Financial Capacity for Australia 590 Guardian Visa in 2026
There is no single published "590 visa amount" to hit. The Department of Home Affairs asks you to declare and evidence a total built from four cost items, and that total has to cover three groups of people: you, the student visa holder you are guarding, and any family members travelling with you. The requirement comes from the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) page published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and from subclause 590.216 of the Migration Regulations 1994, which requires sufficient funds to be available for the applicant's own costs and expenses, for each member of the family unit who will be in Australia, and — except in the bilateral-benefit case in 590.211(4) — for each nominating student.
What has to be covered, and by whom?
The rule is deliberately broader than "the guardian's own living costs". You need enough money to pay for travel costs for you and the student visa holder, 12 months of course fees for the student visa holder (or pro rata if the course runs for less than 12 months), 12 months of living costs for you, the student visa holder and accompanying family members, and school fees for school-age children who accompany you. In practice, a guardian who arrives with a young child is budgeting for a household, not for one person, and the assessment follows that household.
Family composition also changes who you are budgeting for. Children under 6 can only be included if there are compelling and compassionate circumstances or the grant would significantly benefit Australia's relationship with another government, and if such a child is granted a visa it is valid only until their sixth birthday; children aged 6 or older travelling with you must apply for their own Student visa.
How much is each component in 2026?
The official page publishes the following figures, and the department notes that actual living costs vary across Australia and recommends researching the area you intend to live in.
| Component | Published amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs, 12 months — you | AUD29,710 | Per guardian applicant |
| Living costs, 12 months — each accompanying child | AUD4,449 | Per child |
| Schooling costs, children under 6 | AUD13,502 | Per child, per year; costs vary by state, territory and school |
| Travel costs | AUD2,000 per person | Stated as a guide |
| Course fees, student visa holder | Not a fixed figure | 12 months of the student's actual course fees, or pro rata |
Two things are worth flagging. First, the 590 page itemises living costs for you and for each accompanying child, and separately requires 12 months of course fees and travel for the student visa holder; it does not publish a separate living-cost line for the student on this page, even though the regulation still requires the student's costs and expenses to be met. Second, the course-fee and schooling components are not numbers the department fixes for you — you are responsible for finding out what the student's course and the child's school actually cost.
What if the stay is shorter than 12 months?
Costs are calculated pro rata. The official method is to divide the annual cost by 365 and multiply the result by the number of days you intend to stay in Australia. Course fees are also pro rata where the course is shorter than 12 months, and school fees are pro rata where a child will be at school for less than 12 months.
Can a spouse's income replace savings?
Yes, on a specific set of terms. Instead of showing funds, you can show that your spouse or de facto partner — who is not travelling to Australia — will support you, provided they have an annual income of AUD102,500 or more in the 12 months immediately before you apply. The income must be evidenced by official government documents such as tax assessments issued less than 12 months before the application; bank statements and direct evidence from an employer are expressly not accepted for this purpose.
What counts as acceptable evidence of funds?
The official page lists three categories: money deposits held within a financial institution, loans from a financial institution and/or government, and scholarship or financial support. If someone else is providing the funds, you must give evidence of your relationship with that person and their identity documents, and only certain people are acceptable as financial supporters. Where you rely on deposits, you must explain their source.
What does "genuine access" mean in practice?
Genuine access is a separate test from the headline amount: showing the right number in the wrong form, or showing a number you cannot actually reach while in Australia, does not satisfy it. Decision-maker guidance for subclass 590 treats non-cash assets such as property as unacceptable evidence, looks closely at whether funds sit in the applicant's, spouse's or parents' names rather than with an unrelated third party, asks for a source explanation for large lump-sum deposits, and examines loans for purpose, repayment capacity and whether the funds have actually been drawn. Guidance also warns against the same money being counted for both the student's Student visa application and the guardian's application, and treats business accounts as needing separate proof that the applicant can use the funds.
These practice points come from the Department's policy guidance for decision makers on subclass 590. This article is general information only and is not personalised advice on your circumstances; because funds evidence is assessed case by case, check your own position against the official requirements or with a qualified professional before lodging.
What the funds figure does not include
Health cover is a separate requirement: you must evidence adequate health insurance for you and your family members for the first 12 months of your stay, which can be an Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) premium or another Australian or home-country product offering a similar level of cover. The visa application charge is also separate from the funds calculation, and the official page states the application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one minimum bank balance for a 590 visa in 2026?
No. The requirement is a total built from travel, 12 months of course fees for the student, 12 months of living costs, and school fees for accompanying school-age children, so the figure depends on your student's fees and your household composition. The published building blocks are AUD29,710 living costs for you, AUD4,449 per accompanying child, at least AUD13,502 per year per child under 6 for schooling, and AUD2,000 per person for travel as a guide.
Does the AUD29,710 living-cost figure cover the student as well?
The 590 page publishes AUD29,710 as the guardian's 12-month living costs and AUD4,449 per accompanying child, and separately requires 12 months of course fees and travel for the student visa holder. Subclause 590.216 still requires sufficient funds for the costs and expenses of each nominating student, so check the current official page for how the student's living costs should be evidenced in your circumstances.
Can I use a loan instead of savings?
Yes — loans from a financial institution and/or a government are listed as acceptable evidence on the official page. Decision-maker guidance additionally examines the loan's purpose, whether it has been drawn, and repayment capacity, which matters for a 590 applicant because the visa does not carry work rights in the ordinary case.
Can my parents, a friend or another relative fund my application?
Funds from someone other than you must be supported by evidence of your relationship with that person and their identity documents, and the department states that only certain people are acceptable as financial supporters. Subclass 590 policy guidance treats third-party funds as generally unacceptable, with the applicant's own, spouse's or parents' funds being the safer structure.
What income evidence is accepted for the AUD102,500 spouse route?
Your non-travelling spouse or de facto partner must have annual income of AUD102,500 or more in the 12 months immediately before you apply, evidenced by official government documents such as tax assessments less than 12 months old. Bank statements and direct evidence from an employer will not be accepted as evidence of annual income.
Do I still need funds if the student already showed money for their Student visa?
Yes. The 590 applicant carries their own financial capacity requirement under subclause 590.216, covering themselves, accompanying family members and the nominating student. Guidance also treats the same funds being counted for both the student's Student visa and the guardian's application as a problem, so the two evidence sets should be separable.