Student Visa Australia 2026
Subclass 500 Fees, Requirements and How to Apply

Who can apply for an Australian Student visa (Subclass 500)?

Any international student who enrols in a full-time CRICOS-registered course can apply for a Subclass 500 visa. CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.

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School students must be at least 6 years old and within these age limits when they start each year:

• under 17 when starting Year 9

• under 18 when starting Year 10

• under 19 when starting Year 11

• under 20 when starting Year 12

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Students under 18 must also have welfare arrangements in place. These can be a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) from the provider, or a nominated guardian using Form 157N. A parent or relative who comes as the guardian applies for the Student Guardian visa (Subclass 590).

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Secondary students planning to finish Year 12 in Australia can read our international VCE students guide.

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Can you apply for a Student visa while you are in Australia?

From 2 October 2026, you cannot make a valid Student visa application in Australia if you hold one of these visas.

 

You must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

• Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400)

• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (Subclass 403), Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream only

• Training visa (Subclass 407)

• Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408)

• Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417)

• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (Subclass 457)

• Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462)

• Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)

• Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)

• Visitor visa (Subclass 600)

• Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)

• Medical Treatment visa (Subclass 602)

• eVisitor (Subclass 651)

• Transit visa (Subclass 771)

• Maritime Crew visa (Subclass 988)

• Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (Subclass 995), primary holder only. Family members of a 995 holder can apply in Australia.

Current Student visa holders must also apply from outside Australia for their next Student visa, unless an exemption applies.

 

The exemptions are:

• finishing your principal course within 12 months of the end date on its CoE

• moving to one further course at a higher AQF level after completing your principal course

• enrolling in a doctoral degree

• school students

• Defence or Foreign Affairs students

• provider default

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If none of these rules applies to you, you can apply in Australia as long as you hold a substantive visa.

For each exemption in detail, see New Student Visa Rules in Australia.

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Student visa requirements: the full checklist

To be granted a Subclass 500 visa, every primary applicant must:

• Hold a CoE for every intended course, valid when you lodge and when the Department decides your application.

• Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

• Have enough money for travel, course fees and living costs.

• Hold OSHC for the whole stay, unless an exception applies to you.

• Meet the English requirement if the Department asks for evidence.

• Meet the health requirement. This also applies to every family member on the application.

• Meet the character requirement. This also applies to every family member aged 16 or over.

• Sign the Australian Values Statement if you are 18 or older.

• Have repaid any debt to the Australian Government, or arranged to repay it. This also covers family members, including those not on the application.

• Have welfare arrangements if you are under 18.

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The Department also considers your immigration history, including past visa refusals and cancellations. It can refuse a visa for an applicant under 18 if the grant is not in the child's best interests.

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Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a Student visa

A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is the document your CRICOS-registered provider issues to confirm your enrolment. Without one, your Subclass 500 application is invalid and the Department cannot process it.

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Still choosing a course? RACC's study options guide for in-demand occupations compares diploma, bachelor and master courses, including nursing courses in Australia.

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Key CoE rules:

• Attach a CoE for every course you plan to study.

• A CoE stops being valid when the course is cancelled or completed.

• For a packaged course, such as ELICOS followed by a bachelor's degree, list every CoE code. Otherwise your visa may only cover the one CoE you provided.

• Gaps between packaged courses must be less than two calendar months. The exception is the standard break between academic years, which is generally three to four months.

• The last course in the package is your main course. The Department uses it to set your English and financial evidence.

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Some students give other evidence instead of a CoE:

• DFAT scholarship students and Defence-sponsored students: a letter of support

• Secondary exchange students: an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form

• Postgraduate research students staying while their thesis is marked: a letter from their provider

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Genuine Student (GS) requirement explained

The Genuine Student requirement tests whether studying in Australia is your main reason for applying for a Subclass 500 visa. It applies to applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.

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The online form asks you to answer, in English and in up to 150 words each:

• your current circumstances, including ties to family, community and work, and your economic situation

• why you chose this course with this provider in Australia, including what you understand about the course and about living in Australia

• how completing the course will benefit you

• any other relevant information

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An extra question applies if you have held a Student visa before, or if you are applying in Australia from a non-student visa.

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The Department gives more weight to answers backed by documents. Examples include:

• academic transcripts and certificates

• your study history in Australia, including reasons for any course or provider change and any study gap longer than 2 months

• employment details and a contact who can confirm them

• evidence of your economic circumstances for the 12 months before you apply

• reasons for not studying a similar course in your home country

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Weak GS answers are one of the most common reasons for refusal. Our visa refusal guide explains what happens if the Department refuses your application.

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Planning to apply for permanent residence later does not count against you under the GS requirement. Source: Genuine Student requirement and Ministerial Direction No. 106.

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Financial capacity: how much money do you need for a Student visa?

Financial capacity is the evidence that you can pay for your travel, course fees and living costs while holding a Subclass 500 visa.

 

You must show enough money for:

• travel for each person on the application

• the first 12 months of course fees, less any amount you have already paid (with a receipt or CoE as proof)

• 12 months of living costs for you and each family member coming with you

• school fees for each school-age child coming with you

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The Department's minimum living costs are:

• Student: AUD 29,710 a year

• Partner: AUD 10,394 a year

• Each child: AUD 4,449 a year

• Each school-age child: at least AUD 13,502 a year in schooling costs

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The Department's guide amounts for travel costs are:

• AUD 2,000 from anywhere outside Australia, except Africa

• AUD 2,500 from East or Southern Africa

• AUD 3,000 from West Africa

• AUD 1,000 if you are applying in Australia, or AUD 1,500 if you will return to Africa

To work out costs for a stay shorter than 12 months, divide the annual cost by 365 and multiply by the number of days you will stay.

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Course fee examples from the Department:

• A 3-year course costing AUD 50,000 counts as AUD 16,666 for 12 months.

• An 18-month course costing AUD 20,000 counts as AUD 13,333 for 12 months.

The income option. Instead of savings, you can show that your parents or your partner earned at least AUD 87,856 in the 12 months before you apply. The figure rises to AUD 102,500 if family members come with you.

• Both parents' incomes can be combined.

• The evidence must be official government documents, such as tax assessments less than 12 months old.

• The Department does not accept bank statements or direct evidence from an employer for this option.

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Genuine access to funds. The Department checks that the money is really available to you.

• A bank balance certificate for a single day does not show how your funds built up.

• Provide transaction history and explain the source of large deposits.

• For a loan, provide the loan terms and evidence of disbursement.

• If someone else funds you, give evidence of your relationship, their identity documents and any past support.

• If the funds come from a business, show that the business is operating.

These figures are the visa minimum, not a full budget. The Study Australia cost of living calculator helps you estimate real costs in your city.

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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) requirement

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the health insurance that Subclass 500 visa holders must hold for their whole stay. It must come from an approved OSHC provider and cover every person on the application.

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OSHC rules:

• Applying from outside Australia: cover must start on the day you arrive, not the day your course starts.

• Applying in Australia: cover must continue with no gap from your previous health insurance.

• Two providers: if you study with two providers and both arrange OSHC, the second policy must start when the first ends.

• Missing details: the Department will refuse your application if you don't give your OSHC details.

• Family joining later: family members who join you later must show their own OSHC.

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Three groups of students may not need OSHC:

• Norwegian students covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme

• Swedish students covered by Kammarkollegiet

• Belgian students covered under Belgium's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia

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Health and character requirements for a Student visa

Every person on a Subclass 500 application must meet the health requirement. You might need health examinations.

• You can have them before you apply.

• Or you can wait. After you lodge, ImmiAccount shows whether you need them and gives you a referral letter with a HAP ID.

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If you are applying from outside Australia and have travelled from, or spent time in, a country at risk of polio, you must provide a polio vaccination certificate.

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You and every family member aged 16 or over must meet the character requirement. The Department can ask for police certificates.

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English language requirement for a Student visa

Whether you must provide English test evidence depends on your passport country and provider. The Document Checklist Tool tells you whether you need to provide it. The Department can still ask for English evidence at any time before it decides your application.

Test timing:

• Regular Evidence level: your test must be taken within 2 years before you lodge.

• Streamlined Evidence level: if the Department asks for a test, it must be within 2 years before the decision.

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Tests not accepted: tests delivered entirely online or at home, including IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, CELPIP Online, MET Digital (at home) and LANGUAGECERT Academic Online.

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Minimum scores for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 under LIN 25/090. Each line shows direct entry / with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or an eligible pathway or foundation program / with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS:

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

• PTE Academic: 47 / 39 / 31

• TOEFL iBT: 67 / 51 / 37. From 21 January 2026, select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register. Tests taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 are not accepted.

• C1 Advanced: 161 for direct entry only

• CELPIP General: 7 / 6 / 5

• LANGUAGECERT Academic: 61 / 54 / 46. Submit both the certificate and the report.

• MET: 53 / 49 / 44

• OET: 1210 / 1090 / 1020

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Minimum scores for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, using the same three levels:

• IELTS: 6.0 / 5.5 / 5.0

• TOEFL iBT: 64 / 46 / 35

• Cambridge CAE: 169 / 162 / 154

• PTE Academic: 50 / 42 / 36

• OET: B for each component at all three levels

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Who is exempt from giving an English test score:

• citizens holding a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland

• Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students, and secondary exchange (AASES) students

• students whose principal course is a registered school course, a standalone ELICOS course, or a course delivered in a language other than English

• students enrolled in a registered postgraduate research course

• students who have completed at least 5 years of study in English in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or Ireland

• students who, while holding a Student visa in the 2 years before applying, completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate in English, or a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher course

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British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders may still be asked for a test score.

Need to lift your score? RACC runs PTE preparation classes and a PTE online workshop. If you narrowly missed one IELTS band, read about the IELTS One Skill Retake.

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How much does a Student visa cost in Australia in 2026?

A Student visa (Subclass 500) costs AUD 2,500 for most main applicants in 2026. Family members, onshore history, passport and education sector change the total.

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The figures below come from the official visa pricing table, checked on 28 September 2026.

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Standard sector (all other students, including Higher Education, VET and Schools):

• Main applicant: AUD 2,500

• Each family member aged 18 or over: AUD 1,530

• Each family member under 18: AUD 500

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ELICOS sector and Non-Award sector:

• Main applicant: AUD 2,050

• Each family member aged 18 or over: AUD 1,255

• Each family member under 18: AUD 410

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Postgraduate research sector:

• Main applicant: AUD 2,500

• Family members: no charge. Family members of postgraduate research students are exempt from the visa application charge.

Foreign Affairs or Defence sector and secondary exchange students: AUD 0

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Lower Student visa charges for ASEAN, Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens

The Department of Home Affairs charges a lower Subclass 500 visa cost to primary applicants who hold a valid passport from an eligible country.

• Family members also receive the lower cost, based on the primary applicant's passport.

• ImmiAccount applies the lower cost automatically, based on the passport you use in the application.

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Eligible countries:

• ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

• Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Timor-Leste citizens pay the Pacific rate, not the ASEAN rate.

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The Visa Pricing Estimator returned these amounts for an offshore application in the standard sector, checked on 28 September 2026:

• Indonesian passport (ASEAN rate): AUD 2,050 main applicant, AUD 1,255 for each family member aged 18 or over, AUD 410 for each child under 18

• Fijian passport (Pacific rate): AUD 745 main applicant, AUD 555 for each family member aged 18 or over, AUD 185 for each child under 18

Run the Visa Pricing Estimator with your own passport, sector and family details before you pay. RACC's visa fee calculator guide explains how each charge is built up.

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Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (AUD 700) for onshore applicants

The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge is an extra AUD 700 on a Subclass 500 application. It applies to each person on the application who meets all three of these tests:

• they are in Australia when they apply

• they hold a certain temporary visa, or it was the last substantive visa they held. This includes a Student, Visitor, Working Holiday, Work and Holiday, Training, Temporary Activity or Skills in Demand visa.

• they applied for that visa while in Australia

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The charge does not apply if:

• you are outside Australia when you apply

• this is your first substantive temporary visa application made in Australia

• your current Student visa was granted because of an education provider default

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Who pays no Student visa application charge?

These Subclass 500 applicants pay no visa application charge:

• students on an Australian Commonwealth Government scholarship

• students and family members supported by DFAT or the Department of Defence

• secondary exchange students

• students affected by an education provider default who lodge a new application within 12 months of the default day

• family members of students enrolled in a postgraduate research course

• students affected by COVID-19 who meet the Department's conditions and attach Form 1545

Sponsorship by your home country's government, or a loan from it, does not make you a Commonwealth-sponsored student. If you are unsure whether you are exempt, don't claim the exemption. An invalid application can affect your visa status in Australia.

