About this Visa

International students studying in Australia on a student visa may require a guardian if they are under 18 years of age. There may also be exceptional circumstances where a student over 18 years of age may need a guardian for religious or cultural reasons.

Who is this visa for?

The Student Guardian visa is for foreign nationals applying to stay in Australia as the guardian of a student who is studying in Australia.

You will need to read this information if you are:

• applying for your first student guardian visa to Australia
• already in Australia on a student guardian visa and want to renew your visa.

In most circumstances, if you have a child under six, you will not be eligible for the grant of a Student Guardian visa.

In very limited circumstances, where you have a child under 6 who holds a passport of a country that is subject to Assessment Level 1 or 2 under the Schools Sector (subclass 571) student visa and you present compelling and compassionate circumstances as to why you should be granted a Student Guardian visa and you meet all other requirements, you may be eligible for a Student Guardian visa.

More information about assessment levels is available.
See: Information form 1219i Overseas Student Program - Assessment Levels (58KB PDF file)

How much will this visa cost?

You must pay a non-refundable visa application charge when you lodge your visa application.
See: Student Visa Charges

What does the visa let me do?

If you are granted this visa, you can:

• live in Australia for the same length of time as the student for whom you are guardian, or until the student turns 18 years of age
• bring dependent children with you to Australia, but only if they are under six years of age and meet specific eligibility requirements
• study in Australia for up to three months
  Note: If you intend to study for more than 3 months, you must apply for a student visa.

See also: Family Member Eligibility

Note: You cannot bring other family members to Australia and you cannot apply for permission to work.