Pathway

Australia Student Guardian Visa

Australia Residency

Updated October 6, 2026

Pathway overview

At a glance

Subclass 590 lets an eligible adult stay in Australia to care for a student who is usually under 18. You must provide accommodation and support, have enough money and health insurance, and plan a temporary stay. You cannot work, and travel without the student needs approved care arrangements.

Purpose: Care and support for a student under 18, or an older student in exceptional circumstances
Guardian: A parent, legal custodian, or another relative at least 21 approved in writing by the parent or custodian
Support: Suitable accommodation, welfare arrangements, funds, and health insurance

Summary

The Student Guardian visa (Subclass 590) lets an adult come to Australia to provide accommodation, welfare and practical support for a Student visa holder who is under 18. It can also cover a student aged 18 or older in exceptional circumstances.

The guardian's stay is temporary and normally tied to the student's visa, age and welfare needs. Its purpose is care—not employment or the guardian's own full-time study.

Applying to accompany a student as guardian

Confirm the student’s needs and your eligibility Check the relationship and arrangements for any other children.
Prepare a care plan, funds, and insurance Coordinate the guardian and student applications and welfare dates.
Follow the no-work and continuing-care conditions Arrange approved alternative care before traveling without the student.

This visa is temporary and tied to the student’s qualifying care needs.

Eligibility

The guardian must generally be:

the student's parent or legal custodian; or
another relative who is at least 21 and chosen in writing by the parent or legal custodian.

The guardian must be able to provide the student's accommodation, general welfare and other support. They must show enough money for themselves, the student and accompanying family, maintain adequate health insurance, meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement by showing genuine plans for a temporary stay, and meet health, character and immigration-history rules.

A guardian with another child under 6 usually cannot qualify unless limited compassionate and compelling or governmental circumstances apply. Any other school-age child coming with the guardian needs appropriate enrollment arrangements. The guardian cannot leave Australia without the student unless approved alternative welfare arrangements are made.

The guardian and student normally apply together or coordinate applications so Home Affairs can assess the welfare plan. If applying in Australia, the guardian must hold an eligible visa, rather than only a bridging visa.

What This Route Allows

The holder can live in Australia temporarily to care for the student and travel subject to the grant and continuing welfare arrangements.

Study is limited. Home Affairs generally permits an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students of less than 20 hours a week or other study/training lasting no more than 3 months. A longer course normally requires the guardian to qualify separately for a Student visa.

What This Route Is Not

Subclass 590 does not permit work. The guardian should budget for the full stay without Australian employment income.

It is not a parent migration or permanent-residence pathway. Time spent caring for the student does not automatically produce a graduate, skilled or family visa.

The guardian cannot treat the visa as an independent stay after the student no longer needs eligible welfare support. Changes to the student's school, visa, age or living arrangements can affect the guardian's position.

Next Steps

Confirm the student’s age, Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE), and Student visa plan.
Prove the guardian is a parent, custodian or qualifying relative aged at least 21.
Prepare a clear accommodation, supervision, transport, school-contact and emergency-care plan.
Show sufficient funds and arrange the correct health insurance for every applicant.
Resolve arrangements for any other child, especially a child under 6, before applying.
Coordinate the 590 and 500 applications and welfare dates.
After approval, do not work and obtain approval or alternative welfare arrangements before traveling without the student.