Know these facts cold before the first client conversation - they are also what the exam below tests. No (temporary) - a care visa tied to the student's enrolment.
Visa typeTemporary
LodgementOnshore or offshore
StayAligned to the student's visa / until they turn 18
Work rightsNo work permitted
Study rightsLimited (up to ~20 hours/week of English, or 3-month course)
Government charge~$1,985
Processing time~1-3 months
2. Process flow
The handling sequence for a 590 file, from first consultation to decision. Each step assumes the one before it is genuinely finished - not "mostly done".
Anchor to the student
The 590 stands or falls on the student's visa. Confirm the student's CoE and visa status before anything else.
Evidence the guardianship basis
Prove the applicant is a parent, legal guardian or eligible relative, and that welfare arrangements genuinely depend on them.
Funds and accommodation
Evidence sufficient funds for both guardian and student, plus adequate accommodation for the stay.
Lodge and manage
Lodge aligned with the student's application where possible; respond quickly to any requests.
Grant briefing
Brief hard on the no-work condition - working on a 590 risks cancellation for guardian and knock-on damage to the student.
3. Eligibility checklist
Every box must be confirmable with evidence, not the client's say-so, before you advise that the 590 is viable.
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4. Document checklist
The lodgement pack. Aim for decision-ready: a case officer should be able to grant without asking for anything further.
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5. Cost checklist
Quote the full stack, in writing, before the client signs. Surprise costs are the fastest way to lose a client's trust (and earn a complaint).
Item
Indicative amount
Base visa application charge (2025-26, indicative)
~$1,985
English test (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL)
~$400-460
OSHC (single, per year)
~$500-700
Health examinations (per person)
~$300-500
Additional applicant charges (family members)
Varies by age
Your professional fee
Per your agency's schedule - quote in writing before Form 956
Rule of thumb
Government charges usually change every 1 July - re-quote any file that lodges after 30 June
6. Qualification checklist
Run this in the first consultation, before taking a retainer. It screens the client, not the visa: history, hard stops and honesty come first.
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7. Case studies - eligible cases
Illustrative composites showing what a grantable 590 file looks like in practice.
Grant: Ngoc from Egypt
Background
Ngoc, an undergraduate nursing applicant from Egypt. Parents or legal guardians coming to care for a student under 18 (or a student needing care) studying in Australia.
Why it qualified
(1) You are a parent, legal guardian, or eligible relative of the student. (2) The student holds (or is applying for) a student visa. (3) Sufficient funds to support yourself and the student.
What made the file strong
Dates, names and figures matched across every document - no internal inconsistencies to trigger checks.
Outcome
Granted within the indicative processing window (~1-3 months).
Grant: Omar from Brazil
Background
Omar, a VET commercial-cookery student from Brazil. Parents or legal guardians coming to care for a student under 18 (or a student needing care) studying in Australia.
Why it qualified
(1) You are a parent, legal guardian, or eligible relative of the student. (2) The student holds (or is applying for) a student visa. (3) Sufficient funds to support yourself and the student.
What made the file strong
Every claim was evidenced before lodgement - nothing was left 'to follow'.
Outcome
Granted within the indicative processing window (~1-3 months).
8. Case studies - refusal cases
The same visa, handled badly. Every one of these failure modes is screenable at the first consultation.
Refusal: Priya from South Africa
Background
Priya, a public-health postgraduate applicant from South Africa, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 590.
What went wrong
Applying without the student's visa or CoE in place
Outcome
The refusal went to review: another year, more cost, and no certainty the outcome changes.
Lesson for the agent
Put this issue on the document checklist on day one and refuse to lodge until it is closed out.
Refusal: Rahul from Mexico
Background
Rahul, a Master of IT applicant from Mexico, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 590.
What went wrong
Working in breach of the no-work condition
Outcome
The application was refused, and the refusal must now be declared on every future application, for any country.
Lesson for the agent
Apply the decision-ready test: if you cannot evidence the claim today, the application is not ready to lodge.
9. Self-exam
10 questions drawn from this manual. Pass mark 80%. Answers are graded on the server and your result is recorded against your agent profile - retakes are unlimited and your best score is kept. Log in to the agent portal first so your result is saved to My trainings.