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Other Student visa costs to budget for

The visa application charge is only one cost. The Department lists other costs you might pay:

• health examinations

• police certificates

• biometrics

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Other costs include:

• OSHC, priced by your insurer and your length of stay

• English test fees, set by each test provider

• translation of non-English documents

The Department does not refund the visa application charge if it refuses your application.

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Student visa cost and funds: worked scenarios

These scenarios use the Department's visa application charges and minimum living costs, checked on 28 September 2026. Course fees vary by provider, so each scenario shows them as a separate item.

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Scenario 1: single student, Higher Education, applying from India

• Visa application charge: AUD 2,500

• Funds to show: AUD 29,710 living costs + AUD 2,000 travel + the first 12 months of course fees

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Scenario 2: Indonesian student with a partner and one child, applying from Indonesia

• Visa application charge: AUD 2,050 + AUD 1,255 + AUD 410 = AUD 3,715 (ASEAN rate, estimator result)

• Funds to show: AUD 29,710 + AUD 10,394 + AUD 4,449 living costs, plus travel for all three people, plus the first 12 months of course fees

• If the child is school-age, add at least AUD 13,502 a year in schooling costs

• The 17 September 2026 announcement said ASEAN nations will keep special conditions allowing family

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Scenario 3: student with a partner and one child, standard rate, applying from outside Australia

• Visa application charge: AUD 2,500 + AUD 1,530 + AUD 500 = AUD 4,530

• Funds to show: AUD 44,553 in living costs (AUD 29,710 + AUD 10,394 + AUD 4,449), plus travel for all three people and the first 12 months of course fees

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Scenario 4: student already in Australia on a Student visa they applied for from overseas

• Applying for a new Student visa in Australia: AUD 2,500 main applicant. There is no Subsequent Temporary Application Charge, because the current visa was applied for outside Australia.

• If they later apply again in Australia, the AUD 700 charge applies, because the visa they then hold was applied for in Australia. Our student visa extension guide covers timing for a further application.

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Scenario 5: person in Australia on a Visitor visa who wants to study

• They cannot lodge a Subclass 500 application in Australia.

• They must apply from outside Australia.

• While on the Visitor visa, study is limited to 3 months.

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Scenario 6: Fijian student, applying from Fiji, no family

• Visa application charge: AUD 745 (Pacific rate, estimator result)

• Funds to show: AUD 29,710 living costs + AUD 2,000 travel + the first 12 months of course fees​

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Student visa family members: rules from 2 October 2026

From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their application.

You can include family members only if you are:

• enrolled in a course leading to a doctoral degree (PhD)

• a Defence student or a Foreign Affairs student

• enrolled only in courses fully funded by a foreign government

• an eligible student from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country

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Family members who already hold a Student visa with you may be included in your next Student visa if you can apply in Australia under an exemption.

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Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the rules that applied when they were lodged.

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Rules for family members who can be included

These rules only apply if you fall into one of the exemptions above.

For a Student visa, a family member is:

• your partner (spouse or de facto partner)

• your or your partner's dependent child who is unmarried and under 18

Rules that apply to family members:

• Declare everyone. Every applicant must declare all family members in their application, even those not travelling to Australia.

• No joining later. From 2 October 2026, family members cannot be added as subsequent entrants after a Student visa is granted. There are no exemptions.

• Siblings studying without a parent. Each child must make a separate application and pay the base application charge.

• Children turning 18. The Department cannot grant a Student visa to a child who has turned 18 by the time the application is decided. That child needs their own visa.

• De facto partners. The relationship must have lasted at least 12 months before you apply, or be registered in an Australian state or territory.

• Health and character. Family members must meet the health requirement, and those aged 16 or over must meet the character requirement.

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What changed on 2 October 2026

On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced plans to stop most international students bringing family. These plans became law on 2 October 2026.

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The final rules also changed:

• Where you must apply. Holders of 17 listed visas, and most current Student visa holders, must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

• Course changes. Moving to a higher AQF level lets a current Student visa holder apply in Australia. You can still choose a course at the same or a lower level, but you must apply from outside Australia.

• Graduate visas. The announcement also mentioned graduate visas, but the 2 October 2026 changes only apply to Student and Student Guardian visas.

If you plan to include a partner or child, have your situation checked before you lodge.

Read the full breakdown in New Student Visa Rules in Australia, and our coverage of the 17 September announcement.

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How to apply for a Student visa through ImmiAccount: step by step

You apply for a Subclass 500 visa online through ImmiAccount, from inside or outside Australia.

