Student Guardian Visa (590): Be There for Your Child While They Study.
Sending a child under 18 to study in Perth is a big step, and no parent wants them facing it alone. The 590 lets a parent, legal guardian or eligible relative come and live with the student, provide a home, and look after their welfare.
This visa exists for one reason: your child doesn't have to be alone.
The student guardian visa lets you come to Australia to care for a student visa holder who is under 18. Most often that's a parent looking after their own child, but a legal guardian or an eligible relative can also apply. In limited cases a guardian can support a student over 18 where there are special circumstances.
The visa is tied closely to the student - it runs alongside their study, and the conditions are shaped around caring for them rather than building a life of your own here. That's the trade-off to understand up front. The 590 is a generous, practical answer to a real worry, but it asks you to put the student first.
Younger students often can't study in Australia without an approved guardian in place. The 590 lets you be that person, living with them, taking them to school, and being there for the everyday and the difficult days alike.
The main requirements for a 590.
- A student visa holder you are responsible for - usually under 18
- To be a parent, legal guardian or an eligible relative of that student
- To provide accommodation, general welfare and support for the student
- Enough money to support yourself and the student
- Adequate health insurance for your stay, and the usual health and character requirements
Conditions that catch people out. As a guardian you generally can't work, and you can only study for a limited number of hours. Usually only one guardian holds this role at a time, and bringing other young children with you is restricted. The exact limits are set by the government and reviewed over time - we'll confirm the current rules for your situation before you apply.
We make sure the Department can see your child will be properly looked after.
We present the relationship, the care arrangements and your finances clearly. We sort the health insurance and supporting documents, and we walk you through the work and study limits so there are no surprises once you're here.
If your circumstances are unusual - an older student, or another child in the picture - we work through what's possible before you apply. The aim is simple: get you here, settled, and beside your child.
The 590 at a practical level.
The Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa is built around one job - caring for the student - so what it lets you do and what it holds back both follow from that. Reading the two columns side by side tends to clear up the most common misunderstandings.
| What the 590 allows | What it limits |
|---|---|
| Live with the student and provide their home and day-to-day care | Work is not permitted - the visa is for caring, not earning |
| Stay alongside the student for the period of their study | Study is allowed for limited hours only, not full-time |
| Apply as a parent, legal guardian or an eligible relative | Usually only one guardian holds the role at a time |
| Provide the welfare and accommodation the student needs to study | Bringing other young children with you is restricted |
On the cost. A government application charge applies to a 590, and these charges have risen in recent years. We won't print a figure here that may already be out of date - we confirm the current charge with you before you apply, and we quote our own professional fee in writing so you can see both clearly. See other family visa options if you are weighing up the right path for your family.
Student guardian 590 questions.
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
Want to be there?
If your child is heading to Perth to study, let's check whether you can come and care for them under the 590.