Student Visa Australia Subclass 500: Study in Australia With Confidence
The student visa Australia opens doors to world-class education, part-time work, and a pathway to your future here. But not everyone gets it right the first time—refused applications and wasted fees happen when people don’t understand what’s actually required.
We help you navigate the student visa subclass 500 properly, so you can focus on your education.
With the student visa subclass 500, you can
Study
Study full-time at CRICOS-registered institutions
Work
Work up to 48 hours per fortnight when your course is in session
Work
Work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks
Travel
Travel freely while your visa remains valid
Family
Include family members in your application
What is a Student Visa Subclass 500 in Australia?
The Australia student visa 500 is your ticket to studying full-time at any registered Australian institution—whether that’s a university, TAFE, English language school, or secondary school.
Here’s what you need to know upfront:
- Stay for up to 6 years (depending on your course)
- Work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester
- Travel freely in and out of Australia
- Bring your partner and children if eligible
The student visa subclass 500 conditions require you to actually study—maintain enrollment, show up to class, and pass your units. If you’re not genuinely committed to studying, this visa isn’t for you. We’d rather tell you that now than watch you waste your money on a refused application.
Requirement of Student Visa for Australia
Let’s break down exactly what you need. No fluff—just the facts.
You must be at least 6 years old. For school students:
- Year 9: Under 17 when you start
- Year 10: Under 18 when you start
- Year 11: Under 19 when you start
- Year 12: Under 20 when you start
You must be enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course and have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when you apply.
This is non-negotiable. No CoE at lodgement = invalid application = we can't even process it. Your CoE must also stay valid until we decide your visa. If your course finishes or your CoE gets cancelled before a decision, you'll need a new one.
You'll answer specific questions in your application (150 words each) about why you chose Australia, why this course, and what you plan to do afterwards.
This isn't a box-ticking exercise. Generic copy-paste answers get flagged. If you've changed courses, have study gaps, or are switching from another visa type, you'll need to explain why—convincingly.
For More Information, see Genuine Student Requirement
Whether you need English test scores depends on your passport country and evidence level.
If you do need test scores. Your results must be from an approved test taken within 2 years before you lodge your application (for Regular Evidence level) or within 2 years before the Department makes a decision (for Streamlined Evidence level). The minimum scores vary depending on whether you're enrolling in ELICOS before your main course—generally, you'll need around IELTS 6.0 or PTE 50, but this drops to IELTS 5.0 or PTE 36 if you're doing 20+ weeks of English study first.
Online tests are NOT accepted. Don't waste money on IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition, OET@Home, or any at-home version. Also, TOEFL iBT tests from 26 July 2023 to 4 May 2024 are invalid, and Cambridge C1 Advanced must be paper-based until August 2025.
You're exempt if: you hold a UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Ireland passport; you're enrolled in standalone ELICOS, a school course, or postgraduate research; or you've completed 5+ years of English-medium study in approved countries.
If you qualify for an exemption, provide evidence—don't assume the Department will know.
Financial Capacity
You need to prove you can afford to live and study in Australia. Here are the current figures:
You and any family members need Overseas Student Health Cover(OSHC) from an approved provider, covering your entire stay. No gaps allowed.
Exceptions apply if you're Norwegian, Swedish, or Belgian and covered by your national schemes.
- Student: AUD29,710
- Partner: AUD10,394
- Each child: AUD4,449
- School fees per child: minimum AUD13,502
Plus your course fees (first 12 months or pro-rata) and travel costs (AUD1,000-3,000 depending on where you're coming from).
Alternative: Show that your parents or partner earned at least AUD87,856 (or AUD102,500 if bringing family) in the past 12 months. You'll need official tax documents—not bank statements.
You'll need medical examinations and police certificates. We'll tell you when these are required during processing. If you don’t meet these requirements, you might not be eligible for this visa.
If you're under 18, you need approved welfare arrangements—either through your education provider (CAAW letter), a nominated guardian, or Department of Foreign Affairs/Defence sponsorship.
You can apply onshore, but not from every visa. You cannot apply if you hold:
- 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)
- Certain diplomatic visas
If you're on one of these, you need to leave Australia to apply—or we need to discuss other options.
You might not be eligible for this visa if you or any member of your family have some debt to the Australian Government. You or they must pay it back first.
You have never had a visa cancelled or an application refused by authorities.
How to Apply for Student visa Australia Subclass 500: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Before You Apply
You and anyone included in your application must have valid passports before the visa can be granted.
Get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered provider. No CoE = invalid application.
You can complete health examinations before applying to speed up processing.
