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New Australian Student Visa Rules: A Simple Guide for Indonesian Students

News · 2026-10-06 · 4 min read

Are you an Indonesian student thinking about studying in Australia? Some important rules are changing. On 2 October 2026, the Australian Government announced new limits on changing courses. It also announced steps against a small group of dishonest migration advisers. Here is what you need to know, in simple words.

What is changing for students?

There are three main points:

1. A new visa to switch courses. If you want to move to a different course, you will need to apply for a separate visa.
2. No switching in your early months (for now). Until that new visa starts, you cannot change courses within 12 months of beginning your course.
3. No extra time because of a switch. From 1 July 2027, changing courses will not give you a longer visa.

There is also a rule that was announced before this. You cannot move down to a lower-level course. For example, you cannot leave a bachelor's or master's degree to start a vocational program.

Why is Australia doing this?

The government does not want study to become a way to stay for many years by jumping from visa to visa. It also wants fewer people to come and live in Australia each year. Net overseas migration is almost 300,000 a year now. The target is 225,000 by 2028. The government will make these changes through rules, not through a new law.

Bridging visas are another reason. A bridging visa is a temporary visa that a person can get while they wait for a decision on their next visa. More than 400,000 people hold one today. Many of them are international students. The government wants this number to go down.

Tips for Indonesian students before you apply

• Pick your course carefully. Think about what you want to do after you finish. Changing later will be much harder.
• Plan your money for the whole course. Make a budget for every year of study, not only the start.
• Plan your time. Expect to finish the course you begin.
• Get your papers ready early. Take an English test (IELTS or PTE) if your visa or your school needs one. Get Indonesian-language documents translated into English as the Student visa rules require. If a police certificate is requested, you can apply for an SKCK from the Indonesian National Police.

Most advisers are honest

The government also plans to stop migration agents from helping with an application when they know, or should reasonably know, that it has no real factual or legal basis. The Department of Home Affairs will ask for views on how migration lawyers can also be made responsible for this kind of bad practice.

Please remember: this is about a small number of bad operators. Most migration agents and lawyers do good, honest work. The government says the few dishonest ones often approach people at hard times in their lives. They make misleading claims and promises that cannot come true. Some lodge applications only so the applications will be refused and then appealed. Some have used online ads to teach people to make false protection claims.

Recruiters can be a risk too. Before you pay anyone for a job or visa, read how to check an Australian job offer for scams.

How to find a good adviser

• Look up the adviser on the official Register of Migration Agents. Do this before you pay or send any documents.
• Be careful if someone promises you a sure result. Nobody can promise what a visa decision will be.
• Ask for all advice and all fees in writing.
• Say no if an adviser asks you to give false information.

Final words

Studying in Australia can still be a great step for Indonesians. You just need to plan well. Choose the right course from the start, save enough for the full program, and work only with an adviser you have checked. Good preparation now can save you a lot of trouble later.

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