Student Guardian (Subclass 590) Verified 2026-04-19Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)
The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) allows an Indian parent, custodian, or close relative aged 21+ to come to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder under 18 (or in exceptional cases, 18+).
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Australia visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Variable
Stay Duration
Tied to the student's visa length
Starting Fee
AUD 2,000
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Your whole Australia Student Guardian Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong Australia file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹17,999 fee covers for a Australia file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Australia visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1All Indian applicants MUST apply online via ImmiAccount — there is no paper form, no VFS lodgement. VFS Global is only the biometrics collection agent in India.
- 2Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay. Renew BEFORE applying if expiry is within 6 months.
- 3Australia does NOT place a visa sticker in your passport. Your visa is digitally linked to your passport — verify via VEVO after grant.
- 4You must be OUTSIDE Australia when you apply AND when the visa is decided (for most visitor and temporary visas).
- 5Be a 'genuine visitor' — you must intend to return to your home country. Australia's Department of Home Affairs scrutinises this closely for Indian applicants.
- 6Health requirement: you may need a medical examination (chest X-ray, general health check) at a Bupa Medical Visa Services panel physician. Bupa is the only authorised provider in India.
- 7Character requirement: police clearance certificate (PCC) from the passport office may be required if you've spent 12+ months in any country in the last 10 years.
- 8'No Further Stay' condition 8503 is commonly attached to visitor visas — if attached, you cannot apply for another visa while in Australia. Check your grant letter carefully.
- 9Visitor visa holders: be aware of recent laws restricting 'visa hopping' to the Student visa program — you generally cannot switch to Student visa while in Australia on a Visitor visa.
- 10Condition 8101 — you MUST NOT work in Australia on this visa. Any paid employment breaches the condition.
- 11Condition 8538 — you must NOT leave Australia without the student unless alternative welfare arrangements are in place.
- 12You may be subject to condition 8534 — you cannot apply for most other visas while in Australia.
Who Can Apply
- Indian parents, custodians, or close relatives aged 21+ wishing to care for a child on a Student visa (subclass 500) who is under 18
- Guardians with sufficient funds to support themselves + the student during the entire stay
- Applicants with adequate health insurance (OVHC — Overseas Visitor Health Cover)
- In exceptional circumstances — a guardian for a student aged 18+ (e.g., medical, cultural, religious grounds)
Not eligible under this visa:
- Applicants under 21
- Anyone without a confirmed relationship to the student and demonstrated capacity to provide care
- Those who cannot show sufficient funds or adequate health insurance
- Those applying to work — Student Guardian visa prohibits paid employment
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Australia / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) | AUD 2,000 |
| Family member charge (if applicable) | AUD 1,500 (approx.) |
| OVHC — Overseas Visitor Health Cover | ₹35,000+/year |
| Biometrics | ₹1,850 |
| Health examination (Bupa) | ₹4,500–6,000 |
The Student Guardian visa costs AUD 2,000 for the main applicant. You must demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself AND the student for the entire stay — typically AUD 22,000+ per year plus accommodation costs. OVHC (health insurance), biometrics, and Bupa health check are additional. A lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens — Indian applicants pay the full rate. Non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What Australia actually requires — and what it does not.
Australia assesses genuine temporary intent — the bookings matter less than the reason you are coming back.
0 of 4 are compulsory for Australia
Flight reservation
A confirmed ticket is not required for the visitor stream. An indicative itinerary matching your approved leave is sufficient.
Where people slip: Applying with open-ended dates. "Genuine temporary entrant" is the test, and open dates argue against you.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Show where you are staying for the main part of the trip, or give the host's details if you are visiting family.
Where people slip: Listing a family address with no evidence of who lives there.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not required for a visitor visa. Sometimes requested for older applicants, or where a health condition is declared.
Where people slip: Skipping it entirely at 65 or over. If a medical examination is triggered, cover strengthens the file.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A plan tied to a real reason — a wedding, a graduation, a sporting season. Specific reasons pass; general tourism is examined harder.
Where people slip: An itinerary longer than the leave your employer approved in writing.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your Australia file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Relationship to Student
3 items- Student visa holder's passport + visa grant letterRequired
- Proof of relationship (birth certificate / legal custody documents)Required
For parents: student's birth certificate listing you. For custodians: formal custody order. For other relatives: family tree + legal appointment as guardian.
