Student Visa Requirements: What You Need to Qualify

To be granted a Subclass 500 visa, you generally need:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered provider

• A response that satisfies the Genuine Student (GS) requirement

• Evidence of financial capacity to cover tuition, living costs, and travel

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your entire stay

• Evidence of English language proficiency where your provider requires it

• To meet health and character requirements

Each of these is assessed together — a strong CoE doesn't offset a weak GS response, and vice versa. The Department looks at your application as a whole picture of genuine study intent.

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The Genuine Student (GS) Requirement, Explained

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024. Instead of one long personal statement, you answer several short, targeted questions inside the online application about your course choice, your background, and your plans after you finish studying.

 

Visa officers use your answers alongside your documents — academic history, course relevance, and financial evidence — to assess whether your intentions are genuine. Being specific and factual in each answer carries more weight than broad or emotional statements.

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Financial Capacity: How Much Money You Need to Show

Since 10 May 2024, Home Affairs sets a minimum living-cost benchmark — pegged at 75% of the national minimum wage — that applies on top of your tuition and travel costs:

• AUD $29,710/year for you as the primary applicant

• AUD $10,394/year for an accompanying spouse or de facto partner

• AUD $4,449/year for each dependent child

• AUD $13,502/year in school costs for each school-age dependant

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If you're relying on a sponsor's income rather than savings, the Department uses a different threshold: AUD $87,856/year if no family members are included on the application, or AUD $102,500/year if a family member is included.

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These figures cover the first 12 months of your stay (or the pro-rata equivalent for shorter courses) — they're not your total budget, and tuition and travel sit on top. If you lodged before 10 May 2024, the Department assesses you against the older, lower thresholds instead.

 

Funds generally need to be genuinely available to you, not just visible in an account on the day you apply — a large lump-sum deposit shortly before you apply draws closer scrutiny than a steady balance built up over months.

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You can prove financial capacity through personal bank statements (typically covering 3–12 months), a loan from an approved financial institution, or a letter of financial support from a sponsor with their financial documents and a statutory declaration attached. Combining more than one source strengthens an application more than relying on a single source.

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Student Visa English Requirement

You must provide an approved English test result taken within 2 years before you lodge your application (or, in some cases, within 2 years before a decision is made). The Department does not accept at-home or fully online tests — this rules out IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, OET@Home, CELPIP Online, MET Digital (at-home), and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

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Minimum scores by test, effective 7 August 2025 (under the Migration (English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas) Instrument 2025, LIN 25/090, which replaced the 2024 instrument):

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Direct entry / 10-week ELICOS or pathway program / 20-week ELICOS — three thresholds per test:

IELTS Academic or General Training: 6.0 average / 5.5 average / 5.0 average

PTE Academic: 47 / 39 / 31 TOEFL iBT: 67 total / 51 total / 37 total

Cambridge C1 Advanced: 161 overall (not accepted at the lower pathway/ELICOS thresholds)

CELPIP General: 7 / 6 / 5

LANGUAGECERT Academic: 61 / 54 / 46 MET: 53 / 49 / 44 OET: 1210 / 1090 / 1020

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In other words, if your principal course is accompanied by at least 10 weeks of ELICOS (or you're in a standard/extended foundation program, or an eligible pathway program), you can qualify at the middle threshold. If it's accompanied by at least 20 weeks of ELICOS, you can qualify at the lowest threshold. Tests taken before 7 August 2025 can still be used for applications lodged after that date, provided they meet either the old instrument's requirements or the transitional provisions in the new one.

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A few test-specific rules to know: for TOEFL iBT, from 21 January 2026 you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" at registration, and tests sat between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 aren't accepted. For Cambridge C1 Advanced, only the paper-based test is accepted for tests taken between 12 February 2024 and 6 August 2025. For LANGUAGECERT Academic, you must submit both the certificate and the report, or your application will be delayed.

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You're exempt from providing a test score if you:

• hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Republic of Ireland

• are a Foreign Affairs/Defence-sponsored student or Secondary Exchange (AASES) student

• are studying a registered school course, a standalone ELICOS, or a course delivered in a language other than English

• are enrolled in a registered postgraduate research course

• have completed 5+ years of study in English in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, NZ, South Africa, or Ireland

• completed your Senior Secondary Certificate or a substantial AQF Certificate IV+ component in Australia in the 2 years before applying, while holding a student visa

 

British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders may still be asked for test evidence despite general exemptions.

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How Much Does a Student Visa Cost?

• AUD $2,500 — standard rate for the main applicant

• AUD $2,050 — ELICOS and Non-Award sector applicants

• AUD $2,500 — postgraduate research students (standard rate)

Additional charges apply for any partner or dependent children included on the same application, and the fee is not refunded if your visa is refused. Budget separately for OSHC, priced by your health fund and course length.

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How Long Can You Stay on a Student Visa?

Up to 6 years, tied to the type and length of your course. Primary school children starting in Years 1 to 4 are generally capped at a maximum of 3 years. You can't extend this visa — to keep studying past its expiry, you need to lodge a brand-new student visa application.

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If your visa expires before you graduate, you may be eligible for a Visitor visa (Subclass 600) with a letter from your provider confirming your graduation date. If you've completed an eligible qualification in the last 6 months, you may instead be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485).​​​​​

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Bringing Your Partner or Children

You can include your partner and dependent children on the same Subclass 500 application, or apply for them to join you later on a subsequent-entrant application.

 

Each family member you include needs their own OSHC cover and contributes to the total financial capacity figure above. School-age dependants also have separate schooling arrangements to plan for, since not all states offer free public schooling to student visa dependants.

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How Do You Apply for the Student Visa?

1. Before you apply — if you're outside Australia, leave enough lead time before your course starts. If you're onshore, apply well before your current visa expires. Organise any required health exams and check your passport's validity.

2. Gather your documents — use the Department's Document Checklist Tool (updated twice a year, on 31 March and 30 September) to confirm exactly what you need for your passport country and provider. See the full checklist below.

3. Apply online — from inside or outside Australia. Submit a complete, decision-ready application. You can attach up to 60 documents. Incomplete applications risk refusal or delay.

4. After you apply — respond to any information requests promptly rather than waiting for the deadline, check ImmiAccount regularly, and avoid booking travel before your visa is finalised.

5. Visa outcome — a written decision gives you your grant number, expiry date, and conditions if approved, or the refusal reason and your review rights if not. The application charge is never refunded on refusal.

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Document Checklist: What You Need to Apply

Beyond your CoE, GS response, financial evidence, and English test result, prepare:

• Passport valid for your intended stay, with a clear scan of the biographical page and any pages showing prior visas

• All CoEs if you're doing a packaged course (for example, an ELICOS or foundation course leading into a degree) — submit every CoE in the package, not just the final one

• OSHC policy confirmation covering your CoE start date through your course end date

• Academic transcripts and qualifications relevant to your course

• Health examination results and police clearance certificates where requested

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Student Visa Conditions You Must Follow

Your grant notice lists numbered conditions under Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994, and breaching any of them gives the Department grounds to cancel your visa under section 116(1) of the Migration Act. The conditions that catch students out most often:

• Condition 8105 — don't exceed your 48-hours-a-fortnight work limit while your course is in session

• Condition 8202 — stay enrolled full-time at your course's AQF level, and maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress. Your provider must report non-compliance to the Department through PRISMS

• Condition 8501 — keep OSHC active for your entire stay, with no gaps between policies

• Condition 8516 — continue to meet the requirements that got your visa granted, including financial capacity

• Condition 8517 — maintain adequate schooling arrangements for any school-age dependants staying more than three months

• Condition 8532 — if you're under 18, maintain approved welfare and accommodation arrangements

• Condition 8533 — tell your provider your residential address within 7 days of arriving, and any changes after that

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Switching to a lower AQF-level course (for example, a Bachelor's visa holder moving to a TAFE diploma) on the same visa breaches Condition 8202 even if your provider processes the transfer — you need a new visa first.

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How Long Does a Student Visa Take to Process?

Processing time depends on your course sector, since the Department tracks each one separately:

• Higher Education Sector: 50% decided same-day, 90% within 16 days

• Independent ELICOS Sector: 50% same-day, 90% within 14 days

• Postgraduate Research Sector: 50% same-day, 90% within 36 days

• Schools Sector: 50% same-day, 90% within 73 days

• Vocational Education and Training Sector: 50% same-day, 90% can take up to the standard 7-month timeframe

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Offshore applications are processed under a risk- and provider-based Ministerial Direction — applications lodged before 14 November 2025 followed Ministerial Direction 111 applications from that date follow Ministerial Direction 115. Lodge well ahead of your course start date with all supporting documents attached, since incomplete applications take longer regardless of sector.

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Can You Work on a Student Visa 500?

Yes, but you cannot work before your course starts. Once it's started, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while the course is in session. If you're studying a master's by research or a doctoral degree, you and your family have no work-hour limit.

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If you're studying a master's by coursework or master's (Extended), your family members have no work limit, but you're still capped at 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session. When your course isn't in session, you can work unlimited hours — but your family members still have limited rights.​

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Common Refusal Reasons — and What Changed When the AAT Became the ART

Top 3 reasons Subclass 500 applications get refused

• A Genuine Student response that doesn't hold together — your course choice, background, and stated plans need to line up logically

• Weak financial capacity evidence — the funds exist on paper but aren't clearly documented or genuinely available

• A course choice that doesn't fit your academic background — a sudden jump that isn't explained raises questions

A refusal under PIC 4020 (false or misleading information, or bogus documents) is more serious than the three above — it can trigger a multi-year exclusion period on future applications.

