Australia student visa · subclass 500

Student Visa Subclass 500 Australia

The Student visa subclass 500 lets you study full-time in Australia at a registered school, college or university, from English courses and vocational training through to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Touseef Abbasi, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518930), helps students in Australia and overseas prepare applications that meet the Genuine Student requirement, show the right financial evidence and avoid common refusal grounds.

Registered Migration Agent · Touseef Abbasi · MARN 2518930

Important: Student visa subclass 500 rules changed on 2 October 2026

Most people must now apply from outside Australia, and most students can no longer include a partner or children. Check the changes below before you enroll or pay a course deposit.

Quick Overview

Student Visa Subclass 500 at a Glance

Understand the key features of the Australian Student visa subclass 500 before you begin your application.

Visa Type

Temporary

Length of stay

Up to 5 years

In line with your enrolment

Work rights

48 hours

Per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited during scheduled breaks

Visa charge

AUD 2,500

Main applicant, from 1 July 2026

Where to apply

Generally offshore

From 2 October 2026

Family members

Limited cases

Under the rules from 2 October 2026

After your studies

Subclass 485

You may be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa

Eligibility

Who Can Apply for a Student Visa?

Understand the key features of the Australian Student visa subclass 500 before you begin your application.

Be enrolled in a course registered on CRICOS and hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), or a letter of support if sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence.
Be at least 6 years old.
Meet the Genuine Student requirement.
Have enough money to pay for your course, travel and living costs.
Meet the English language requirement, unless exempt.
Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay.
Have suitable welfare arrangements if you are under 18.
Meet the health and character requirements.
Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

Policy update

Student Visa Changes from 2 October 2026

The supplied page content identifies two important areas affected by the new rules. Check your circumstances before applying.

Applying from Inside Australia

Most applicants must now apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Holders of 17 temporary visas cannot make a valid student visa application in Australia.

These include Visitor visa (subclass 600), ETA, eVisitor, Working Holiday (417 and 462), Skills in Demand (482), Temporary Graduate (485), Training (407) and Temporary Activity (408) visas.

Limited cases for current student visa holders

If you already hold a student visa, you can apply again in Australia only in limited cases, for example if you:

Need up to 12 more months to finish your current course with the same provider.
Are moving to a course at a higher qualification level.
Are enrolling in a doctoral degree or in primary or secondary school.
Are sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence.
Cannot continue because your education provider has closed.

Moving to a course at the same or a lower level generally means applying from outside Australia.

Including Your Partner and Children

Most students can no longer include a partner or children in their application. Exceptions include:

Doctoral students.
Students sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence.
Students on a foreign government scholarship.
Some Pacific and ASEAN passport holders.

Family members can no longer be added after the visa is granted, so plan this before you apply.

Family members who already held a student visa as a family member on 2 October 2026 keep their protection. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are decided under the old rules.

Your study intentions

The Genuine Student Requirement

Since 23 March 2024, the Genuine Student requirement has replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.
In your application you answer questions about:

Your answers must match your documents. A gap in your studies, or a course that does not connect with your background, needs a clear and honest explanation.

Financial capacity

Student Visa Financial Requirements

You must show genuine access to enough money for your first 12 months in Australia, or for your whole course if it is shorter.

Cost	Amount (12 months)
Living costs, main applicant	AUD 29,710
Living costs, partner (where family can be included)	AUD 10,394
Living costs, each child (where family can be included)	AUD 4,449
School costs, each school-age child	AUD 13,502 per year
Course fees	Your first year of tuition
Travel	Return travel to and from Australia

Show where your funds come from

Instead of savings, some applicants can show an annual income from a parent or partner. Bank statements, education loan letters and sponsor documents must show where the money came from. Large deposits made just before you apply are a common reason for refusal.

English language

English Language Requirements

Most applicants need an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 overall, or an equal score in another accepted test such as PTE Academic.

You may be accepted with a lower score if you take an English (ELICOS) course before your main course. The list of accepted tests changed on 7 August 2025, so check that your test is on the current list before you book it.

You are generally exempt if you hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or if you have recently studied in English for a set period.

Your university or college may ask for a higher score than the visa does. See our English requirements page and our guide to English test scores for 2026.

A+

Check your English test before booking

Accepted tests and score requirements can differ by course provider and visa circumstances.

Application charges

Student Visa Cost

Visa application charges from 1 July 2026, as stated in the supplied page content.

Applicant	Visa application charge
Main applicant	AUD 2,500
Family member 18 or over	AUD 1,530
Family member under 18	AUD 500

Some ASEAN, Pacific and Timor-Leste passport holders, and students in independent English (ELICOS) or non-award courses, pay a lower charge. You also pay for OSHC, your English test, health examinations and biometrics where required. Check the exact amount for your case with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.

