The Australian Student visa — subclass 500 — is the visa that makes everything else possible. Every international student studying a full-time CRICOS-registered course in Australia needs one. Getting it wrong, or being unprepared for what it requires, delays your start date and in some cases results in refusal that affects future applications.
This guide covers everything: what the visa requires, how the GTE assessment works and why it matters more than most applicants realise, the exact financial evidence Home Affairs expects, the step-by-step application process, what your visa conditions mean once you arrive, and what happens at the end of your course.
What is the subclass 500 student visa?
The Student visa (subclass 500) is Australia's primary visa for international students studying full-time at an Australian educational institution. It replaced the previous Student visa system in 2016 and consolidated multiple visa subclasses into a single streamlined visa.
The visa covers:
- Higher education (universities, universities of technology)
- Vocational Education and Training (TAFE, registered training organisations)
- English language intensive courses (ELICOS)
- Foundation and pathway programs
- Postgraduate research (PhD, research master's)
- Schools (primary and secondary)
Duration: The visa is granted to cover your full course length plus two months — enough time to settle in before your course begins and wrap up before leaving. For courses ending in November or December, Home Affairs typically extends coverage to March 15 of the following year to account for results processing and graduation.
Electronic visa: The subclass 500 is an e-visa. There is no sticker in your passport. Your visa is electronically linked to your passport number and can be verified at any time through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) at homeaffairs.gov.au. Australian border control reads your visa status electronically when you arrive.
Who needs a student visa?
You need a subclass 500 if you are an international student who:
- Is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- Is not an Australian permanent resident
- Plans to study a CRICOS-registered course that is longer than three months
- Is studying full-time (part-time study is generally not permitted on a student visa)
New Zealand citizens studying in Australia do not need a student visa — their Special Category visa covers study.
The five requirements
1. Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
You cannot apply for the student visa without a Confirmation of Enrolment from your institution. The CoE is issued electronically after you:
- Receive and accept an unconditional offer from a CRICOS-registered provider
- Pay the required deposit (typically AUD $2,000–$5,000)
The CoE contains your course details, start date, and duration — all of which Home Affairs uses to determine your visa grant period. Keep the CoE reference number accessible; you will enter it into the visa application system.
2. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement
This is the most important and most misunderstood requirement in the Australian student visa application. It is also the most common reason for refusal.
What GTE means: Home Affairs must be satisfied that your primary intention is to come to Australia temporarily for the purpose of study — not to use the student visa as a migration pathway when your genuine intention is permanent residence. You must demonstrate that you are a genuine temporary entrant.
What Home Affairs assesses:
| Factor | What They Look At |
|---|---|
| Immigration history | Previous visa refusals or overstays in Australia or any other country |
| Home country ties | Family, property ownership, employment, financial assets you would return to |
| Course relevance | Whether your chosen course logically follows your existing qualifications and career goals |
| Economic situation | Whether the cost of study is proportionate to your family's financial capacity |
| Migration intent | Any patterns that suggest permanent migration is the real goal |
| Country of citizenship | Applicants from certain countries face closer scrutiny based on historical visa compliance rates |
The GTE statement: Most applicants need to submit a written GTE statement (usually 500–800 words) explaining:
- Why you are choosing Australia specifically
- Why this particular course and institution
- How the course connects to your existing qualifications and career goals
- What you plan to do after graduating and returning home
- Your ties to your home country
⚠️ The GTE requirement refuses more applications than any other factor
A weak or generic GTE statement is the single most common reason for student visa refusal. Do not write a template statement. Home Affairs officers read thousands of applications — they recognise generic answers. Your statement needs to specifically explain your career logic: why this degree, at this university, in this field, leads you back to your career in your home country. Applicants who have previously been refused a visa, who have family members living permanently in Australia, or who have changed their study plans significantly should take particular care with this section.
