Who can be a student guardian?

A parent, custodian or relative aged 21 or over who can provide accommodation, welfare and support for a student visa holder who is under 18.

Can the guardian work in Australia?

No — the Student Guardian visa does not allow work. You may study an ELICOS course for under 20 hours a week, or other study or training for up to 3 months.

How long does the visa last?

It is granted in line with the student visa holder's stay and age. You can apply for a further Student Guardian visa to stay longer.

Australia · Visa guide

Australia Student Guardian Visa

The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) — for a parent or relative supporting a young student in Australia.

ProcessingVaries by case
Visa categoryStudent Guardian Visa
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Australia Student Guardian Visa — overview

The Australia Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) lets a parent, custodian or relative aged 21 or over come to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder who is under 18 (or over 18 in exceptional circumstances).

The visa is granted in line with the student's stay and age. The guardian must provide accommodation, welfare and support for the student and cannot work in Australia. Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, ideally at the same time as the student's application.

Lifeset Overseas aligns the guardian application with the young student's visa and prepares the relationship, accommodation and financial evidence so both files are consistent.

Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)

The subclass 590 lets a parent or legal guardian live in Australia to care for a student under 18, or for an older student in exceptional circumstances. It is a welfare visa, not a work visa: "a guardian visa is not permission to work or bring arbitrary additional children." Its conditions are its own; the subclass 500 student work allowance does not carry over.

What the application must establish

The qualifying relationship to the student, and your eligibility by age and guardianship.
The student's details and visa, with accommodation and welfare arrangements for the whole stay.
Funds for you and the student, health insurance, identity documents, consent evidence and health and character evidence.
Form 157N, Nomination of a student guardian: the Knowledge Base notes that "a Student Guardian application requires Form 157N for a valid application. Use the current form linked from the subclass 590 page."

If family members are joining a student separately

Where a student's family members apply after the student (subsequent entrants), they "must include financial-capacity evidence upfront, even where the principal student's checklist did not request it."

Official sources

Home Affairs — Student Guardian visa subclass 590: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Visa-subsite/Pages/student/590-student-guardian.aspx
Home Affairs — Student visa subclass 500: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500

Checked against these sources on 19 September 2026 (Lifeset Visa Knowledge Base, edition 1.1). Fees and rules change; the official page always prevails.

7 items

Documents you need

Be a parent, custodian or relative
You must be the student's parent, custodian or relative and be aged 21 or over.
Relationship evidence
Documents proving your relationship to the student — birth certificate or guardianship papers.
The student's visa
Evidence the student holds, or has applied for, an Australian student visa.
Sufficient funds
Evidence of funds to support both yourself and the student during the stay.
Accommodation & welfare
Evidence you can provide accommodation, welfare and support for the student.
Adequate health insurance
Health insurance in place for your stay.
Health & character
You must meet the Australian health and character requirements and sign the Australian Values Statement.

5 steps

How the process works

Typical processing: Varies by case — use the Department's processing-time guide. Apply at the same time as the student where possible.

Step 1
Free eligibility review
We confirm guardian eligibility and align the application with the student's visa.
Step 2
Build a decision-ready file
Relationship, accommodation and financial documents are prepared and cross-checked.
Step 3
Apply online via ImmiAccount
The application is lodged through ImmiAccount, ideally at the same time as the student.
Step 4
Health, biometrics & follow-up
Complete any health examination requested and respond promptly to the Department.
Step 5
Visa outcome
The decision arrives in writing; the visa is digitally linked to your passport.

Transparent

Costs & fees

Item

Amount

Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) application charge

For the main applicant; a separate charge applies for family members.

From AUD 2,000

Health checks, police certificates & biometrics

Third-party costs where requested.

Confirmed at booking

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

3 answers

Frequently asked questions

A parent, custodian or relative aged 21 or over who can provide accommodation, welfare and support for a student visa holder who is under 18.
No — the Student Guardian visa does not allow work. You may study an ELICOS course for under 20 hours a week, or other study or training for up to 3 months.
It is granted in line with the student visa holder's stay and age. You can apply for a further Student Guardian visa to stay longer.

Why it matters

Going it alone vs filing with us

On your own

Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

Refused before?

A refusal isn't the end

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a Australia visa has been refused, we: