Student Visa (Subclass 500)

The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is the visa used by most international students in Australia. It lets you live in Australia for the length of an eligible CRICOS-registered course, work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and bring eligible family members in some circumstances. To qualify you need a Confirmation of Enrolment, must satisfy the Genuine Student requirement, show financial capacity and English where required, hold Overseas Student Health Cover, and meet health and character requirements.

At a glance (updated 18 August 2026)

Charges are set by the Australian Government and most index on 1 July each year — the fee that applies is the one current on the day Home Affairs receives your application. Confirm the current charge on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodgement.

This guide explains what matters in a real application: eligibility, the Genuine Student requirement, documents, length of stay, under-18 rules, and the common reasons applications get delayed or refused.

What the Student Visa (Subclass 500) allows

A Student Visa (Subclass 500) generally lets you:

• study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course with an approved education provider

• travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid

• bring eligible family members in certain circumstances

• work limited hours while your course is in session (subject to visa conditions)

The exact visa duration and conditions depend on your course, your provider, your personal circumstances, and what you submit in your application.

The core requirements (what Home Affairs actually assesses)

1) Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

You must have a valid Confirmation of Enrolment for a registered course before you lodge. A CoE is not just “nice to have”—it’s foundational evidence for the visa.

2) Genuine Student (GS) requirement

This is one of the most important parts of the student visa process. The Department assesses whether you are genuinely coming to Australia to study. They look at your personal circumstances, your study history, your reasons for choosing the course and provider, and how your study plan connects to your future goals.

A strong GS profile is consistent, sensible, and supported by documents. A weak one looks like a visa strategy rather than an education plan.

3) Financial capacity

You must be able to show you can pay tuition and support yourself (and dependants, if included). The point isn’t just having money; it’s proving the funds are real, available, and clearly sourced. Weak bank evidence is a common cause of delays and refusal risk.

4) English proficiency

If required for your circumstances, you’ll need evidence of English language ability. Some applicants are exempt based on their nationality or previous study history, but you should treat this as “check carefully, don’t assume.”

5) Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Most student visa applicants must hold OSHC for the period they will be in Australia. Missing or incorrect OSHC details can cause unnecessary processing friction.

6) Health and character

Depending on your background and where you’ve lived, you may need health examinations and/or police certificates.

Under 18 applicants: extra rules apply

If the student is under 18, the application must show suitable welfare arrangements. This is not optional. The Department needs evidence that the student will be properly cared for in Australia, and that arrangements align with the course dates and travel plans.

If you are applying for a minor, your strategy and paperwork need to be more precise—especially around dates, guardianship, welfare confirmation, and practical living arrangements.

How long can you stay on a student visa?

Student visas are typically granted in line with the course duration, with additional time after the course ends depending on course length and timing. The final length of stay can vary, so it’s important not to assume you’ll automatically receive a long “buffer” period at the end.

If you are planning travel, future visa steps, or post-study pathways, you should plan based on what is likely—not what you hope.

Work rights on a student visa

Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Details can change and exceptions apply (especially for certain post-graduate research candidates and certain sectors when policy settings change) — and exceeding the cap can lead to visa cancellation.

If work is a major part of your plan, your approach must still read as “student first.” If the application looks work-driven, the GS assessment becomes harder.

Where student visas go wrong (and how to avoid it)

Most problems come from avoidable issues:

• weak or inconsistent GS answers

• missing documents or documents that don’t match the story

• unclear funding source, large unexplained deposits, or poor bank evidence

• course choice that doesn’t connect with background or goals

• unexplained study gaps

• prior visa refusals or compliance issues not addressed properly — a refused student visa onshore can also trigger a section 48 bar on most further onshore applications

• under-18 welfare documents missing or inconsistent with dates

• last-minute lodgement close to course commencement

A student visa is evidence-driven. If your documents don’t “prove” your claims, the application becomes fragile.

If your student visa has been refused, review rights at the Administrative Review Tribunal are strictly time-limited. Our visa refusals and appeals page explains the process and deadlines.

Students across Australia — and applying from overseas

Migration Vision advises students at every Australian campus and applicants still overseas — online consultations in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, timed for your home time zone. A large part of our student work is pathway planning: choosing courses that hold up at GS assessment now and still make sense at the 485 and skilled stages later — decided before you pay tuition, not after.

FAQs

How much does the student visa cost in 2026?

The application charge is $2,500 for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, with $2,050 for ELICOS-only and non-award study. Concessional charges for eligible ASEAN (~$2,050) and Pacific or Timor-Leste (~$745) applicants are applied in ImmiAccount. OSHC, health checks and English tests are extra.

How long does a student visa take to process?

Times vary sharply by education sector. In August 2026 half of higher-education applications were decided in about two weeks, but 90% of both higher-education and VET applications took up to about seven months. Lodging a complete, decision-ready file well before your course starts is the single best protection.

How many hours can I work on a student visa?

Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Exceeding the cap can lead to visa cancellation.

What is the Genuine Student requirement?

Every applicant must satisfy the Genuine Student criterion — demonstrating that study is the primary purpose of coming to Australia, supported by academic history, course relevance, financial capacity and personal circumstances. A weak GS statement is one of the most common refusal reasons.

Can I get permanent residency after a student visa?

Yes. The most common route is Student (500) → Temporary Graduate (485) → skilled migration (189/190/491) or employer sponsorship (482/186). Strategic course selection aligned with skilled occupation lists significantly improves PR prospects — which is why we plan the pathway before enrolment.

What happens if my student visa is refused?

An onshore refusal usually carries review rights at the Administrative Review Tribunal within a strict deadline, and may trigger a section 48 bar on most further onshore applications. Get advice quickly — the review window is short.

Can I bring my family on a student visa?

Eligible family members (partner and dependent children) can be included in some circumstances, with additional charges and financial requirements. School-age children need schooling arrangements, and family inclusion affects the funds you must show.

How Migration Vision helps

At Migration Vision, we treat student visa work as structured case preparation, not form-filling.

We help you:

• assess eligibility and risk before you pay tuition or lodge

• shape a credible GS narrative supported by evidence

• prepare decision-ready documentation (clean, consistent, complete)

• manage complex cases: study gaps, course changes, prior refusals, weak financial profiles

• plan the visa pathway beyond study where appropriate (without turning the application into a “work visa plan”)

Reviewed by Dr Asad Muhammad Khan, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619525. Updated 18 August 2026 — fee and processing figures current as at that date; confirm the current charge with the Department of Home Affairs before lodgement. This page is general information, not migration advice for your circumstances.