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If you're refused: onshore vs. offshore

Your review rights depend on where you were when the decision was made:

• Onshore refusal — you generally have the right to apply for merits review

• Offshore refusal — you generally don't, and reapplying with stronger evidence is the main option

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AAT → ART: what changed in October 2024

Since 14 October 2024, the tribunal that hears these reviews is the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

 

A lot of guides still online reference the old AAT process — if you're researching a review, make sure you're reading current ART guidance, not an archived AAT one. Review applications have a strict lodgement deadline after your refusal notice, and current ART processing for student visa matters commonly runs well beyond a year — so a stronger initial application is nearly always the faster path.

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Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)

Applying for your child rather than yourself? You need the Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa instead — it's a separate visa with its own eligibility, cost, and duration rules, since it's built around supporting a student under 18 rather than studying yourself. You cannot study full-time on a 590 visa.

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What Happens After Your Student Visa Ends?

Most graduates who've completed an eligible qualification move to the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), which gives you full work rights for a fixed period after you finish studying — the pathway most international students use to gain Australian work experience before considering a skilled or employer-sponsored visa. Start planning your 485 eligibility and timing well before your student visa expires, since processing and eligibility windows are strict.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the student visa (Subclass 500)?

It's Australia's primary visa for international students studying full-time in a CRICOS-registered course. It costs from AUD $2,500, lasts up to 6 years depending on your course, and allows up to 48 hours of work a fortnight while your course is in session.

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How much does the student visa cost in 2026?

The standard rate is AUD $2,500 for the main applicant. ELICOS and Non-Award sector applicants pay AUD $2,050. Postgraduate research students pay the standard AUD $2,500 rate. None of these fees are refunded if the visa is refused.

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Do I need an English test for the student visa?

Only if you don't fall into an exemption category. If you do, the standard minimum is IELTS 6.0 average (or equivalent — PTE Academic 47, TOEFL iBT 67), dropping to IELTS 5.5 with a 10-week ELICOS or eligible pathway program, or IELTS 5.0 with a 20-week ELICOS.

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How much money do I need for a student visa?

The primary applicant needs AUD $29,710. Add AUD $10,394 for a spouse or de facto partner, AUD $4,449 for each dependent child, and AUD $13,502 in annual school costs per school-aged dependant. These figures have applied since 10 May 2024 and sit on top of tuition and travel costs.

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Can my partner or children come with me on a student visa?

Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children on your application, or they can apply later as subsequent entrants. They must meet health and character requirements.

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Can I work while holding a student visa?

Yes, up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during course breaks. Master's by research and Doctoral students have no work-hour limit at all.

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How long does a student visa take to process?

It depends on your course sector. Higher Education Sector: 90% decided within 16 days. Postgraduate Research: 90% within 36 days. Schools Sector: 90% within 73 days. Vocational Education and Training can take up to the standard 7-month timeframe for 90% of cases.

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What happens if I breach my student visa conditions?

Breaching a condition like Condition 8105 (work hours) or Condition 8202 (attendance and progress) gives the Department grounds to cancel your visa under section 116(1) of the Migration Act. Your provider is legally required to report attendance and progress failures through PRISMS before any cancellation decision.

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What if my student visa is refused?

Refusal usually comes down to a weak Genuine Student response, insufficient financial evidence, or a course choice that doesn't fit your background. Onshore refusals generally carry review rights at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024. Offshore refusals generally don't, making a stronger reapplication the main path forward.

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What's the difference between the Subclass 500 and Subclass 590?

The 500 is for the person studying. The 590 is for a parent, custodian, or relative supporting a student under 18. If you're the student, you need the 500 — not the 590.

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Talk to a Registered Migration Agent

Meeting every criterion — the Genuine Student response, financial evidence, English requirement, and OSHC — takes careful preparation, and a refusal isn't cheap or fast to fix.

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Why RACC?

• 20+ years of experience

• Full preparation for your immigration application

• Police check preparation

• Arranging your new health insurance

• Advice on medical checkups

• Catching the small, careless mistakes that lead to visa rejections

• Support for applications lodged from outside Australia too

• 4.8 out of 5 customer satisfaction

• A multilingual team — English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bahasa, Sinhalese, Malay, Thai, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hindi, Punjabi, and more

• Registered Migration Agents (MARN1572961, MARN1172003)

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Book a consultation and get your student visa application checked before you lodge.