Studying on a Visitor Visa: The 3 Month Rule and Your Options

Many visitors want to do a short English course or a few weeks of training while in Australia. A visitor visa allows some study, but only up to 3 months. If you want to do a longer course, you need a student visa, and visitor visa holders now have to apply for that from outside Australia. This guide explains the rules.

What condition 8201 allows

• short English language courses;
• short training courses, workshops and recreational classes;
• any combination of study and training, as long as the total is 3 months or less while you are in Australia.

Three months means total time, not per course. If you do two courses back to back, both count. See permissible activities on visitor visas.

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Moving to a student visa

Visitor visa, ETA and eVisitor holders cannot lodge a student visa application while in Australia. You would need to apply from outside Australia, and be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Since 2 October 2026, most current students must also apply from outside Australia for a new student visa. See applying for a student visa from outside Australia and student visa changes from 2 October 2026.

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Former students on a visitor visa

If you are in Australia and hold a student visa, or have held one since you last entered, a Tourist stream visitor visa cannot be granted for the purpose of starting, continuing or completing a registered course you are enrolled in. A visitor visa is not a way around student visa rules. See ending visa hopping.

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Children

Children visiting Australia are also limited to 3 months of study. School enrolment for a longer period usually needs a student visa.

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What you should do now

• Check your total study time: keep it to 3 months or less.
• Plan a student visa from overseas: for longer courses.
• Keep course records: in case you are asked.
• Do not enrol in a long course: on a visitor visa.