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Step 1. Before you apply

• Passports: you and each family member must hold a valid passport. If you are in Australia and your passport expires, renew it before you apply.

• Timing: from outside Australia, apply well before your course starts. From inside Australia, apply before your current substantive visa expires, and don't leave it to the last day.

• Health examinations: you can arrange them before you apply.

Step 2. Gather your documents

• Checklist: use the Document Checklist Tool with your passport country and provider. Choose "I have not decided on a provider yet" if you haven't chosen one.

• Timing of the checklist: the Department updates the tool on 31 March and 30 September each year. Re-check it just before you submit.

• Translations: translate every non-English document into English. Translators in Australia must be NAATI-accredited. Translators outside Australia must include their full name, address, phone number, and qualifications and experience in the language.

• Scans: scan or photograph every document in colour so it is legible. Save a multi-page document as one file.

• Certification: you don't need to have documents certified.

Step 3. Lodge a decision-ready application

• Complete the form, attach your documents and pay the charge for every applicant, or provide proof of exemption. An application without payment is not valid.

• You can attach up to 60 documents.

• The Department may decide your application on what you first lodge, so attach everything at the start.

Step 4. After you apply

• Biometrics: if the Department asks for them, you have 14 days to provide them, and you must do this before you travel.

• Health examinations: check ImmiAccount for a referral letter with your HAP ID.

• Enrolment: keep a valid CoE until the Department decides your application.

• Onshore applicants: you receive a Bridging visa A (BVA), which starts when your current visa expires. The BVA ends if you leave Australia. Don't cancel your current visa.

• Travel while on a BVA: if you have substantial reasons to travel, a Bridging visa B (BVB) lets you return to Australia while your application is processed.

• Requests for information: respond promptly. You don't need to wait for the deadline.

• Travel: don't book travel until your visa is finalised.

• Changes: tell the Department about changes to your contact details, passport, relationship, welfare arrangements or a new baby.

Step 5. Visa outcome

• If granted: the decision letter gives your grant number, expiry date and visa conditions.

• If refused: the letter explains why and whether you have review rights.

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Help with your application. Only a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person can give you immigration assistance. Upload Form 956 to appoint one, or Form 956A to name someone to receive your correspondence. You can book a consultation with RACC's registered migration agents to have your application checked before you lodge.

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Student visa document checklist

Confirm the final list for your passport country and provider in the Document Checklist Tool. The documents usually needed for a Subclass 500 application are:

• Identity: passport biodata pages, a national identity card if you have one, and change-of-name documents

• Enrolment: a CoE for every course, or a letter of support or AASES form if you are exempt from the CoE

• Genuine Student evidence: transcripts, study history, employment records, and evidence of your ties and economic circumstances

• English: a test result or evidence that you are exempt

• Financial capacity: evidence of funds and genuine access to them, or official income documents for the income option

• OSHC: the insurer's name and the policy start and end dates, plus the policy number if you arranged the cover yourself

• Partner: identity and character documents, plus a marriage certificate or evidence of the de facto relationship

• Children under 18: birth certificates or a family book showing both parents, adoption papers if relevant, custody or consent documents, and school enrolment evidence for children aged 5 to 17

• Students under 18: Form 1229 or a statutory declaration from each parent, a birth certificate naming the parents, and welfare evidence (CAAW, AASES, or Form 157N for a nominated guardian)

• Polio certificate: if you are applying from outside Australia after time in an at-risk country

• Representation: Form 956 or Form 956A if someone is acting for you

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How long does a Student visa take to process?

Subclass 500 processing times depend on your education sector. The Department's processing times guide showed these figures on 28 September 2026:

• Higher Education: 50% in 19 days, 90% in 71 days

• Vocational Education and Training: 50% in 3 months, 90% in 7 months

• Independent ELICOS: 50% in 18 days, 90% in 52 days

• Postgraduate Research: 50% in 12 days, 90% in 60 days

• Schools: 50% in 26 days, 90% in 7 months

• Non-Award: 50% in 1 day, 90% in 25 days

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These figures show how long recently decided applications took. They are not a guarantee for any single application.

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Offshore processing priority. Student visa applications lodged outside Australia are processed under a Ministerial Direction:

• Ministerial Direction 111 for applications lodged before 14 November 2025

• Ministerial Direction 115 for applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025

See Student visa processing priorities for details.