3. Financial requirements
You must demonstrate you can cover the costs of your study in Australia. Home Affairs requires evidence of:
| Cost Component | Required Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs — yourself | AUD $24,505/year | Current threshold, reviewed annually |
| Living costs — spouse/partner | AUD $8,574/year | If accompanying you |
| Living costs — each child | AUD $3,670/year | If accompanying you |
| Tuition fees | First year's tuition | Or evidence full amount is available |
| School fees (dependant children) | Varies by state | Government schools charge international student fees |
| Return airfare | Estimated cost | To and from your home country |
For a single student on a two-year AUD $45,000/year master's program, the financial evidence required is roughly:
| Item | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| First-year tuition | $45,000 |
| Second-year tuition available | $45,000 |
| Two years' living costs | $49,010 |
| Return airfare estimate | $2,500 |
| Total demonstrated | ~$141,510 |
Acceptable evidence of funds:
- Bank statements (your own, or your parents') showing the balance for the past three to six months
- Term deposit certificates
- Official financial guarantee from a parent or sponsor
- Scholarship confirmation letter (if receiving a scholarship covering tuition and/or living costs)
What does not count: Credit card limits, property valuations, vehicle value, or business assets. Funds must be liquid and accessible within a reasonable timeframe.
💡 Use your parent's account if your personal savings are limited
Home Affairs accepts financial evidence from parents or legal guardians. A parent's bank statement showing sufficient funds, accompanied by a statutory declaration confirming they will support your study, is standard practice and entirely acceptable. The funds do not need to be in your name.
4. English language proficiency
The student visa itself has a lower English requirement than most universities. For the visa application, Home Affairs generally accepts IELTS 5.5 overall as baseline evidence. However, your university will have its own, higher requirement (typically IELTS 6.5) which must be met before you receive your CoE.
In practice, if you have received a CoE from an Australian university, your English has already been assessed as sufficient by the institution — and Home Affairs will accept this. Your IELTS or PTE certificate forms part of the application documentation regardless.
| Test | Minimum for Visa | Typical University Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 overall | 6.5 overall |
| PTE Academic | 42 | 58 |
| TOEFL iBT | 46 | 79 |
| Cambridge C1 | 162 | 176 |
5. Health requirements
Depending on your nationality and the length of your visa, you may need to undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician before or during your visa application.
Who needs a health examination:
- Most applicants from India, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, and many other Asian countries require a chest x-ray (tuberculosis screening) for stays longer than six months
- Full medical examination is required for some nationalities and for applicants with known health conditions
How to arrange it: Home Affairs will send you a health examination request in ImmiAccount after you lodge your application. You complete the examination at an approved panel physician in your home country. Results are sent electronically to Home Affairs — you do not receive a physical result to submit.
Cost: Approximately AUD $200–$500 equivalent depending on your country and the examinations required.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
OSHC is not optional. It is a visa condition — you must have OSHC for the full duration of your student visa, and you must purchase it before lodging your visa application.
Approved OSHC providers (2026):
- Medibank
- Bupa
- AHM (subsidiary of Medibank)
- NIB
- CBHS
Annual cost for a single student: Approximately AUD $600–$720, depending on provider and plan. You can purchase a policy covering your full course duration upfront.
What OSHC covers: GP consultations at bulk-billing practices (free to you), specialist consultations, hospital admissions as a private patient, some emergency dental, and medications listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
What it does not cover: Routine dental care, optical, physiotherapy, and most allied health services. These are out-of-pocket costs in Australia for international students.
Some universities have arrangements with specific OSHC providers and may require you to use their nominated insurer. Check your university's international admissions information before purchasing.
Step-by-step: how to apply
Step 1 — Receive your CoE Accept your university offer, pay the deposit, and receive your Confirmation of Enrolment electronically. This is your starting point. You cannot apply for the visa without it.
Step 2 — Purchase OSHC Buy an OSHC policy covering at least your full course period. You will need the OSHC certificate number for the visa application. Purchase before lodging.
Step 3 — Create or log in to ImmiAccount Go to immiAccount.homeaffairs.gov.au and create an account if you do not have one. This is the Australian government's online immigration portal — do not use any third-party websites claiming to process Australian visas.
