 months’ living costs for yourself and any children coming with you
- Evidence that your spouse (who is not travelling to Australia) will support you and your dependants, with an annual income of at least AUD 70,000
If granting the visa would significantly benefit the relationship between Australia and your home country government, you only need to show funds for yourself and dependants — not for the student.
Minimum 12-Month Living Costs (590 Visa)
| Costs | Amount required in Australian dollars (AUD) |
|---|---|
| You (the Student Guardian visa applicant) | AUD 19,830 per year |
| Child, if applicable | AUD 2,970 per year |
These are indicative living cost figures — actual costs vary depending on where in Australia you live. Research living costs for your intended location before applying.
Access to funds
Funds must be genuinely accessible — not theoretical or borrowed for the purpose of the visa. Acceptable sources include:
- Money deposits held with a financial institution
- Financial institution or government loans
- Scholarships or sponsorships
When assessing whether funds will genuinely be available, the Department considers: the relationship between you and the person providing funds, your income, assets and employment (or those of the fund provider), and your previous visa history.
Annual income option
If your spouse is not travelling to Australia with you and will financially support you and your dependants, they must have a personal income of AUD 70,000 or more. This must be evidenced through official government documentation — such as a tax assessment or country equivalent — covering income earned in the 12 months before you lodge your application. For example, a tax assessment issued in December 2025 is acceptable for an application lodged in July 2026.
For a full breakdown of 590 visa cost and fees, see our student visa fees page or contact us for a personal estimate.
Health Insurance Documents
You must provide evidence of health insurance covering your full stay. This can be Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) or a comparable product from Australia or your home country that provides a similar level of cover.
Note: the student visa holder must hold their own separate health insurance — typically Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). As guardian, your cover is separate.
Identity & Relationship Documents
You must provide proof of your identity and your relationship with the student. Required documents include:
- Birth certificate showing the names of both parents (for you and the student, to establish the relationship)
- Current passport pages for each applicant — the photo page, personal details page, and pages showing issue and expiry dates
- Two recent passport photographs (45mm × 35mm) — head and shoulders against a plain background, with the applicant’s name printed on the back
- Proof of change of name, if applicable
Genuine Temporary Stay — Supporting Documents
The Department assesses whether you genuinely intend to stay in Australia only temporarily. They consider your personal circumstances at home, your potential circumstances in Australia, your immigration history, and anything else relevant to your plans.
Provide evidence such as:
- Evidence of immediate family members in your home country
- Your visa or residence status in your home country and your right to return
- Proof of property or other significant assets in your home country
- A return air ticket
- A letter from your employer confirming approved leave
Strong documentation here reduces the risk of refusal — this is one area where preparation makes a real difference. Talk to us before you lodge.
Bringing Children — Additional Documents
If a child under six years old is coming with you, but a person with legal decision-making authority over where that child lives is not coming to Australia, you must also provide either:
- Form 1229 — Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18, completed by that person, or
- A statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to travel to Australia on this visa
Also attach a certified copy of that person’s identity documents — such as a birth certificate, passport or driver licence.
Preparing Your 590 Visa Application & Processing Time
Getting your documents right before you lodge is the single most effective way to avoid delays or refusal. Follow these steps:
- Translate all non-English documents into English. If you are in Australia, your translator must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). If you are outside Australia, contact the nearest Australian diplomatic mission in the country that issued the documents for guidance on an acceptable translator.
- Scan all documents — both the original non-English documents and their certified English translations. Do not submit originals only; both versions are required.
- Attach scanned copies to your online application when prompted — make sure file sizes and formats meet the Department’s upload requirements before you start.
- Provide certified copies of your documents — a Justice of the Peace, solicitor, or authorised certifier must confirm that copies are true and correct reproductions of the originals.
- Submit everything with your application. Missing documents are one of the most common reasons for delays and refusals. If something is outstanding, contact us before you lodge rather than after.
Important: the Department may still request additional documents after lodgement. Respond to any such requests promptly — delays in responding directly extend your 590 visa processing time.
590 Visa Processing Time
The 590 visa processing time varies with case complexity, the completeness of your application and the Department’s current service standards. Guardian visa applications are typically assessed alongside or shortly after the linked student visa, so it pays to lodge both together where possible. Contact us for current processing timeframes for your specific situation, or see student visa processing times for the latest Department benchmarks.
Ready to apply? We prepare and lodge your full application — documents, translations, financial evidence and all — so nothing gets missed. Contact us to get started, or get a free student visa assessment first if you’re still working out your family’s options.
You must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws for the full duration of your stay. Different conditions apply to you and accompanying family members. Breaching any condition can result in your visa being cancelled — and importantly, it can also lead to the cancellation of the nominating student’s student visa.
Your core visa conditions include:
- Remain with the nominating student and provide for their accommodation, general welfare and support for the duration of the visa
- Not leave Australia without the nominating student — unless you have made approved alternative welfare arrangements (see below)
- Maintain adequate health insurance for yourself and any dependent children living with you throughout your stay
- Not work while in Australia — the 590 visa does not grant work rights
You can view your full visa details and conditions at any time through Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
If your visa was granted with the support of the government of your home country, different conditions may apply to you.
Entering and Leaving Australia on a 590 Visa
You can enter and leave Australia during the term of your visa, but you cannot leave without the nominating student unless you have made — and had approved — alternative welfare arrangements.
If you need to leave Australia without the student, you must provide evidence that:
- There are compassionate or compelling reasons for doing so, and
- You have made suitable alternative arrangements for the student’s accommodation, general welfare and support until you return
Alternative arrangements must be approved by both the Department and the student’s education provider. Contact the education provider as soon as you know you need to travel — do not wait until the last minute.
Two Ways to Make Alternative Welfare Arrangements
- Nominate an alternative student guardian — the nominated guardian must, except in limited circumstances, be a parent or relative aged 21 or older. Complete Form 157N — Nomination of a student guardian, which outlines the documentation required. Send the completed form, the education provider’s written approval (letter or email) and all supporting documents to your nearest Department office before you leave Australia.
- Education provider welfare — CAAW letter — the student’s education provider can take formal responsibility for the student’s welfare by issuing a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter. The CAAW states the approved start and end dates for the alternative welfare arrangement.
The Department will notify you whether the alternative arrangement is approved. If it is not approved, you cannot leave Australia without your nominating student.
Leaving Australia Permanently
If you need to leave Australia permanently while the student still needs to continue their studies, new welfare arrangements must be approved before you depart. Do not leave without confirmed arrangements in place — non-compliance can result in cancellation of both your visa and the student’s subclass 500 visa.
If you’re uncertain about your conditions or need to make changes to your welfare arrangements, contact us before you act — it’s much easier to plan ahead than to resolve a compliance issue after the fact.
If you do not comply with the conditions of your Student Guardian visa (subclass 590), your visa might be cancelled, and we could also cancel the nominating student’s visa.
Bringing Children — Additional Documents
If a child under six years old is coming with you, but a person with legal decision-making authority over where that child lives is not coming to Australia, you must also provide either:
- Form 1229 — Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18, completed by that person, or
- A statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to travel to Australia on this visa
Also attach a certified copy of that person’s identity documents — such as a birth certificate, passport or driver licence.