Australia Doubles Student Provider Transfer Restriction to 12 Months

What happened

On 2 October 2026 the government changed the rules on international students moving between education providers. Non-school students must now stay in their principal course for 12 months before they can seek a transfer, up from six months. Assistant Minister Julian Hill announced the change as part of the student visa integrity package that started that day.

The 12-month rule is a transition measure. It runs until 30 June 2027. From 1 July 2027, students who want to change provider after arriving in Australia will have to apply for a new Student visa in a new transfer stream.

Who is affected

• Higher education and vocational (VET) students in Australia who want to move to a different provider in their first 12 months.
• School students are not affected by the longer period. They keep the six-month restriction for their first registered school course.
• Transfers are still allowed in exceptional circumstances, or where a provider or course stops being registered.

What it means for your move

Choose your provider and course carefully before you apply. Moving in your first year will be much harder, and from July 2027 a move will mean a new visa application.

The government says the new transfer stream will work this way:

• you will need to receive the new visa before you start study at the new provider
• the end date of your new visa will stay the same as your current one
• transfers will only be allowed at the same level or up the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
• students will no longer be able to come to Australia for higher education and then move onshore to VET.

This links to the separate rule, also in force from 2 October 2026, that most Student visa holders must apply for a further Student visa from outside Australia unless they are moving up an AQF level or another exemption applies.

What to do now

• Before you accept an offer, compare course content, location, costs and support so you are less likely to want to move.
• If you are already studying and plan to transfer, check how many months you have completed in your principal course.
• If you want to move because of a serious problem, ask your provider about the exceptional circumstances process and keep records.
• If your plan involves moving from university to a VET course, get advice from a registered migration agent first.

Our guide to the October 2026 student visa changes and the Student visa 500 guide cover the wider rules.

What happens next

The government says the new Student visa transfer stream will start on 1 July 2027. Details such as fees and application steps have not yet been published. We will report them on the Australia hub and the updates page when they appear.