On this page
- Can I apply for a new student visa in Australia if I need more time?
- How to extend a student visa in Australia: the 12-month exemption
- What if I need more than 12 months to finish my course, or I changed college?
- How long does it take to extend a student visa in Australia?
- What is the student visa extension fee in Australia?
- What happens if I apply for a new student visa in Australia without an exemption?
- What if my student visa ends before my exams or graduation?
- Do you want help with your own situation?
No. A student visa cannot be extended in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs says: “You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.”1 A student who needs more time applies for a new student visa. Since 2 October 2026, most students apply for it from outside Australia. A student who needs up to 12 more months to finish the same course, with the same college, may be able to apply in Australia.1
Can I apply for a new student visa in Australia if I need more time?
It depends on why the student needs the new visa. Find the reason in the table below.15
| Why a new visa is needed | Can the student apply in Australia? |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 more months to finish the same main course, with the same college | Yes16 |
| More than 12 more months to finish the course | No, unless another exemption applies3 |
| The college changed after the visa was granted | No, unless another exemption applies3 |
| The main course is finished and one course at a higher level comes next | Yes, in most cases. After a higher education course, the next course must also be a higher education course16 |
| The main course is finished and the next course is at the same or a lower level | No, unless another exemption applies1 |
- The current visa keeps running until its end date. The Department says the changes “do not affect your current Student visa”.2
- An application lodged before 2 October 2026 stays under the old rules.4
How to extend a student visa in Australia: the 12-month exemption
The Department calls this exemption course completion. It has three tests1:
- The student needs “up to 12 additional months from the original end date of your main course”.
- In a package of courses, the course to finish is the main course.
- The course is “with the same education provider that your current Student visa was granted for”. A changed course counts when it is at the same Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level or higher.
The Department counts the 12 months from the original end date of the main course. The Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for that course shows the date.16
What if I need more than 12 months to finish my course, or I changed college?
The 12-month exemption does not apply. The Department of Home Affairs says3:
- “If you have changed providers or need more than 12 months to finish your course, you do not meet the course completion exemption to apply in Australia.”
- “You must be outside Australia when you lodge your visa application and when your new visa is granted.”
- “Having to apply from outside Australia does not mean you cannot return to Australia to finish your course.”
Below is a flow chart of the process to follow when the next student visa must be applied for outside Australia.3
- Prepare in AustraliaGet a current CoE from the college and prepare the application and documents.
- Leave before the visa endsCheck the end date of the current visa and leave Australia before it.
- Apply from outside AustraliaLodge the complete application in ImmiAccount. No bridging visa comes with it.
- Wait outside AustraliaThe Department grants the visa only while the student is outside Australia.
- Book the return after the grantThe Department says not to book return flights until it grants the new visa.
Before leaving Australia
The Department lists these steps3:
- Ask the college what study is left and get a current CoE.
- Ask the college about studying online while the visa is decided.
- Use the Department’s My Health Declarations service to see if a health check is needed.
- Book any health check in Australia, with Bupa Medical Visa Services.
- Prepare the application with the Department’s Document Checklist Tool.
A student with another valid visa may come back to Australia while waiting. The student must be outside Australia again when the Department grants the student visa.4
After the application is lodged, the Department may ask for biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). The Department says: “Do not make travel arrangements until you have attended your appointment and provided your biometrics.”3
How long does it take to extend a student visa in Australia?
The Department of Home Affairs gives no fixed time. It says processing times vary.3
Some students who study in Australia and apply from outside it get priority. For them, the Department aims to finalise the application “within 5 business days, provided all requirements, including biometrics and health requirements have been met”.3
Who may get priority
The Department gives priority only to a student in a higher education course at a higher education provider. The student must have good course progress and be one of these3:
- A student who changed college, or needs more than 12 months, to finish a required placement, such as a nursing or medical placement.
- A student who moved from one public higher education provider to another.
- A student who changed college, has studied with the new college for at least 12 months, and can show course progress.
Every student must show that the course will finish by the end date on the CoE.3
Who gets no priority
The Department gives no priority to a student with3:
- a history of not starting courses
- long deferrals
- limited progress in the course.
The Department decides an application without priority under its standard student visa processing priorities.3
Priority is not a promise. The Department says it “does not guarantee that your visa will be granted”.3
What is the student visa extension fee in Australia?
There is no extension fee. A new application carries the full visa application charge.7
| Student’s passport or course | Visa application charge for the student |
|---|---|
| Most passports | AUD $2,5007 |
| A passport from one of ten Southeast Asian countries, or an English (ELICOS) or non-award course | AUD $2,0507 |
| A passport from a Pacific Island country on the Department’s list, or from Timor-Leste | AUD $7457 |
Two more costs
- An application made in Australia can carry an extra AUD $700. It applies when the visa held now was also applied for in Australia.7
- For an application made in Australia, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) must run with no gap between the old cover and the new cover.1
The Department’s Visa Pricing Estimator works out the charge for each case.1
What happens if I apply for a new student visa in Australia without an exemption?
The Department of Home Affairs does not accept the application. It says an application lodged in Australia by a person “required to be offshore” is invalid.4
An application made in Australia without an exemption is invalid. The Department of Home Affairs warns that an invalid application “could affect your visa status”. A student whose visa has already ended may not be able to apply for another visa. The Administrative Review Tribunal cannot review an invalid application.14
What if my student visa ends before my exams or graduation?
The Department names one option for each case13:
- Graduation ceremony. A Visitor visa (subclass 600) may suit a student whose visa ends before the ceremony. The college gives a letter with the graduation date.
- Urgent study, such as final exams. The Department says a Visitor visa (subclass 600) “may be an option” for a student who cannot apply in Australia and whose visa ends before urgent study. A Visitor visa allows study for up to three months.
The Department of Home Affairs says to think about how a Visitor visa could affect later visas.3
• A Visitor visa holder cannot apply for a further student visa in Australia.
• A Visitor visa holder can still apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) if the student visa ended less than six months ago and the study requirement is met. Most graduates must be 35 or younger to apply for a 485.38
The Department says to ask a registered migration agent or lawyer before applying for a Visitor visa.3
Studyaway can put you in touch with a registered migration agent.
Request a free appointmentDo you want help with your own situation?
Each case turns on the dates on the CoE, the college and the course level.
Studyaway tools to check your eligibility, work out your funds and get help
This article is general information only, not migration advice. In Australia, immigration assistance may only be provided by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner - Studyaway provides all students with access to a Registered Migration Agent.