- Letter from education provider (CAAW or welfare confirmation)Required
The Australian education provider confirms the student's need for a guardian and acknowledges your role.
Financial Evidence
5 items- Bank statements (last 6–12 months, stamped)Required
Showing funds to support yourself + student. Guideline: AUD 22,000+ per year living costs + accommodation.
- Income Tax Returns (3 years)Required
- Employment letter / business registrationRequired
Source of ongoing income during guardian period.
- Sponsor affidavit (if relying on a third party)
- Property / asset documents
Strengthens case for sufficient funds.
Accommodation
1 item- Accommodation plan in AustraliaRequired
Rented apartment, homestay, or purchased property — must be suitable for the student. Address + rental agreement / booking / title required.
Health Insurance (OVHC)
1 item- Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)Required
Covers the entire stay. Buy from Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib, ahm before visa lodgement.
Core Personal Documents
4 items- Valid passportRequired
- Passport-style photographRequired
- Your birth certificateRequired
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Welfare for Dependants Overseas
1 item- Welfare arrangements for children left in India
If you're leaving other children under 18 behind in India, provide a notarised welfare plan identifying the adult who will care for them during your absence.
Health & Character
4 items- Health examination at BupaRequired
Chest X-ray + medical.
- Police clearance certificate
If requested.
- Biometrics at VFS Global IndiaRequired
- Australian Values StatementRequired
Signed in ImmiAccount.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
9 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Apply WITH the student wherever possible
The Department strongly prefers that the Student Guardian application is lodged at the same time as the student's Student visa (subclass 500) application. This streamlines processing.
- 02
Gather relationship + welfare confirmation
Obtain the education provider's written confirmation that the student needs a guardian and that you are approved as the guardian (sometimes via a CAAW letter equivalent).
- 03
Purchase OVHC
Buy Overseas Visitor Health Cover covering the entire guardian period. Bupa, Medibank, Allianz, nib, ahm are the main providers.
- 04
Create an ImmiAccount
Visit online.immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- 05
Select Student Guardian (subclass 590)
Complete the online form — ~80 questions. Save progress as you go.
- 06
Upload documents + pay AUD 2,000 VAC
Upload relationship proof, funds evidence, accommodation plan, welfare letters, OVHC certificate, passport, photo.
- 07
Complete Bupa health exam + VFS biometrics
Both are mandatory for stays over 6 months.
- 08
Respond to any requests for information
Check ImmiAccount regularly.
- 09
Visa decision — digital grant
Digital visa linked to your passport. Verify via VEVO.
What works
8 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Lodge at the SAME TIME as the student's visa application — the Department expects this and processing is faster.
- You CANNOT work in Australia on a Student Guardian visa. You can study ELICOS (English) for up to 20 hrs/week, or any other study/training for up to 3 months.
- You cannot leave Australia without the student unless you've arranged 'alternative welfare arrangements' approved by the Department — breaching this can lead to visa cancellation (condition 8538).
- If you have OTHER children under 18 staying behind in India, you must provide a notarised welfare plan for them — showing who will care for them while you're in Australia.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Insufficient funds — unable to prove you can support yourself + the student for the full stay
- 2Weak relationship evidence or unclear custody/guardian appointment
- 3No confirmation from the education provider that the student needs a guardian
Download official forms
Each link opens the official Australia page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
ImmiAccount — Online Application Portal
Australia's official online visa application portal. ALL Australian visas for Indian applicants must be lodged here — no paper forms, no VFS lodgement. Create your ImmiAccount, select the visa subclass, pay online, and upload documents.
Department of Home Affairs — Official Website
Authoritative source for all Australian visa information. Includes Visa Finder tool, Visa Pricing Estimator, Visa Processing Time Guide, and health requirement details.
Visa Finder Tool
If you're unsure which visa is right for you — answer a few questions and the tool recommends matching visa subclasses.
VEVO — Visa Entitlement Verification Online
After visa grant, use VEVO to check your visa conditions, stay period, and entry rights. Australia grants digital visas only — no sticker in passport.
VFS application centres
Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 questions to see your likelihood of approval. Embassies look for the same core factors across visa types — financial strength, clear purpose, genuine intent to return.
How clear is your purpose of visit?
How long is your planned stay?
Travel history to developed countries?
Any previous visa refusals?
Employment / income source?
3-month average bank balance?
Income Tax Returns history?
Travel bookings status?
