Student Guardian visa
Accompany a student under 18 as their nominated guardian.
What this visa is for#
The Australian Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) is in the student category, in the Guardian stream. Its purpose is to Accompany a student under 18 as their nominated guardian.
This visa exists so a person can stay in Australia to support and care for an international student who is under 18. It is about the guardian role, not about studying in Australia as the main purpose of the stay.
A student guardian is usually expected to provide accommodation, general welfare and day to day support for the student while the student holds a student visa. The Department looks at whether the arrangement matches the guardian purpose of the visa.
This is a temporary visa. The period granted is generally linked to the student’s arrangements and the period the Department approves for the guardian stay.
Who it is generally for#
This visa is for people who are nominated to care for an international student under 18 while that student is in Australia. The nomination is part of the student’s welfare arrangements.
This visa is for people who are a parent, person who has legal custody, or a relative of the student who is at least 21 years old and is willing to act as guardian in Australia. In some cases, the person may be coming with other dependent children, depending on the application setup and the evidence provided.
This visa is for people who will live in Australia for the period needed to support the student’s welfare arrangements. It is tied to the role of guardian, so the Department will usually expect the stay, accommodation and care arrangements to match that role.
This visa is not the same as a student visa. It is also not simply a visitor arrangement for a short family trip. The application is assessed as a separate visa with its own requirements, forms, identity checks and supporting documents.
What it costs#
The government visa application charge for this visa is:
- Main applicant: $1,870
That government charge is paid to the Department of Home Affairs. It is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether the applicant lodges it personally or a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner lodges it on their behalf.
Professional fees are separate from the government charge. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for checking documents, preparing the application, explaining the process, managing correspondence and responding to Department requests. Those fees are set by the professional, so they vary from one provider to another.
Charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. Before lodging, it is sensible to check the current Department fee and any professional quote carefully, because service fees and government charges are different things.
Other out of pocket costs can also arise during the process, such as health examinations, police certificates, document translations or document certification, if these are required for the particular application. These are not the visa application charge.
How long it takes#
Processing times change over the year. They depend on application volumes, how complete the application is when lodged, whether the Department asks for more information, and how long outside checks take.
Some applications move faster when all identity, relationship and welfare documents are lodged up front and the health and character steps are completed promptly. Applications can take longer where documents are missing, inconsistent or close to expiry.
Time can also be added if documents need translation, if police checks take time to issue, or if the Department needs to clarify the student’s welfare arrangements. Delays are also common where the guardian’s travel history, family composition or previous visa history needs closer review.
The Department publishes visa processing information on its website, but published figures are only a guide. They are not a promise that any particular application will finish inside that timeframe.
What the process involves#
The process usually starts with checking the visa subclass, the purpose of stay and the guardian role. The application then needs the standard identity material, such as passport details, personal information and documents showing the relationship to the student.
The application also usually needs evidence about the student and the welfare arrangement. That can include the student’s visa details, school or education provider information, nomination as guardian, and documents showing where and how the student will be cared for in Australia.
Applications are commonly lodged online through the Department’s ImmiAccount system. The Department may ask for scans of passports, birth certificates, marriage documents, custody documents, family registers, translations and other records, depending on what is relevant to the case.
After lodgement, the Department may send requests for more information. These requests often have a due date. If a document is not available yet, the application can stall while the Department waits, or the Department may decide the application based on the material already on file.
Health examinations are often part of the process. Character checks may also apply, which can include police certificates from countries where the applicant has spent relevant periods of time.
If the applicant is in Australia at the time of application, a bridging visa may be granted to keep the person lawful while the application is being processed. A bridging visa is a separate visa with its own conditions, start date and travel effect. It does not automatically give the same work, study or travel rights as the previous substantive visa.
During processing, it is important that contact details stay current. If the Department sends a request to an old email or postal address, deadlines can be missed without anyone realising.
At the end of the process, the Department notifies the outcome in writing. The notice usually states the visa grant details and conditions, or the refusal decision and the date of decision.
What commonly goes wrong#
Incomplete evidence is one of the biggest problems. Applications often slow down when basic identity, relationship or welfare documents are missing, unclear or not translated into English by an accepted translator.
Documents expiring during processing is another common issue. Passports, police certificates and some supporting records have practical shelf lives. If they expire or become outdated before a decision is made, the Department may ask for fresh copies and that can add weeks or months.
Names, dates of birth and family details must match across the application and the documents. Even small differences between a passport, birth certificate and school record can trigger questions. Where records use different spellings or different date formats, the Department may ask for clarification.
People also forget to tell the Department about changes after lodgement. A new passport, change of address, change of email, family change or change to the student’s enrolment or welfare arrangements can all matter. If the Department does not have current details, notices may go to the wrong place and the decision may be made on incomplete information.
Another common mistake is assuming a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa held before. It may not. Travel, work and study conditions on a bridging visa need to be checked carefully because leaving Australia can affect whether the bridging visa remains in effect.
Poor timing also causes trouble. Lodging close to planned travel, school start dates or visa expiry dates leaves little room for health checks, police certificates or follow up requests. Where multiple family members are involved, collecting the documents can take longer than expected.
Applications can also run into problems where the welfare story does not line up across the student’s records, school documents and guardian application. If one document shows one address, another shows a different care arrangement, and a third lists a different guardian, the Department may pause the file and ask for clarification.
Finally, people sometimes upload documents to the wrong place in ImmiAccount, or upload only part of a document. A missing passport page, an unreadable scan, or a cut off translation can cause delays even when the document technically exists.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the Student Guardian visa 590 for?#
The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) is for a person who will Accompany a student under 18 as their nominated guardian. It is in the student category and the Guardian stream. It is a temporary visa connected to the student’s welfare arrangements in Australia.
How much is the Student Guardian visa 590?#
The government visa application charge is Main applicant: $1,870. That amount is paid to the Department and is the same no matter who lodges the application. If a registered migration agent or lawyer helps with the application, their professional fee is separate.
Can a parent stay in Australia with a child on a student visa?#
This visa exists for people who are nominated to care for a student under 18 while the student is in Australia. That can include a parent or another qualifying relative involved in the student’s welfare arrangements. The Department still assesses the application against the visa rules and the documents provided.
How long does a Student Guardian visa take to process?#
There is no single fixed processing time. The timeline depends on how complete the application is, whether the Department asks for more information, and how long health, identity and character checks take. Published processing information is a guide only.
Can a Student Guardian visa be lodged in Australia?#
Applications are commonly lodged through ImmiAccount, and the place of lodgement can matter for how the application is processed. If an application is lodged in Australia, a bridging visa may be granted in some cases while the application is processed. A bridging visa is separate and does not automatically have the same conditions as the substantive visa held before.
About this page. This is general information about how the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) register.