Yes. Students, families, providers and agents can email a submission to student.visa.consultation@homeaffairs.gov.au before 12 pm AEDT on Monday 23 November 2026.

Proposed student visa changes, explained

On 30 October 2026 Home Affairs released a consultation paper on how students show they're genuine and how they prove their money. Nothing has changed yet. Here are the ideas on the table, in plain English, and what you can do now.

Proposed, not decided. Consultation open Submissions close 12 pm AEDT, Monday 23 November 2026. Checked 4 November 2026 · Omar Nafiz, MARN 2318164

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At a glance

Three parts, from the consultation paper. Part C could come first.

Part A Your study story, tested differently New students: the focus moves to whether the study plan makes sense and is achievable. Why this course, why this provider, costs, readiness and outcomes. Part B Money held in Australia (longer term) Funds in an Australian account in your name for 1 to 3 months before you apply. Part C · interim Stricter evidence for Evidence Level 3 applicants Financial evidence at lodgement, whatever the provider's evidence level.

Not decided. Nothing in this consultation is law yet. The rules that already changed on 2 October 2026 are separate. See the 2 October rules →

The three parts, in plain English

Part A · consultation paper pages 4–5

Your study story, tested differently

The Genuine Student (GS) test stays a whole-of-picture assessment, but Ministerial Direction 106 would be replaced and students would be split into two tracks.

New students: the focus moves to whether the study plan makes sense and is achievable. Why this course, why this provider, costs, readiness and outcomes.
Continuing or returning students: more weight on their own record in Australia. Attendance and progress, study gaps, course changes, work and money patterns, enrolment history.
Formulaic GS statements would be replaced by revised application questions.
Study through an Australian program in your home country (transnational education, TNE) could count in your favour when progress is good.
Future work earnings in Australia can never count as financial capacity.

Part B · consultation paper pages 6–8

Money held in Australia (longer term)

Four options are being considered for how students would show their money in future. Three of them would need funds in an Australian account in the student's name before applying.

Funds in an Australian account in your name for 1 to 3 months before you apply.
The source, ownership and access of the money would be verified.
Money earned working in Australia wouldn't count.
The amount you need is not proposed to go up in the short term.
Unsecured personal loans, and loans not yet paid out, would generally not be accepted.

Part C · interim · consultation paper pages 8–9

Stricter evidence for Evidence Level 3 applicants

A possible interim measure, which could come before the bigger changes, for primary applicants from Evidence Level 3 countries. The paper names India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Financial evidence at lodgement, whatever the provider's evidence level.
Deposits backed by about 6 months of transaction history (longer in higher-risk cases).
Funds generally only from the student, spouse, parents or another approved supporter.
Current dollar amounts stay the same. The evidence gets stricter.

The four money options being considered (Part B)

For the longer term. The paper does not say which option will be chosen.

#	Option	What you would show	Where and how long
1	Managed	50% of tuition and living costs for the whole course, released to you on a schedule	Australian account in your name, at least 1 month before applying
2	Flexible	50% of tuition and living costs for the whole course	Australian account, at least 3 months, no release schedule
3	First year	100% of the first 12 months (or the rest of the course if shorter)	Australian account, at least 3 months before applying
4	Recognised education finance	Costs covered by approved lenders, your own funds, or both	Transfer to an Australian account preferred. Details under consultation

Unsecured personal loans, and loans not yet paid out, would generally not be accepted.

The rules today vs what's proposed

Everything in the "Proposed" column is a proposal only. Drawn from the consultation paper, pages 4–9.

Topic	Today	Proposed	What to do now
Who shows money upfront	Depends on your country and your provider's evidence level	Proposed Evidence Level 3 applicants: everyone shows evidence at lodgement	Assume you'll need full evidence, whatever your provider
How much money	12 months of tuition, living, travel and family costs	Proposed Short term: same amounts. Long term: 50% of the full course, or 100% of the first year	Work out your full course cost, not just year one
Where the money sits	Any bank, any country	Proposed Long term: an Australian account in your name	Plan early how you'd move funds to Australia
How long it's held	No minimum	Proposed EL3: 6+ months history. Long term: 1–3 months in an Australian account	Don't move money around. Let the history build
Who can support you	Broad (family, relatives, others)	Proposed Mainly self, spouse, parents or an approved supporter	Confirm your main supporter is on the accepted list
Loans	Most lender loans accepted	Proposed Unsecured or unpaid loans generally not accepted	Use secured, government or recognised education loans, paid out
Which banks	Broad range	Proposed May be limited to verifiable institutions	Keep funds in a major, well-known bank
Checking evidence	Mostly when concerns arise	Proposed Verification a core step for everyone	Expect your bank to be contacted. Keep records clean
Work earnings	Don't count	Proposed Still don't count, made clearer	Your funds must stand without a job
GS test	Same factors for everyone	Proposed Two tracks: new vs continuing or returning students	Know which track you're in
GS statement	Written statement	Proposed Replaced by revised application questions	Focus on evidence, not a polished essay
Study started offshore (TNE)	Not specifically recognised	Proposed Can count in your favour with good results	Keep transcripts and attendance ready

Could this be you? 10 situations students are asking us about

How the proposals could affect real-life plans, if they go ahead as written. Names are changed and dollar figures are illustrative.

Offshore · Money: 6-month history