If using a migration agent, they must be MARA-registered, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person.
For each dependent who holds a Subclass 820 or 445 visa:
- Current passport
- Documents showing any changes to their circumstances
Police certificates (if they are 16 or older)
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
The student visa 500 checklist varies by passport country and education provider. Use the Department’s Document Checklist Tool for your specific requirements. Below is everything you may need:
- Passport (photo page, personal details, issue/expiry dates)
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Proof of name change (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or official name change documents)
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for ALL intended courses
- Letter of support (if DFAT or Defence sponsored)
- AASES form (if secondary exchange student)
- Letter from education provider (if postgraduate researcher awaiting thesis marking)
- Written responses to application questions (150 words each)
- Supporting documents demonstrating genuine intent (employment letters, career plans, previous qualifications, ties to home country)
- Approved test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT, MET, Cambridge C1 Advanced)
- OR evidence of exemption (passport from UK/USA/Canada/NZ/Ireland, 5+ years study in English, or other qualifying criteria)
Provide ONE of the following:
- Bank statements showing sufficient funds (3-6 months history)
- Government loan or financial institution loan documentation
- Scholarship or financial support letters
- Parents'/partner's annual income evidence (official tax documents showing AUD87,856+ single or AUD102,500+ with family)
Category | Annual Amount |
Student living costs | AUD29,710 |
Partner living costs | AUD10,394 |
Each child living costs | AUD4,449 |
School fees per child | AUD13,502 minimum |
Course fees | First 12 months (minus any paid) |
Travel | AUD1,000-3,000 |
- OSHC policy details: provider name, policy number, start and end dates
- Policy must cover entire visa period with no gaps
- Health examination results (if completed—otherwise arranged after application)
- Police certificates (provide when requested by Department)
- Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) from education provider, OR
- Completed Form 157N (Student Guardianship Arrangements) with guardian's passport, police certificates, and proof of relationship, OR
- AASES form (secondary exchange students), OR
- Letter from DFAT/Defence confirming welfare arrangements
- Form 1229 (Consent to grant visa) signed by BOTH parents/guardians
- Birth certificate showing parents' names
- Evidence of sole custody (if applicable)
- Partner's passport and identity documents
- Marriage certificate (if married), OR
- Evidence of 12+ months de facto relationship: joint bank accounts, shared lease/utility bills, statutory declarations, photos, correspondence showing same address
- Partner's character documents
- Child's passport
- Birth certificate showing both parents' names
- Form 1229 consent from any parent NOT travelling to Australia
- Court orders or proof of sole custody (if applicable)
- Evidence of school enrolment in Australia (for children aged 5-17)
- Passport and identity documents
- Form 47A (Details of dependent family member aged 18 or over)
- Evidence of dependency (living with you, financial support records)
- Proof of current full-time study
- Character documents
- Translate all non-English documents into English (NAATI-accredited translators in Australia)
- Scan/photograph in color, clearly legible
- Do NOT send originals except police certificates
- Keep copies of your complete application
Step 3: Apply Online
You can be in or outside Australia.
You must hold a substantive visa and apply within 28 days if your previous Student, Special Purpose, or dependent Diplomatic visa has expired.
ou cannot apply onshore if you hold a Visitor (600/601/651), Temporary Graduate (485), Medical Treatment (602), Transit (771), or Maritime Crew (988) visa.
Submit through ImmiAccount.
- Create or log into ImmiAccount
- Complete the application form accurately
- Attach ALL required documents
- Pay the visa application charge
- Submit
Submit a complete application and do not provide false and misleading information. The Department can refuse incomplete applications without requesting more information. Don't assume you'll get a second chance.
Submit through ImmiAccount. You can be in or outside Australia (but not in immigration clearance).
- Log in or create an ImmiAccount
- Complete the application accurately
- Attach ALL documents
- Pay the visa application charge
Step 4: After You Apply
You can be in or outside Australia.
You'll receive a Bridging Visa A if your current visa expires before a decision. It has no travel rights—leave Australia and it cancels.
Respond to any requests immediately. Don't wait for deadlines.
If requested, you have 14 days to attend an appointment.
If not done before applying, check ImmiAccount for your HAP ID and instructions.
Your CoE must remain valid until decision. If it expires or is cancelled, attach a new CoE immediately.
Tell the Department about changes to your phone, email, address, passport, relationship status, or family composition.
Step 5: Visa Decision
You can be in or outside Australia.
You’ll receive written notification with:
- Visa grant number
- Expiry date
- All applicable conditions
No physical visa label—it’s digitally linked to your passport. Keep your grant letter safe.
