The Australian student visa (Subclass 500) is the pathway for international students to study full-time in Australia. This guide walks through who qualifies, what evidence you need, charges, and processing timelines — everything you need to lodge a successful application in 2026.
What is the Subclass 500?
The Subclass 500 is Australia’s student visa. It lets you study full-time at an accredited Australian education provider (school, university, vocational college) for the duration of your course. You must be sponsored by your education provider through a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The visa is temporary; once your course ends, you must leave Australia or transition to another visa.
Who can apply?
To qualify for a Subclass 500, you must meet these core criteria:
- Genuine Student (GS) requirement: You must convince the Department of Home Affairs that you are genuinely intending to study. As of March 2024, this replaced the previous Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement and uses a structured set of assessment questions in the application form.
- Accepted into a CRICOS-registered course: Your education provider must have enrolled you in an approved course via the CRICOS register (see au-cricos-explained.md).
- Financial capacity: You must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel. The financial-capacity threshold for 2026 is approximately A$29,710 per year for living costs (set by Home Affairs; verify current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
- Health insurance: You must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire visa duration.
- English language: You must meet English-language requirements — usually IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, depending on your course level and country.
- Health and character: You must pass health and character assessments (chest X-ray, HIV test, police clearance).
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement
Introduced 23 March 2024, the GS requirement replaced the GTE. Home Affairs now assesses whether you are a genuine student by asking structured questions in your application:
- Why did you choose this course?
- Why did you choose this education provider?
- How does this qualification relate to your future career plans?
- What is your employment history?
- What are your financial circumstances?
Your answers are assessed alongside your documents — academic transcripts, course details, work history — to form an overall picture. You must be honest and coherent. See au-genuine-student-requirement.md for deeper detail.
Financial capacity: evidence and thresholds
Home Affairs requires you to prove you can afford tuition and living costs. For 2026, the living-cost assessment is roughly A$29,710 per year (primary applicant), plus course fees. You can prove funds through:
- Bank statements (usually 6–12 months of statements).
- Letters of financial support (from a sponsor: parent, partner, employer).
- Loans (government or commercial education loans; credible in some countries).
- Combination of sources.
See au-financial-capacity-evidence.md for document checklists and acceptable proofs by country. Always verify current thresholds at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/financial-capacity.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Your education provider issues a CoE once you have met their conditions (usually: fees paid or deferred, English-language requirements met, prerequisite qualifications verified). The CoE contains your CRICOS course code, study load, course duration, and tuition fees. You cannot lodge a Subclass 500 without a valid CoE. See au-coe-confirmation-of-enrolment.md for full details on obtaining and managing a CoE.
Visa Application Charge (VAC) in 2026
As of 2025–26, the Application Charge for Subclass 500 is:
| Applicant type | Charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant (you) | A$1,600 |
| Secondary applicant (18+) | A$1,170 |
| Child applicant (under 18) | A$390 |
These are non-refundable. Dependants on the visa must lodge with you or separately; see au-student-dependent-visa.md. Verify current charges at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa-pricing-estimator.
Lodgement options: onshore vs offshore
You can lodge from outside Australia (offshore) or from within Australia (onshore) if you are already on a valid visa. Onshore lodgement sometimes allows a “bridging visa” to stay while your application is processed. Offshore lodgement requires a full decision before you travel. See au-onshore-vs-offshore-lodgement.md for pros and cons.
Processing times
Processing times vary by country of residence and intake period:
| Region | Standard (non-complex) | Complex | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|
| India, China | 6–10 weeks | 10–14 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Southeast Asia | 4–8 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
| Americas, Europe | 4–8 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
| Onshore (from AU) | 1–3 weeks | 3–8 weeks | 2–5 weeks |
Peak season (July–September intake) is slower than off-peak (November–March). See au-student-visa-processing-times.md for country-specific breakdowns.
Key visa conditions
Once you are granted a Subclass 500, you must comply with these conditions:
- Condition 8202 (Maintain enrolment): You must remain enrolled full-time in your CRICOS course and maintain satisfactory course progress (usually 50%+ pass rate, or your provider’s standard). Breach can result in visa cancellation.
- Condition 8105 (Work limit): You may work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight during the study term. During scheduled course breaks you can work unlimited hours. See au-working-as-student-48-hours.md.
- Condition 8501 (Health insurance): You must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire visa duration. See au-oshc-overseas-student-health-cover.md.
- Condition 8503 (No further stay): You cannot lodge another visa application (except certain exceptions like protection visas) unless you first depart Australia. This blocks onshore switching.
- Condition 8533 (Notification): You must notify your education provider of any change of address within 7 days.
