Australia Student visa (subclass 500)

What the Student visa allows

The Student visa (subclass 500) lets a person stay in Australia to take part in a full-time course at an education provider registered to teach overseas students. It covers seven study sectors, which Home Affairs also uses for charges and processing times: Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training (VET), Schools, Independent ELICOS (English language courses), Postgraduate Research, Non-Award, and Foreign Affairs or Defence.

The visa can be granted for up to six years, in line with the enrolment. For a course of 10 months or longer that ends in November or December, Home Affairs usually grants the visa until 15 March of the following year. For other courses of 10 months or longer it usually adds two months after the course end date, and for courses under 10 months it adds one month. The grant periods are set out on the length of stay page. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa, and the holder can travel in and out while it is valid (Student visa page).

Changes from 2 October 2026

Home Affairs changed where Student visa applications can be made, and who can be included in them, on 2 October 2026 (changes page). Applications lodged before that date are assessed under the earlier rules, and visas already granted are not affected (fact sheet).

Visa holders who cannot apply in Australia

Holders of the visas below cannot apply for a Student visa while in Australia, and Home Affairs lists no exemptions. The bar applies to primary and secondary holders, except for subclass 995, where it applies to primary holders.

Holders of Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas were already barred from applying in Australia from 1 July 2024, alongside subclasses 403 (Domestic Worker stream), 601, 602, 651, 771, 988 and 995 (2024 instrument). The 2026 list keeps these and adds subclasses 400, 407, 408, 417, 457, 462 and 482.

Student visa holders who can apply again in Australia

A person who holds a Student visa as the main applicant can lodge a further Student visa application in Australia only if one of six exemptions applies:

1. the student will finish the main course within 12 months of the end date on the Confirmation of Enrolment, with the same provider, at the same or a higher Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
2. the student is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence
3. the new course is a PhD (a master's degree by research does not qualify)
4. the new course is primary or secondary school
5. the student has completed the main course and is enrolling in a course at a higher AQF level. After a higher education course, the new course must also be a higher education course delivered by a higher education provider. Where the completed course has no AQF level, the new course must have one. A student who completed school studies can also move to a course without an AQF level (fact sheet; LIN 26/087, section 19)
6. the student's education provider has defaulted

Students who have changed provider, or who need more than 12 more months, do not meet the course-completion exemption, and apply from outside Australia unless another exemption applies. A person who holds a Student visa as a family member cannot apply in Australia as the main applicant. Under most exemptions, onshore applicants cannot package two or more courses in one application; school, PhD and provider-default applications are the exceptions.

Being outside Australia at grant

Applicants who are required to apply outside Australia must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Home Affairs states that an application made in Australia without an eligible visa and exemption is invalid, and an invalid application cannot be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Partners and children

From 2 October 2026, partners and dependent children can be included in a Student visa application only in five situations:

• the student is applying for a PhD (not a master's degree by research)
• the student is sponsored by DFAT or Defence
• the student holds a foreign government scholarship that fully funds the studies
• the student is a national of one of 12 Pacific Island countries or 11 ASEAN member states (listed below)
• the student already holds a Student visa that includes the family members, held or applied for it before 2 October 2026, and is re-applying under the 12-month, provider-default or onshore course-progression exemption

Scholarship holders and Pacific or ASEAN nationals who apply in Australia can include family members only if they also meet the 12-month, course-progression or provider-default exemption. Family members must apply at the same time, and from the same place, as the student. Home Affairs states that family members cannot join a Student visa holder later as subsequent entrants "in any circumstance".

Eligibility requirements

The requirements below are as Home Affairs lists them on the Student visa page, checked on 26 October 2026.

Confirmation of Enrolment

Applicants need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for every course they intend to study. Each course must be full-time and registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Without a CoE at lodgement, the application is invalid, and the CoE must still be valid when the decision is made. Students sponsored by DFAT or Defence provide a letter of support instead, and secondary exchange students provide an AASES form.

When courses are packaged, the gap between them is normally under two months, except across the end-of-year break. The last course in the package is the main course, and it sets the English and financial evidence the applicant provides.

Genuine Student requirement

Since 23 March 2024, applicants must show they are genuine students who intend to study in Australia. This replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test, which still applies to applications lodged before that date (Genuine Student requirement).

Applicants answer questions in the online form about:

• their present situation: ties to family, community and work, and their economic position
• why they chose the course and the provider, and what they understand about the course and about living in Australia
• how the course will benefit them
• any other relevant information

Each answer is limited to 150 words and must be in English. Past Student visa holders, and people applying in Australia from a different visa, answer an extra question. Home Affairs states that an intention to apply for permanent residence later does not count against an applicant.

