590 Student Guardian Visa Checklist 2026
The Subclass 590 Student Guardian Visa allows a parent or nominated relative to accompany a student under 18 years of age who holds or is applying for a Subclass 500 Student Visa. The guardian must be nominated by the student's education provider and must intend to provide day-to-day care for the student in Australia.
Critically, the student must already have been granted a 500 visa (or have an application pending) before the guardian can apply. The guardian visa is tied to the student's visa: if the student's 500 visa is refused or ceases, the 590 will also cease. If the student turns 18 during the stay, the guardian may no longer be eligible to hold the 590 and should seek advice about their visa status.
Financial evidence is particularly important: the guardian must demonstrate they can support both themselves and the student for the duration of the stay, as the guardian is not permitted to work in Australia on this visa.
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Common 590 document mistakes to avoid
- Student does not yet have a 500 visa — the guardian visa can only be applied for after the student's 500 application has been lodged and a TRN (Transaction Reference Number) or grant has been issued.
- Guardian not nominated by the education provider — the provider's nomination letter is required; some providers only accept parents, not other relatives.
- Insufficient financial evidence to support both guardian and student for the full stay, given the guardian cannot work.
- Student turns 18 during the guardian's stay — the 590 holder should seek migration advice as they may no longer qualify to remain in this capacity.
Identity documents
3 itemsClear colour scan of the photo page of your current valid passport.
Official birth certificate showing your full name and date of birth.
Deed poll, marriage certificate or other official proof if your name has changed.
Relationship to student
2 itemsOfficial birth certificate for the student you will be guarding, showing you as a parent or confirming the family relationship.
Court order or legal document appointing you as the student's legal guardian, if you are not their parent.
Student visa evidence
2 itemsVisa grant notice confirming the student holds or has been granted a Subclass 500 Student Visa.
CoE issued by the student's CRICOS-registered education provider.
Welfare & accommodation
2 itemsLetter from the student's school or college confirming they are aware of and approve the welfare arrangements.
Rental agreement, booking confirmation or other evidence of where you and the student will live.
Financial capacity
2 itemsStatements showing sufficient funds to support yourself and the student during the intended stay.
OVHC policy covering the full period of your stay in Australia, from an approved health insurer. Note: as a guardian visa holder you require OVHC (not OSHC).
Health & character
4 itemsNational police certificates from each country you have lived in for 12 or more months since age 16.
Medical examination completed through an approved Panel Physician or by booking a Health Assessment Portal (HAP) appointment. Results are sent directly to the Department of Home Affairs. Book early — appointments can take several weeks.
Completed Form 80 for Character Assessment. Fill for free →
Form 157N may be required if you need to add or vary travel conditions on your guardian visa. Check your visa grant notice and consult IMMI guidance on whether this applies to your situation.
Ready to lodge your Student Guardian Visa?
Answer a few quick questions to get a checklist tailored to your exact situation — only the documents that apply to you. Upload each file, then export a clean ZIP ready to attach.
Build my personalised checklist →Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590) application?
The Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590) typically requires 15 documents across 6 categories: Identity documents, Relationship to student, Student visa evidence, Welfare & accommodation, Financial capacity, Health & character. Use the personalised builder above to filter this list to your exact circumstances — it removes items that don't apply based on your profile.
How do I prepare my documents for the Student Guardian Visa?
Work through each category in the checklist. Scan or photograph every document as a clear colour PDF at 150–200 DPI. The Department of Home Affairs (ImmiAccount) has a 5 MB per-file limit — compress any oversized file using VisaPacks' built-in tool. Combine multi-page documents (e.g. bank statements, payslips) into a single PDF using Merge. VisaPacks automatically renames your files on export, ready to attach to your ImmiAccount lodgement.
Can I prepare my Student Guardian Visa documents myself without a migration agent?
Yes. Many applicants successfully self-prepare their documents using publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance. VisaPacks provides a free personalised document checklist and upload tool to help you organise everything correctly. For complex cases — such as those involving previous refusals, health waivers, character issues, or difficult relationship circumstances — consulting a registered migration agent (MARA) may be worthwhile.
What file format should Student Guardian Visa documents be in?
The Department of Home Affairs accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files up to 5 MB each. Most documents should be submitted as PDF. Passport photos can be JPG. If a scan exceeds 5 MB, use VisaPacks' built-in PDF compressor to reduce file size while maintaining legibility — it uses three quality levels (screen, standard, or high) so you can choose the right trade-off.
Is this checklist official Department of Home Affairs guidance?
No. This checklist is based on publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance but is maintained by VisaPacks as a convenience tool only — it is not legal advice and does not replace the assessment of a registered migration agent. Always verify current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.
What are the most common mistakes when preparing Student Guardian Visa documents?
The most common errors are: exceeding the 5 MB per-file ImmiAccount limit without compressing first; omitting certified NAATI translations for non-English documents; submitting uncertified copies when originals or certified copies are required; including documents expiring within 6 months (particularly passports); and forgetting documents for a spouse or dependent children on the same application. VisaPacks addresses all of these — it includes a built-in PDF compressor, auto-naming to a consistent convention, and per-applicant sections for family members included in the application.
How does VisaPacks compare to the Department of Home Affairs checklist tool?
The Department of Home Affairs website shows a static document list for each visa type. VisaPacks goes further: it personalises the list to your circumstances (employment type, relationship status, whether children are included), lets you upload documents against each item, includes built-in PDF compression and merging to meet the 5 MB limit, auto-renames files to a consistent naming convention, and exports a complete ready-to-lodge ZIP. VisaPacks is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Home Affairs.