See au-visa-conditions-8202-8105-8501.md for full details.
Health and character requirements
Before lodging, Home Affairs may require you to:
- Undergo a chest X-ray (tuberculosis screening).
- Take an HIV test.
- Obtain a police clearance certificate (usually from your country of origin or countries where you have lived for 10+ years).
These must be done by Home Affairs–approved panel physicians and agencies. See au-health-requirements-medical-exam.md and au-character-requirement-police-check.md.
English-language requirements
Depending on your course level, you must meet an English-language minimum:
- School (secondary): IELTS 5.5 or equivalent (or meet exemptions).
- Vocational / diploma: IELTS 5.5–6.0.
- Undergraduate: IELTS 6.0–6.5.
- Postgraduate / research: IELTS 6.5–7.0+.
Accepted tests: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, OET, Cambridge English. See au-english-requirements-student-visa.md for detailed score mappings.
CRICOS: mandatory for all students
Every course you enrol in must be CRICOS-registered. CRICOS is the Australian government’s database of accredited education providers and courses. Your CoE will list your CRICOS course code. You can verify a provider’s registration at cricos.deewr.gov.au. See au-cricos-explained.md for more.
OSHC: Overseas Student Health Cover
OSHC is mandatory for your entire visa duration. It is health insurance designed for international students and covers doctor visits, hospital stays, and some medicines. Cost ranges A$650–$750/year for single students, or A$3,500–$5,500 for families. Major providers include Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib, and ahm. See au-oshc-overseas-student-health-cover.md for plans and claiming.
What if your application is refused?
Common refusal reasons include:
- Failure to prove genuine student intent.
- Inadequate financial capacity evidence.
- Health or character concerns.
- Breach of previous visa conditions.
- Lack of English-language proficiency.
You can request an Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) review within 28 days of refusal. See au-student-visa-refusal-reasons.md and au-aat-visa-appeal.md.
Bringing dependants
If you have a partner or children, they can come with you on dependent visas. Partners must meet health and character requirements; children must be under 18. Dependants cannot work without specific permission. See au-student-dependent-visa.md.
Transitioning between study levels
If you plan to continue studying (secondary → undergrad → postgrad), you can renew your Subclass 500 onshore without leaving Australia, provided the new course is at a higher level or meets specific criteria. See au-visa-transition-school-uni-postgrad.md.
PRISMS and condition 8202
Your education provider reports your enrolment and attendance to PRISMS (Provider Registration and International Student Management System). This is how Home Affairs monitors whether you are maintaining course progress and attendance. Breach of condition 8202 (failure to maintain enrolment or course progress) can result in visa cancellation. See au-prisms-and-condition-8202.md.
Lodging your application
You lodge via ImmiAccount (the Department of Home Affairs’ online portal). You will need:
- Valid passport.
- CoE from your education provider.
- Financial documents (bank statements, loan letters).
- Health and character documents (if required).
- English-language test result.
- Identity documents and police clearance.
- OSHC policy details.
Upload all documents to ImmiAccount. Pay the VAC (non-refundable). Submit for processing.
Verify before lodging
Verify before lodging: All charges, thresholds, and conditions change between intakes. Always check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/student-visa before committing to your application. Current charge rates, financial thresholds, and processing times are listed there.
FAQ
Q: Can I work full-time during university holidays? A: Yes. The 48-hour-per-fortnight limit applies only during teaching periods. During scheduled course breaks, you can work unlimited hours.
Q: What happens if I fail my course? A: If you fail and are at risk of not maintaining course progress, your provider must report this to PRISMS. Home Affairs may then cancel your visa for breach of condition 8202.
Q: Can I change my course after I arrive? A: Yes, but your education provider must issue a new CoE, and you must notify Home Affairs. Some course changes may require a new visa application.
Q: How long can I stay after my course ends? A: Your visa expires when your course ends (or on the visa expiry date, whichever is earlier). You must leave or obtain another visa before expiry.
Q: Can I bring my partner? A: Yes, as a dependent. They must meet health and character requirements. Partners can work up to 40 hours per week (subject to condition 8105 if they also study).
Q: What is a bridging visa? A: If you lodge onshore, the Department may grant a bridging visa to stay in Australia while your application is processed. Check with the Department for current policy.
Q: Can I appeal a refusal? A: Yes, you can request an ART (Administrative Review Tribunal) review within 28 days. See au-aat-visa-appeal.md.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (Subclass 500)
- Visa pricing estimator: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa-pricing-estimator
- Financial capacity: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/financial-capacity
- CRICOS: cricos.deewr.gov.au
- Genuine Student requirement: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/genuine-student
Last reviewed: April 2026. Visa rules and charges change frequently — always verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.