Subclass 590 visa document checklist (Student Guardian)

The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) lets a parent, custodian or relative come to Australia to care for a Student visa holder who is under 18, or over 18 in exceptional circumstances. From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders must be outside Australia when they lodge and when the visa is granted; current Student Guardian visa holders can still lodge a further Student Guardian application in Australia. This checklist is a starting point as at November 2026; confirm each item on the Home Affairs subclass 590 page and the changes to Student visa application rules before lodging.

Key numbers (as at November 2026)

• Who can be the guardian: the student's parent, a person with custody of the student, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated in writing by a parent or custodian.
• Length of stay: set at grant, usually by the length of the student's stay or when the student turns 18.
• Work and study: no work. ELICOS for less than 20 hours a week, or other study for up to 3 months.
• Children under 6: not granted unless there are compelling and compassionate reasons, or the grant would significantly benefit Australia's relationship with another government, even if they are not travelling. Children 6 or over need their own Student visa.
• Funds: travel, 12 months of the student's course fees, and 12 months' living costs of AUD 29,710 for the guardian and AUD 4,449 for each accompanying child, plus school fees of at least AUD 13,502 a year for each child. Allow about AUD 2,000 a person for travel. Alternatively, a partner who is not travelling can show annual income of at least AUD 102,500.

Documents from the student's side

• Nomination: Form 157N, completed by the guardian and the student's parents or legal custodians. The application is not valid without it. Lodge the guardian's and the student's applications at the same time.
• Relationship: birth certificates of the student, the parents and the guardian. See welfare arrangements for students under 18.

Documents from the applicant

• Identity: passport pages showing the photo, personal details and issue and expiry dates; national identity card, if any; evidence of any change of name
• Genuine temporary entrant: a personal statement, with evidence of family, residence status, property or assets at home, previous immigration history and a letter from the employer confirming leave
• Funds: deposits with a financial institution, loans, or scholarship or financial support, with the source of deposits explained; identity and relationship evidence for anyone providing the money; or official tax assessments, less than 12 months old, for the partner's income
• Health insurance: adequate health insurance for the guardian and family members for the first 12 months, such as Overseas Visitors Health Cover
• Character (relatives only): Police certificates from each country where the applicant has spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16, including an Australian Federal Police check where it applies
• Health: Health examinations, when Home Affairs asks for them; a polio vaccination certificate if applying from outside Australia after time in a polio-risk country
• Children left at home: evidence of their welfare arrangements and a letter from their appointed guardian accepting responsibility, with that guardian's passport or driver's licence
• Children under 6 included: a statement of compelling and compassionate circumstances or a government letter of support, birth certificates or family book, any adoption papers, and Form 1229 consent from any parent not travelling

Collect it with Immiluma

Guardian and student applications move together. Build this checklist once as a visa template in Immiluma, or ask the assistant to draft it from this page, and open the guardian's matter beside the student's. Each matter sends its list to the client's portal, the client uploads against each item, and you review each document beside it. See all visa checklists.