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What slows an application down:

• the form is filled in incorrectly

• documents are missing, or the Department needs more information

• your details take time to verify

• the correct visa application charge has not been paid

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Can you work on a Student visa 500? Work rights explained

Subclass 500 visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours when it is not. Condition 8105 sets these rules.

• Before the course starts: neither the student nor family members can work.

• While the course is in session: the student and family members can work up to 48 hours a fortnight. A fortnight is any 14-day period starting on a Monday. Semesters, including exam periods, count as in session.

• When the course is not in session: the student can work unlimited hours, for example during scheduled course breaks. Family members still have limited work rights.

• Master's by research and doctoral students: once the course starts, the student and family members have no work limit.

• Master's by coursework or master's (Extended) students: family members can work more than 48 hours a fortnight. The student is still capped at 48 hours while the course is in session.

• Work experience: paid or unpaid, it counts towards the 48 hours, unless it is a mandatory part of the course's CRICOS registration.

• More than one job: allowed, as long as the total stays within 48 hours a fortnight.

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Worked example from the Department:

• Week 1: 15 hours. Week 2: 30 hours. Week 3: 30 hours. Week 4: 10 hours.

• The fortnights of weeks 1–2 (45 hours) and weeks 3–4 (40 hours) are within the limit.

• The fortnight of weeks 2–3 (60 hours) breaches the limit if the course is in session.

Read more in our student visa work hours guide.

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Student visa conditions you must follow

Subclass 500 visa conditions are rules attached to your visa grant. Your grant letter and VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) show your exact conditions. The Department can cancel your visa if you breach one.

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The conditions that can apply to a Subclass 500 visa include:

• 8105 (work limitation): no work before your course starts, and up to 48 hours a fortnight while it is in session.

• 8202 (meet course requirements): stay enrolled in a registered course at the same AQF level or higher than the one your visa was granted for, except for moving from AQF level 10 to level 9. You must also keep up satisfactory attendance and course progress.

• 8501: keep adequate health insurance (OSHC) for your whole stay.

• 8516: keep meeting the criteria your visa was granted on.

• 8517: keep school arrangements for school-age dependants.

• 8532: keep welfare arrangements if you are under 18.

• 8533: tell your provider your address within 7 days of arriving, and within 7 days of any change. Tell your current provider within 7 days of receiving a CoE from a new provider.

• 8208: get the Minister's approval before starting critical technology-related postgraduate research. This applies to Student visas applied for after 1 July 2022.

• 8534 (applied at the case officer's discretion): no further stay. While you are in Australia, you can only be granted a Temporary Graduate visa (485), a Student Guardian visa (590) or a Protection visa unless the condition is waived.

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Changing to a lower-level course. Condition 8202 means you cannot move to a lower AQF level on your current Student visa, for example from a bachelor's degree to a diploma. Get advice before you accept a new enrolment at a lower level.

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How long can you stay on a Student visa, and what comes next?

A Subclass 500 visa lets you stay up to 6 years, in line with the type and length of your course. You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you like while it is valid. Time spent outside Australia does not extend it.

• Extending: you cannot extend a Subclass 500 visa. To keep studying, apply for a new Student visa. Our student visa extension guide covers timing and onshore rules.

• Visa ends before graduation: you might be eligible for a Visitor visa (Subclass 600). You need a letter from your provider confirming your graduation date.

• After finishing an eligible qualification: if you completed it in Australia in the last 6 months, you might be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), which gives full work rights for a set period. The 17 September 2026 announcement said family members will also no longer be attached to graduate visas. No start date has been published.

• Which 485 stream fits you: university graduates usually look at the Post-Higher Education Work stream, and VET graduates at the Post-Vocational Education Work stream. Check the 485 age limit before you plan.

• Checking your occupation: the RACC skilled occupation list search tool shows which occupations are on Australia's skilled lists and which authority assesses them.

• Choosing a course with a career path: our study options guide for in-demand occupations compares courses linked to in-demand occupations. Studying outside the major cities? Read study in regional Australia.

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Student visa 500 vs 590 vs 485 vs 600: what is the difference?