Step 4 — Complete the visa application Choose "Temporary" → "Student" → "Student (500)". The application covers:
- Personal details and passport information
- Course and CoE details
- Accommodation arrangements in Australia
- GTE questions (answered directly in the form, with the option to upload a written statement)
- Financial declarations
- Health and character declarations
- Family members accompanying you (if applicable)
Step 5 — Attach supporting documents Upload clear scans of:
- Valid passport (all pages with information)
- CoE
- English language test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Cambridge)
- Financial evidence (bank statements, term deposits, scholarship letters)
- OSHC certificate
- GTE supporting statement (if not answered within the form)
- Academic transcripts
- Health insurance from home country (if applicable — not required but can support GTE)
Step 6 — Pay the application fee AUD $1,600 for the primary applicant. Credit card payment accepted within ImmiAccount. The fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Step 7 — Complete health examination (if requested) After lodging, Home Affairs may request a health examination via ImmiAccount. Complete this promptly at an approved panel physician — delays in health examinations are a common cause of slow visa processing.
Step 8 — Wait for a decision Processing times vary. Most applications from straightforward profiles are decided within 4–8 weeks.
Processing times
Home Affairs publishes processing time estimates based on recent outcomes:
| Percentage of Applications | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| 50% decided within | 14 days |
| 75% decided within | 29 days |
| 90% decided within | 57 days |
These are medians — your individual application may take longer depending on:
- Health examination completion time
- Additional information requests from Home Affairs
- Your nationality and individual profile
- Seasonal volume spikes (peak periods: September–November for February intake applicants)
Apply at least 12 weeks before your course start date. For students from countries where health examinations are required, apply 16 weeks before to allow time for examination scheduling.
After your visa is granted
Your visa grant is confirmed via email and ImmiAccount notification. Check the grant letter carefully:
- Visa grant number — keep this permanently on record
- Visa expiry date — must cover your course end date plus two months
- Conditions — listed in the grant letter; familiarise yourself with each
- VEVO check — verify your visa details at homeaffairs.gov.au/VEVO using your passport number; this is what airlines and employers check
You do not receive a visa sticker. Your visa is electronic. When you board your flight to Australia, the airline verifies your visa electronically against your passport. When you arrive, the Border Force officer sees your visa on their system.
Your visa conditions: what you must and must not do
Understanding your visa conditions is essential. Breaching a condition can result in visa cancellation.
Condition 8105 — Work limitation
You may work 48 hours per fortnight during your enrolled course period. During scheduled course breaks (semester breaks, public holidays), there is no work limit.
A fortnight is a specific 14-day period — not a rolling average. Going over 48 hours in a fortnight is a breach even if you work fewer hours in the next fortnight.
Condition 8202 — Course progress
You must remain enrolled in your course and maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your institution. If your university reports unsatisfactory progress or cancels your enrolment, Home Affairs may cancel your visa.
This includes attending class, completing assessments, and not failing an excessive proportion of your subjects. If you are struggling academically, contact your university's student support services — they can arrange deferrals and course variations that do not trigger a breach.
Condition 8516 — Health cover
You must maintain valid OSHC for the full period of your visa. If your policy expires and you do not renew it, you are in breach of your visa conditions.
Address notification
You must notify your institution of any change of address within seven days. Institutions relay this information to Home Affairs. This is easily overlooked — set a reminder if you move accommodation.
⚠️ Working over 48 hours in a fortnight is the most common visa breach
Australian employers are required to verify work rights, but many casual employers in hospitality and retail do not actively track international student hours across multiple employers. The responsibility is yours. If you work for two different employers, you must count hours across both. Home Affairs cross-references tax file number records against visa conditions. Repeated breaches can result in visa cancellation and future visa refusals.