Financial capacity evidence

Where evidence of funds is required, Home Affairs lists these 12-month living-cost amounts, which have applied since 10 May 2024 (Student visa page; financial capacity instrument):

Applicants also show the first 12 months of course fees, or fees pro rata for shorter courses. As an alternative, a parent or partner can show an annual income of at least AUD 87,856, or AUD 102,500 when family members are included, using official government documents issued in the previous 12 months. Home Affairs may ask for financial evidence even when the Document Checklist Tool does not require it, and the applicant must have genuine access to the money.

English language evidence

English test results are needed when the Document Checklist Tool or Home Affairs asks for them. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists these minimum overall scores (Student visa page):

For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the earlier minimums apply, for example IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 64 and PTE Academic 50. Home Affairs does not accept tests taken at home. TOEFL iBT candidates testing from 21 January 2026 select "Taking TOEFL for Australia".

Passport holders of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland do not need to provide test results. Other exemptions cover DFAT, Defence and exchange students, students whose main course is a school course, a standalone English course, postgraduate research or a course taught in another language, and people who completed five years of study in English in listed countries.

Overseas Student Health Cover

Applicants and every family member included in the application must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for their whole stay, starting from the day they arrive in Australia. This is visa condition 8501. Home Affairs lists exceptions for students from Norway, Sweden (with Kammarkollegiet cover) and Belgium. Missing OSHC details lead to refusal, and the visa end date depends on the cover end date.

Health and character

Applicants and family members meet the health requirement, and some need a polio vaccination certificate. Anyone aged 16 or over meets the character requirement, and anyone aged 18 or over signs the Australian Values Statement. Debts to the Australian Government must be repaid or arranged, and Home Affairs considers any past visa refusals and cancellations.

Age and welfare for students under 18

School students must be at least six years old. Home Affairs sets upper ages for school entry: under 17 when starting Year 9, under 18 for Year 10, under 19 for Year 11 and under 20 for Year 12.

Students under 18 need approved welfare arrangements. These come from the education provider (a CAAW letter), the exchange programme, or a guardian: a parent, a person with custody, or a relative aged 21 or over, who may apply for a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). A parent consent form (Form 1229) is also needed.

How the Document Checklist Tool sets the evidence required

Home Affairs uses the Document Checklist Tool to show what evidence of funds and English an applicant provides. The result depends on the applicant's country of passport and the education provider. Home Affairs describes two evidence levels, "Regular" and "Streamlined", and updates the tool on 31 March and 30 September each year, and at other times when needed (Student visa page).

Applicants at the Streamlined level may not need to attach financial or English evidence at lodgement. Home Affairs may still ask for it before deciding the application.

Visa application charges

Home Affairs lists these charges for applications lodged from 1 July 2026 (current visa pricing; charge regulations):

Home Affairs' pricing table also lists a Subsequent Temporary Application Charge of AUD 700 for the Student visa. The charge regulations set lower charges for passport holders of 13 Pacific-regional countries, including Timor-Leste (AUD 745 for the main applicant, AUD 555 for each family member 18 or over and AUD 185 for each family member under 18), and of 10 ASEAN countries (AUD 2,050, AUD 1,255 and AUD 410). For charges, Timor-Leste is in the Pacific group; for the family-member rules above, Home Affairs lists it with the ASEAN member states. Home Affairs states on its pricing page that these lower charges apply, without listing the amounts. No base charge applies to a new application made within 12 months of the provider default day by a student affected by provider default (Student visa page).

Processing times and processing priority

Home Affairs publishes how long recent Student visa applications took to decide, by sector. The figures describe past applications; individual applications can take longer or shorter.

Applications lodged outside Australia are processed in priority order under Ministerial Direction 115, for applications lodged from 14 November 2025. Priority 1 covers school, non-award, standalone ELICOS, TAFE, recognised pilot training and postgraduate research (PhD) students, DFAT and Defence sponsored students, government scholarship students, transnational education students, students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste, subsequent entrants whose application includes a child under 18, and higher education and VET students whose provider has not reached 80% of its New Overseas Student Commencement allocation. Priority 2 covers providers that have reached 80% of their allocation, and subsequent entrants whose application does not include a child, and Priority 3 providers that have exceeded it by 15%. Home Affairs states that the direction is not a cap, and applications lodged in Australia are processed in the order received (processing priorities).

The provider allocations come from the National Planning Level, which the Australian Government set at 295,000 new overseas student commencements for 2026, and again for 2027 (Department of Education).