Student visa (Subclass 500)

• Purpose: full-time study in a CRICOS-registered course

• Who applies: the student

• Stay: up to 6 years, in line with enrolment

• Work: 48 hours a fortnight in session, unlimited in breaks

• Base charge: AUD 2,500 (standard sector)

• Where to apply: holders of the 17 listed visas must apply from outside Australia

Student Guardian visa (Subclass 590)

• Purpose: to care for a Subclass 500 student under 18

• Who applies: a parent, custodian, or a relative aged 21 or over nominated by a parent

• Study: the guardian cannot study full time on this visa

• Base charge: AUD 2,500

• More: Student Guardian visa guide

Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)

• Purpose: to live and work in Australia after finishing an eligible qualification

• Who applies: Student visa holders who completed a specific qualification in Australia in the last 6 months

• Onshore rule: a 485 holder cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia

Visitor visa (Subclass 600)

• Purpose: tourism, business visits or visiting family

• Study: up to 3 months only (condition 8201)

• Onshore rule: a 600 holder cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia

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Common Student visa myths

Myth: You can add your partner or children to your Student visa later.

Reality: From 2 October 2026, no one can add family members after a Student visa is granted.

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Myth: You can extend a Student visa.

Reality: You cannot extend a Subclass 500 visa. You must lodge a new Student visa application.

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Myth: A bank balance certificate proves your funds.

Reality: A single-day balance certificate does not show how your funds built up. The Department asks for transaction history and the source of your funds.

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Myth: Saying you might apply for permanent residence later will get you refused.

Reality: Under the Genuine Student requirement, a future plan to apply for permanent residence does not count against you.

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Myth: Unpaid work experience doesn't count towards the 48-hour limit.

Reality: Work experience counts towards the 48 hours, paid or unpaid, unless it is a mandatory part of the course's CRICOS registration.

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Myth: You can switch from a Visitor or Working Holiday visa to a Student visa in Australia.

Reality: From 2 October 2026, holders of 17 listed visas, including Visitor (600), ETA (601), eVisitor (651), Working Holiday (417), Work and Holiday (462), 482 and 485, must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

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Myth: An online IELTS or at-home TOEFL result is accepted.

Reality: The Department does not accept English tests delivered entirely online or at home.

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Myth: You get your fee back if the visa is refused.

Reality: The Department does not refund the visa application charge on refusal.

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Myth: Students sponsored by their home government pay no visa fee.

Reality: The fee exemption covers Australian Commonwealth scholarships and students supported by DFAT or Defence. Sponsorship or a loan from your home government does not qualify.

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Why do Student visa applications get refused?

In RACC's experience as registered migration agents, three problems cause most Subclass 500 refusals:

• Genuine Student answers that don't hold together. The applicant's background, course choice and stated plans don't line up, or the answers have no supporting documents.

• Weak financial evidence. The funds exist, but their source isn't shown, or the applicant gives a single-day balance certificate.

• A course that doesn't fit the applicant's background. For example, an unexplained switch to an unrelated field.

Giving false or misleading information, or bogus documents, is more serious. It can lead to refusal under Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020 and an exclusion period for future visas.

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After a refusal, your review rights depend on where you were when the Department made its decision. Merits review is heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) on 14 October 2024.

Our visa refusal guide explains your options and deadlines.

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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?

Only in limited cases. From 2 October 2026, you can include your partner or children only if you are a PhD student, a Defence or Foreign Affairs student, a student whose courses are fully funded by a foreign government, or an eligible student from a Pacific or ASEAN country.

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If your family already holds a Student visa with you, their current visa is not affected. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the old rules.

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Can I apply for a new Student visa while I am in Australia?

Only if you are not on one of the 17 listed visas, and either you do not hold a Student visa or an exemption applies.

 

Current Student visa holders can apply in Australia if they are finishing their principal course within 12 months of the CoE end date, moving to a higher AQF level, starting a doctoral degree, a school student, a Defence or Foreign Affairs student, or affected by a provider default. Otherwise, you must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

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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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Official sources used on this page

• Subclass 500 Student visa – all tabs, Department of Home Affairs

• Visa fees and charges – current pricing, Department of Home Affairs

• Visa Pricing Estimator, Department of Home Affairs

• Subsequent temporary application charge, Department of Home Affairs

• Genuine Student requirement, Department of Home Affairs

• Subclass 500 visa conditions, Department of Home Affairs

• Visa processing times guide, Department of Home Affairs

• Migration (English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas) Instrument 2025, Federal Register of Legislation

• Speech – National Press Club, 17 September 2026, Minister for Home Affairs

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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.