If Refused: You’ll receive reasons and review rights. The application fee is not refunded.
Student Visa 500 Processing Time
Processing times vary. Check the Department's Visa Processing Time Guide for current estimates.
Your application will take longer if:
- You submit incomplete documentation
- Your information needs verification
- Health or character concerns arise
- You don't respond quickly to requests
Applications lodged outside Australia follow Ministerial Direction 115 (for applications from 14 November 2025 onwards). Earlier applications follow Direction 111.
Evidence Levels for several South Asian countries were adjusted. If you're from this region, your documentation requirements may have changed. We can help you understand what this means for your application.
What Does a Student Visa Australia Cost?
From AUD2,000 (main applicant)
- Family member charges (varies)
- Health examinations
- Police certificates
- Biometrics (if required)
- OSHC (varies by provider and duration)
- From 22 March 2025, citizens of Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste pay lower fees
- COVID-19 affected students may qualify for fee waivers (attach Form 1545)
Use the Visa Pricing Estimator for your exact costs.
Including Family in Your Student Visa Application Australia
You can bring:
- Your partner (married or de facto)
- Dependent children under 18 (unmarried)
Critical rule: Declare all family members in your application—even if they’re not travelling with you. Undeclared family members cannot get Student visas to join you later. No exceptions.
Children who turn 18 before your visa is granted must apply for their own visa.
Mistakes That Get Study Visa Australia Applications Refused
We see these constantly. Don’t be one of these statistics:
Invalid Visa applications:
- No CoE at lodgement
- Applying from an ineligible visa in Australia
- Using online English tests
Weak Genuine Student statements:
- Copy-paste answers that don’t reflect your situation
- No explanation for course changes or study gaps
Financial evidence problems:
- Not enough funds
- Large unexplained deposits
- Loan documents that can’t be verified
OSHC gaps:
- Coverage that doesn’t match your visa period
- Breaks between policies when changing providers
Extension timing:
- Waiting until your current visa expires
- Letting your enrolment lapse
Why Work With The Migration?
We’ve helped students in every situation you can imagine. First-time applicants. People with previous refusals. Students who need strategic course advice for PR pathways. Applicants with complex financial situations.
Eligibility Assessment
We check if you qualify before you spend money on documents or tests.
Genuine Student Guidance
We craft statements that address your specific circumstances and study gaps.
Document Review
We catch problems in your paperwork before lodgement—not after.
Extension Strategy
We plan your visa extensions with strategic timing to protect your status.
Evidence Organization
We structure your relationship evidence for maximum impact
Pathway Planning
We map your route from student visa to 485, skilled migration, or sponsorship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subclass 500 visa in Australia?
The subclass 500 is Australia’s student visa for international students. It allows full-time study at CRICOS-registered institutions, work up to 48 hours per fortnight during session, and unlimited work during breaks. Visa length matches your course duration, up to 6 years maximum.
How long does it take to process a Student Visa (Subclass 500) in Australia?
Student visa 500 processing time depends on your country, evidence level, and whether your application is complete. Check the Department’s processing time guide for current estimates. Offshore applications follow Ministerial Direction priorities.
What are the requirements of student visa for Australia?
You need: a valid CoE from a CRICOS provider, English proficiency (test or exemption), financial capacity, genuine student evidence, health and character clearance, OSHC, and welfare arrangements if under 18.
How much does a student visa application Australia cost?
From AUD2,000 for the main applicant. Additional costs include family charges, health exams, police certificates, and OSHC. Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens may pay reduced fees from 22 March 2025.
How to apply for student visa extension in Australia?
Get a new CoE, lodge a fresh application through ImmiAccount, update your Genuine Student responses, prove financial capacity, and maintain OSHC. It’s a new application, not a renewal.
Can I work on a student visa?
Yes—up to 48 hours per fortnight during session, unlimited during breaks. Master’s by research and PhD students have no limits. Family members of master’s by coursework students can also work unlimited hours.
What if I don't provide a CoE?
Your application is invalid. No CoE = no processing. If your CoE expires or gets cancelled before a decision, attach a new one or your application cannot proceed.
Can I include family?
Yes—your partner and dependent children under 18. Declare everyone in your application, even if they’re not travelling initially. Undeclared family members cannot join you later on Student visas.
What English tests are accepted?
IELTS (Academic or General), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced (paper-based only until August 2025), OET, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, and MET. Online/at-home versions are NOT accepted.
What if my visa is refused?
You’ll get written reasons and review rights. The application fee isn’t refunded. We can assess your situation and advise on appeals or reapplication. Getting it right the first time is always better than fixing a refusal.