Decision timeframes

Student Visa Processing Time

These are the Home Affairs processing times published in September 2026, as recorded in the supplied document.

Course type	50% decided within	90% decided within
Higher education (bachelor’s, master’s)	16 days	4 months
Vocational education (VET)	53 days	7 months
Independent English (ELICOS)	22 days	53 days
Schools	28 days	7 months
Postgraduate research	17 days	55 days

These times change every month; see the latest on the Home Affairs processing times page. Missing documents, unclear financial evidence and health examinations that are booked late are common causes of delay.

Prepare your evidence

Student Visa Document Checklist

Prepare the documents relevant to your circumstances. The documents you must upload depend on your country and your education provider.

Passport and national identity card.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), or a letter of support if sponsored.
Genuine Student answers with supporting evidence, such as transcripts, certificates and employment letters.
Financial evidence, such as bank statements, loan approval letters and sponsor income documents.
English test results, unless you are exempt.
OSHC policy details.
Welfare arrangements if you are under 18 (approved by your school, or a parent or relative as your guardian).
Health examination results and police certificates if requested.
Details of any previous visa refusals or cancellations.

Use the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool to see your list.

Avoid common problems

Common Reasons Student Visas Are Refused

Understanding common concerns can help you prepare consistent and well-supported information.

Genuine Student Concerns

The course doesn’t connect with your past study or work, or a study gap isn’t explained.

Financial Evidence

The money isn’t shown to be genuinely available, there are large recent deposits, or a sponsor’s income isn’t proven.

Inconsistent Information

Your answers and your documents tell different stories.

English Evidence

The test isn’t on the accepted list, or the score is too low.

Visa History

Past refusals, cancellations or breaches of visa conditions that weren’t disclosed.

Review Before Lodgment

We review your profile before you pay a deposit, check every document, and help you write clear Genuine Student answers. We check first whether you can apply onshore.

If an application made in Australia is refused, you may be able to apply for review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, but strict time limits apply. Applications made outside Australia generally have no review rights.

Your next step

After Your Studies

When you finish an eligible course, you may be able to apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which lets you live and work in Australia after graduation.

For a full guide to costs, courses and the rules for Pakistani students, read our Student Visa Australia 2026 guide.

Plan beyond graduation

Post-study visa eligibility depends on the applicable visa criteria and your individual circumstances. Review your options before your current visa expires.

Application Journey

How to Apply for a Student Visa

A structured process can help you prepare your application and supporting evidence.

Book a Consultation

We look at your study history, finances and visa history and tell you honestly how strong your case is.

Choose Your Course and Provider

Make sure the course fits your background and plans before you accept an offer or pay a deposit.

Accept Your Offer and Receive Your CoE

Your provider issues the Confirmation of Enrolment after you accept and pay.

Arrange OSHC

Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover for the full length of your visa.

Prepare Your Evidence

Gather your documents, financial evidence and Genuine Student answers.

Lodge Your Application Online

Lodge in ImmiAccount from outside Australia, unless one of the onshore exceptions applies, and pay the visa charge.

Complete Biometrics and Health Checks

Give biometrics and do health examinations if the Department asks you to.

Respond and Wait for a Decision

Answer any requests and wait for the decision. If you applied from outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Common questions

Student Visa Subclass 500 FAQs

Answers to common questions about Student visa subclass 500.

Can I apply for a student visa in Australia while on a visitor visa?

No. From 2 October 2026, visitor visa (subclass 600), ETA and eVisitor holders cannot make a valid student visa application in Australia. You need to apply from outside Australia.

Can I bring my spouse and children on a student visa?

Only in limited cases, such as doctoral students, sponsored students and some Pacific and ASEAN passport holders. Family members can no longer be added after your visa is granted.

How many hours can I work on a student visa?

Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. You cannot start work until your course has started.

How much money do I need to show?

AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus your first year of course fees and travel costs. Your money must be genuinely yours or your sponsor’s, and you must be able to show where it came from.

How long does a student visa take?

For higher education courses, 90% of applications were decided within 4 months, based on Home Affairs figures published in September 2026. VET and school applications took up to 7 months.

Can I change my course after I arrive in Australia?

Sometimes, but moving to a lower-level course needs a new student visa, and under the October 2026 rules you would usually have to apply from outside Australia. Speak to us before you change course.

What happened to the GTE requirement?

The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement was replaced by the Genuine Student requirement for applications from 23 March 2024. You now answer questions in the application form instead of writing a separate GTE statement.

Reviewed by Touseef Abbasi

Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518930)

This page is general information, not advice for your situation. Visa rules and charges change often, so check the Department of Home Affairs website or speak to us before you apply.

Take the next step

Start Your Student Visa Application

Planning to study in Australia? Book a consultation and we’ll check your course choice, finances and Genuine Student answers before you lodge, so you apply once and apply right.