02/10/2026
🚨 FURTHER UPDATE: 12-MONTH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRANSFER RESTRICTION
There is an important additional clarification in the newly released Explanatory Statement regarding Student Visas and offshore applications.
📅 From 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, international students transferring from a non-school education provider will generally need to have completed at least 12 months of their principal course before a receiving provider can enrol them without a release.
⚠️ This can also affect students who had already completed more than 6 months but less than 12 months before the new rule commenced.
✈️ What about leaving Australia and applying offshore?
The Explanatory Statement specifically confirms that a student who wants to transfer during the restricted period may have the option to:
leave Australia and apply for a new Student Visa from offshore.
This is particularly important because the Government has also announced further migration reforms, intended to commence in mid-2027, under which students transferring to another international education provider will be required to obtain a new Student Visa before making the transfer.
✅ Transfers during the restricted period may also still occur where:
• the current provider approves the student's release
• the provider or course ceases to be registered
• regulatory sanctions prevent the student from continuing
• a government sponsor provides written support that the transfer is in the student's best interests
🏫 The 12-month extension does not apply in the same way to students transferring from an approved school provider.
📅 From 1 July 2027, the National Code transfer restriction is scheduled to return to 6 months, while the separate Student Visa reforms are intended to commence around mid-2027.
📌 Important: The new instrument refers generally to a new Student Visa. It does not itself provide the detailed offshore visa application procedure or specify additional visa subclasses.
Students, education agents and providers should therefore consider both the ESOS/National Code transfer requirements and Student Visa requirements before cancelling an enrolment, issuing a new CoE or arranging a provider transfer.
🔗 Official legislation/source link below.
