Student visas
Student Guardian (590)
Live in Australia as the guardian of a student under 18, providing the accommodation, welfare and support their stay depends on. The visa carries no work rights.
Requirements
What the 590 asks of you.
The student's own visa comes first. Yours can be lodged together with theirs, or once theirs has been lodged or granted.
Parent, legal guardian or relative
You must be the student's parent or legal guardian, or a relative aged 21 or over. The student must be under 18, or have an exceptional need for an adult to live with them, such as medical care or established religious or cultural grounds.
Living with and supporting the student
You must genuinely intend to live with the student and provide their accommodation, welfare and day-to-day support. This subclass is still assessed under the genuine temporary entrant test.
Funds and health insurance for both
Access to sufficient funds for your own stay and the student's, covering airfares, living costs and tuition, plus adequate health insurance arrangements for yourself.
No children under six
You must not have a child aged under six unless exceptional circumstances apply. Take advice before relying on the exception.
The pathway
How we run your 590.
The student's visa first
The 590 stands on the student's case. Their visa must be held, or lodged with or before yours, so we sequence the two applications.
Eligibility and evidence
Relationship, genuine intention and funds for both of you, assessed and documented before anything is lodged.
Decision-ready lodgement
Lodged complete, with health insurance in place and welfare arrangements aligned to the student's application.
Decision
The Department decides your application; if granted, you settle in Australia with your student.
General information only, not immigration advice. Your circumstances matter. Visa requirements, fees and processing times change regularly. Facts on this page last reviewed 15 July 2026. Check current details with the Department of Home Affairs , or speak with us for advice on your situation. Website terms.
Begin with a conversation.
Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent in Melbourne about your pathway. Book a time that suits you.