Ties to India (reasons you'll return)?
Travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
The applicant must be the student's parent, custodian, or an eligible relative (usually a close family member — aunt, uncle, grandparent) aged 21 or older. Non-relatives generally cannot qualify unless there's a formal legal custodianship order.
No. Condition 8101 prohibits any paid work in Australia on this visa. You can, however, study English (ELICOS) for up to 20 hours per week, or other study/training for up to 3 months total.
Dependent children under 18 can be included, BUT children under 6 are only allowed in exceptional circumstances (compelling/compassionate reasons, or to strengthen government-to-government relations). Even if a child under 6 is granted this visa, it's only valid until their 6th birthday — they must then apply for their own Student visa.
Your Student Guardian visa normally ceases when the student turns 18. If the student continues their studies, they no longer need a guardian. You can apply for another visa (e.g., Visitor visa subclass 600) if you want to continue visiting.
There is no fixed figure published, but you must show capacity to support yourself + the student for the full stay. Typical benchmark: AUD 22,000+ per year living costs per person + accommodation costs (monthly rent or property cost) for the duration. Income Tax Returns, bank statements, and property/asset documents all help.
You can apply for a further Student Guardian visa if the student's course continues and they're still under 18. Apply before the current visa expires. Otherwise, you must leave Australia when your current visa ends.
Yes — the visa allows multiple entries. BUT you cannot leave the student alone in Australia unless alternative welfare arrangements are made and approved. Typically this means either the student returns with you, or another eligible adult temporarily assumes the welfare role.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your Australia Student Guardian Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
5 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+What does Australia want to see about my funds as a student?
That the money for tuition and living costs exists, is available to you, and came from somewhere explainable. Depending on the country that is a blocked account, a fixed deposit, a sanctioned education loan or a sponsor's income — and the sponsor's relationship to you has to be documented. The most common failure is not a small amount, it is an unexplained one: a large transfer landing shortly before the application, with no trail behind it, reads worse than a smaller balance with history.
+Do I still have to prove I will come back?
Yes, on most study routes — and it surprises people, because the whole point is a multi-year stay. The officer is asking whether the study plan is genuine and whether you intend to comply with the visa, not whether you will never emigrate lawfully later. What answers it is coherence: the course matching your academic history, the cost matching your funding, and a plan that makes sense for someone who intends to finish it.
+How long does a Australia Student Guardian Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. Australia currently states Variable — use the Visa Processing Time Guide Tool. Lodge together with the student visa application wherever possible. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the Australia visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The Australia government fee (currently AUD 2,000) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my Australia Student Guardian Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (Australia currently states Variable — use the Visa Processing Time Guide Tool. Lodge together with the student visa application wherever possible.). Government and visa-centre fees (AUD 2,000 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A Australia Student Guardian Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same Australia rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other Australia Visa Types
Tourist Visa (Subclass 600 — Tourist Stream)
Australian visitor visa for Indian citizens travelling to Australia for tourism, sightseeing, or visiting friends and relatives. Typically 3, 6 or 12 months stay.
View guideBusiness Visa (Subclass 600 — Business Visitor Stream)
Australian business visitor visa for Indian professionals attending meetings, conferences, negotiations, or exploratory business visits. Paid employment is NOT permitted.
View guideSponsored Family Visa (Subclass 600 — Sponsored Family Stream)
Australian visitor visa for Indian citizens visiting close relatives who are Australian citizens/PR holders and who sponsor the application. An Assurance of Support may be required.
View guideElectronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)
The ETA (subclass 601) is Australia's quick online visa for tourism/business visits, but it is NOT available to Indian passport holders. Indian citizens must apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead.
View guideeVisitor (Subclass 651)
eVisitor (subclass 651) is a free online visa for short visits to Australia, but it is exclusively for European passport holders. Indian citizens are NOT eligible — apply for subclass 600 instead.
View guideWork and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
Informational guide. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) allows young Indians aged 18–30 to work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months, but India has a ballot-based quota. SureshotVisa does not process work visas.
View guideWorking Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
Informational guide. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is NOT available to Indian passport holders. Indian citizens should refer to the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) via the annual ballot.
View guideStudent Visa (Subclass 500)
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows Indian students to live in Australia and undertake a full-time eligible course of study — school, VET, undergraduate, postgraduate, or research — for up to 6 years.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Australia website and Embassy of Australia. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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