Bringing family members
Your spouse, de facto partner, and dependent children can apply for dependent visas to accompany you or join you in Australia.
| Family Member | Visa Subclass | Work Rights |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse / de facto partner | Student (500) dependent stream | 48 hrs/fortnight (same as primary holder) |
| Dependent child (school age) | Student (500) dependent stream | None (school enrolment required) |
School fees for dependant children: Most Australian state government schools charge international student fees for dependant children. These range from approximately AUD $4,000–$15,000/year depending on the state and year level. Some states (notably Victoria) have reduced or waived these fees for children of student visa holders in certain circumstances — check with the relevant state education department.
Important change (post-2024): Many countries' student visas now restrict bringing dependants for taught postgraduate programs. Australia currently permits dependants for all student visa holders, but this is subject to policy review — check the current Home Affairs website for the latest position.
Common refusal reasons and how to avoid them
| Refusal Reason | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Weak GTE statement | Write a specific, logical narrative explaining your study and career path. Generic responses fail. |
| Insufficient financial evidence | Show the full amount required, with statements covering at least three months |
| Previous visa refusal not disclosed | Always disclose previous refusals — non-disclosure is treated as misrepresentation |
| Health examination delays | Book your panel physician appointment as soon as Home Affairs requests it |
| Immigration history issues | Be honest about all previous visa applications globally |
| Inconsistent study history | Explain gaps or changes in your study pathway in the GTE statement |
| Funds not genuinely accessible | Use actual liquid savings; do not list property or business equity |
What happens when your course ends
Your student visa covers your course period plus two months. When your course is complete, you have two main options:
Option 1 — Apply for the subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate visa) If you have completed a degree at an Australian university, you are eligible to apply for the post-study work visa. Apply within six months of receiving your final results. The 485 gives you 2–4 years of full Australian work rights — the starting point for your PR pathway. See our full guide: Australia 485 Post-Study Visa: Complete Guide 2026.
Option 2 — Return home If you do not intend to stay in Australia after graduating, your visa covers you for two months after your course end date — enough time to attend graduation, close bank accounts, and organise your departure.
Option 3 — Apply for another visa If you are continuing to study (another degree, a short course), you can apply for a new student visa linked to the new CoE before your current visa expires. This is straightforward as long as your circumstances have not significantly changed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the student visa while in Australia on a tourist visa? Yes — this is called an onshore application. You can apply for the subclass 500 while lawfully in Australia on another visa (tourist, working holiday, etc.). Your current visa must be valid at the time of application. Your bridging visa A (BVA) covers you while the student visa application is processed.
Can I travel in and out of Australia on a student visa? Yes. The student visa allows multiple entries during the visa validity period. You can travel home during semester breaks and return to Australia without issue. Ensure your visa is still valid for re-entry. If your visa expires while you are outside Australia, you cannot return until a new visa is granted.
What if my course is delayed or extended? If your institution extends your course duration, they will update your CoE. You may need to apply for a new student visa or a visa extension covering the new end date. Discuss the timing with your institution's international office — they manage this process regularly.
I failed some subjects. Will this affect my visa? Failing subjects triggers a review by your institution. If the institution determines you are not making satisfactory course progress, they may issue a notice of intention to report (NOITR) to Home Affairs. You have 20 working days to respond and appeal this notice. Home Affairs may then cancel your visa. If you are struggling academically, proactively contact your international student support office — a medical certificate or compassionate circumstances may allow a deferral that avoids a NOITR.
Does the student visa allow me to change universities? Yes — you can transfer to another CRICOS-registered institution. In the first six months of your principal course, your original provider must release you (or you must appeal the refusal to release). After six months, you can transfer more freely. Obtain a new CoE from your new institution and notify Home Affairs of the change.
My visa was refused. What can I do? You can apply for a merits review at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within the timeframe specified in your refusal letter. You can also reapply with strengthened documentation. Consult a registered migration agent (MARA-registered) if you receive a refusal — self-representation at AAT is possible but complex.
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🇦🇺 What comes after the student visa?
The subclass 485 post-study work visa gives Go8 graduates 4 years of full work rights — the first step toward permanent residency.
Visa fees, financial thresholds, and processing times are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and change regularly. Always verify current requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging your application. This guide reflects requirements as of June 2026.