Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500): Eligibility, Documents and Requirements

What Is the Student Visa (Subclass 500)?

The Student visa (subclass 500) allows an eligible international student to participate in an approved course of study in Australia, travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid, and work subject to the conditions attached to the visa.

The visa can generally be granted for the period required for the course, up to a maximum of six years depending on the type and length of study. Primary school students commencing Years 1-4 are generally granted a maximum period of three years.

The visa is digitally linked to the holder's passport; no physical visa label is normally issued.

Eligible Courses and Confirmation of Enrolment

Students can use subclass 500 for eligible study across the principal education sectors, including:

• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS);
• primary and secondary school education;
• vocational education and training (VET);
• higher education, including bachelor and postgraduate coursework;
• masters by research and doctoral studies;
• non-award courses and exchange programs; and
• Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored study.

In most cases, the applicant must hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). A valid CoE must generally be provided when the application is lodged and remain valid when the visa is decided.

Different evidence applies to secondary exchange students, certain postgraduate research students awaiting thesis marking, and Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students.

Main Student Visa Eligibility Requirements

Depending on the applicant's circumstances and evidence level, the main requirements can include:

• being enrolled in an eligible registered course and holding a valid CoE;
• meeting the Genuine Student (GS) requirement;
• meeting the applicable English language requirement or qualifying for an exemption;
• having sufficient financial capacity where evidence is required;
• holding appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless exempt;
• meeting health and character requirements;
• being at least six years old if applying as a school student;
• meeting applicable school-student age requirements;
• having approved welfare arrangements if under 18; and
• meeting relevant immigration-history and visa-status requirements.

Genuine Student (GS) Requirement

The Genuine Student requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. It replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for Student visa applicants.

The applicant must show that studying in Australia is the primary reason for applying for the Student visa and that they are a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student.

The online application asks the applicant, in English, to explain matters including:

• current circumstances, including family, community, employment and economic ties;
• why the applicant wants to study the chosen course in Australia with the selected provider;
• the applicant's understanding of the course and of studying and living in Australia;
• how completing the course will benefit the applicant; and
• any other relevant information.

Each GS response has a 150-word limit. Home Affairs gives greater weight to statements that are supported by documentary evidence.

Student Visa English Language Requirements

If English evidence is required, the applicant must provide an approved English language test result or show that an exemption applies. The required result depends on the test, the date it was taken and whether the principal course is packaged with eligible ELICOS, Foundation or Pathway study.

Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025

From 21 January 2026, a person using TOEFL iBT for Australian visa purposes must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering. Fully online or at-home English tests are not accepted for Australian visa purposes.

Different transitional scores can apply to qualifying tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. Applicants should use the current Home Affairs Student visa page to confirm which test result and validity rules apply to their circumstances.

Financial Capacity Requirement

Student visa applicants must have sufficient funds available for their stay in Australia. Depending on the applicant's combined country and education-provider evidence level, Home Affairs may require documentary evidence of financial capacity.

Where required, financial evidence can include funds for:

• travel costs;
• course fees;
• living costs for the student;
• living costs for accompanying family members; and
• school costs for dependent school-age children.

The applicable financial-capacity figures can change. Applicants should use the current Home Affairs document checklist and financial-capacity guidance at the time of application. Students should not rely on expected employment in Australia as their principal means of supporting themselves or their family.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Most Student visa applicants must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and accompanying family members for the required period, unless an exemption applies.

The policy must meet the requirements applicable to Student visa holders. The applicant should provide the insurer, policy details and period of cover requested in the application.

Student Visa Documents Checklist

The exact document list depends on the applicant, country, education provider and course. ImmiAccount provides an application-specific document checklist. Common supporting documents can include:

• current passport identity pages;
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE);
• Genuine Student supporting evidence;
• approved English language test evidence, where required;
• financial-capacity evidence, where required;
• OSHC evidence;
• academic transcripts, certificates and qualifications;
• employment history and supporting records where relevant to GS assessment;
• evidence of family, economic and other circumstances where relevant;
• health examination information where requested;
• police or character documents where requested;
• documents for accompanying family members; and
• English translations of all non-English documents.

Preparing documents

• Upload clear and legible colour scans or photographs.
• Upload both the original and English translation for non-English documents.
• Use a NAATI-accredited translator for translations completed in Australia.
• For translations completed outside Australia, include the translator's identifying and qualification details.
• Follow any additional document instructions shown in ImmiAccount.

Students Under 18: Consent and Welfare Arrangements

Applicants under 18 must provide parental or legal-guardian consent and evidence of adequate welfare arrangements.

Consent can generally be provided using Form 1229 - Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years, or an appropriate statutory declaration from each parent or legal guardian.

Official Form 1229 - Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18 (PDF)

Depending on the circumstances, welfare can be arranged through the education provider using a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW), through approved exchange arrangements, or through a nominated eligible guardian.

If nominating a student guardian, Form 157N - Nomination of a student guardian may be required.

Official Form 157N - Nomination of a student guardian (PDF)

The current guardian visa is the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590).

Including Family Members

Eligible members of the student's family unit may be included in the Student visa application or may apply later as subsequent applicants where the rules allow.

Existing family members should be declared when the primary Student visa application is lodged, even if they do not intend to travel immediately. If a person becomes a family member after lodgement and before the visa is granted, Home Affairs must be informed as required.

Additional visa application charges, health requirements, OSHC and other requirements can apply to accompanying family members.

Student Visa Work Rights

Student visa holders and their family members generally cannot work before the student's course starts, unless an applicable exception applies.

While the course is in session:

• most Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight;
• students studying a masters degree by research or doctoral degree can work more than 48 hours per fortnight after that course has commenced;
• family members of masters by research or doctoral students can work more than 48 hours per fortnight; and
• family members of students studying a masters degree by coursework or masters degree (Extended) can also work more than 48 hours per fortnight, although the student remains subject to the usual 48-hour limit while the course is in session.

Students can generally work unlimited hours during scheduled periods when their course is not in session. Visa holders should always check the exact conditions attached to their visa through VEVO.

Student Visa Application Charge

Home Affairs confirms that the Student visa application charge increased from 1 July 2026. Lower visa costs can apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, eligible ASEAN citizens, and qualifying ELICOS and Non-Award sector applicants.

Because visa charges can change and additional applicant or subsequent temporary application charges may apply, use the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging rather than relying on an older published figure.

How to Apply for an Australian Student Visa

1. Choose an eligible CRICOS-registered course and obtain the required Confirmation of Enrolment.
2. Check the Home Affairs Student visa Document Checklist Tool.
3. Arrange OSHC for the required period unless exempt.
4. Prepare English language and financial evidence where required.
5. Prepare evidence supporting the Genuine Student responses.
6. Prepare under-18 consent and welfare documents where applicable.
7. Create or sign in to ImmiAccount.
8. Complete the subclass 500 online application accurately.
9. Answer the Genuine Student questions in English within the applicable word limits.
10. Attach all required documents before submission.
11. Pay the applicable visa application charge.
12. After lodging, regularly check ImmiAccount for requests for health examinations, biometrics, character evidence or further information.

Student Visa Processing and Visa Conditions

Processing times vary. Offshore subclass 500 applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are processed in accordance with Ministerial Direction 115. Processing priority does not determine whether an application meets the legal criteria for visa grant.

If the visa is granted, Home Affairs issues the decision in writing with the visa grant number, expiry date and conditions. Students should use VEVO to check their current visa details and conditions.