The official application process

Home Affairs lists these steps for the Student visa on the Step by step tab:

1. Before applying. Applicants outside Australia allow enough time before the course starts, hold a valid passport, and may arrange health examinations in advance.
2. Gathering documents. The Document Checklist Tool lists the evidence for the passport country and provider. Documents include identity, the Confirmation of Enrolment, Genuine Student answers, English and financial evidence, OSHC, welfare arrangements and Form 1229 for students under 18, and family members' documents.
3. Applying. Applications are made online in ImmiAccount, with documents attached and the charge paid. Home Affairs states that most applicants apply from outside Australia.
4. After applying. Applicants respond promptly to requests for information, keep the Confirmation of Enrolment valid, give biometrics within 14 days if asked, stay lawful if in Australia, and tell Home Affairs of changes in circumstances.
5. Visa outcome. Home Affairs gives its decision in writing. A refusal letter gives the reasons and states whether review is available. The application charge is not refunded.

Conditions while holding the visa

Home Affairs attaches conditions to each Student visa and lists them in the grant letter and in VEVO (visa conditions).

Work limits (condition 8105)

Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while the course is in session, and without a limit during scheduled course breaks. A fortnight is 14 days starting on a Monday. Work cannot start before the course does, unless the person held another visa that allowed work when applying. Students in a master's degree by research or a doctorate have no work limit once the course has started.

Family members' work

Family members of master's by research and doctoral students have no work limit. Family members of coursework master's students also have no limit, while the student keeps the 48-hour limit. Other family members' work stays limited even when the student's course is not in session.

Study and attendance (condition 8202)

Students stay enrolled in a registered course at the same or a higher AQF level, and maintain satisfactory attendance and course progress. A move from AQF level 10 to level 9 is allowed.

Changing education provider

The National Code for providers of education to overseas students limits transfers between providers early in a course. Under the amendment that commenced on 2 October 2026, a provider cannot enrol a student transferring from another provider until the student has completed at least twelve months of the principal course with the releasing provider, for transfers up to 30 June 2027, and at least six months from 1 July 2027. School students keep the six-month rule. The Code lists exceptions, including where the releasing provider or course is no longer registered, where the provider faces a sanction, where the releasing provider grants a release, and where a government sponsor supports the transfer. A student who changes provider does not meet the course-completion exemption for applying again in Australia.

Other conditions

Student visa grants by citizenship

Home Affairs publishes Student visa grants by citizenship each month. The table lists the 15 citizenships with the most grants in 2025-26, in order of 2025-26 grants, with the same three months (July to September) of 2025 and 2026.

Grants from July to September 2026 totalled 52,526, against 85,225 in the same months of 2025. Grants to family members included in applications fell from 13,062 to 5,589 over the same months. Grants to citizens of India fell from 13,348 to 4,941 and of Nepal from 10,655 to 2,559, while grants to citizens of Vietnam rose from 2,111 to 2,318. These figures cover grants made up to 30 September 2026, before the 2 October 2026 changes took effect, and Home Affairs does not state reasons for the changes in this data.

Refusals, invalid applications and review

Home Affairs states that the following lead to an invalid application or a refusal (Student visa page):

• no Confirmation of Enrolment at lodgement, which makes the application invalid
• an application made in Australia by a holder of a barred visa, or without an exemption, which is invalid and cannot be reviewed
• missing OSHC details
• not meeting the Genuine Student requirement
• not providing financial or English evidence when it is required or requested
• not meeting the health or character requirements, or providing false or misleading information

Refusals of valid applications made in Australia can generally be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 14 October 2024. Home Affairs states that invalid applications cannot be reviewed. The refusal letter gives the reasons and states whether review is available. The Migration Act sets 28 days from the day the applicant is notified of the decision (14 days for an applicant in immigration detention), and the ART cannot extend that period.

The ART application fee for most migration decisions is AUD 3,727, payable before the deadline. The ART can reduce it by 50% where paying the full fee would cause financial hardship. For student visa refusal reviews lodged from 1 June 2026, the ART decides the case without a hearing, except for refusals on public interest or special return criteria.

The ART publishes the outcomes of Student visa reviews each year:

Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)

The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) is for a parent, a person with custody, or a relative aged 21 or over who provides care and welfare to a Student visa holder under 18. Home Affairs also lists it for guardians of a student aged 18 or over who needs care and support because of exceptional circumstances. The stay usually matches the student's stay, or ends when the student turns 18.

Guardians cannot work (condition 8101). They can study ELICOS for less than 20 hours a week, or another course for up to three months. The charge starts at AUD 2,500, with a lower charge for Pacific and Timor-Leste passport holders only.

Under the 2 October 2026 rules, holders of the 16 barred visas, and Student visa holders who are family members, cannot apply for a 590 in Australia. A person who already holds a Student Guardian visa can apply again in Australia while the student continues to study; others apply from outside Australia and are outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Related visas

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): for some international students after they complete eligible study in Australia. A Visa Wire guide to this visa is in preparation.
• Visitor visa (subclass 600): for tourism, business visits and visiting family. No Visa Wire guide to this visa is published yet.
• Australia visa news and reference: Visa Wire coverage of Australian visa rules.