Subclass 500Studyneeds review
Student visa
Participate in an eligible course of study in Australia
Overview
Stay period
Up to 6 years and in line with enrolment
Cost
From AUD 2,000 unless exempt
Work rights
Work up to 48 hours per fortnight when course is in session; different rules may apply for research or postgraduate students
Last checked
24 April 2026
Key requirements
- •Apply online in or outside Australia
- •Be enrolled in a full-time course and hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
- •Maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- •Be at least 6 years old
- •Have welfare arrangements if under 18
- •Hold an eligible substantive visa if applying in Australia
- •Meet English language requirements or qualify for an exemption
- •Have sufficient financial capacity for the stay
- •Be a genuine student
- •Meet health and character requirements
- •Sign the Australian Values Statement if 18 or older
- •Have paid back any debt to the Australian Government
- •Not have a visa history that affects eligibility
Documents required
- •Valid passport
- •Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
- •Proof of English language proficiency if required
- •Evidence of financial capacity if required
- •Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- •Identity documents
- •Health examination results if required
- •Police certificates if required
- •Welfare and parental consent documents if under 18
- •Partner and dependant documents if applicable
- •Certified translations for non-English documents
Application steps
- 1Prepare before applying
- 2Gather required documents using the Document Checklist Tool
- 3Apply online through ImmiAccount
- 4Attach documents and pay the visa application charge or provide exemption evidence
- 5Respond to requests for additional information
- 6Provide biometrics or health examinations if requested
- 7Wait for written visa outcome
Visa conditions
- •Maintain enrolment in an eligible course
- •Comply with work limitations
- •Maintain adequate health insurance
- •Obey Australian laws
- •Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid
- •Cannot extend the visa; must apply for a new visa to stay longer
- •Notify the Department if circumstances change
Risk flags
- !Application may be delayed or refused if incomplete
- !Application may be invalid if CoE is missing or invalid
- !Incorrect or false information may lead to refusal and future visa consequences
- !Insufficient financial evidence may result in refusal
- !Failure to maintain OSHC may cause compliance issues
- !Previous refusals or cancellations may affect eligibility
- !Not meeting the Genuine Student requirement may lead to refusal
English language requirements
Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025
| Test | Standard | ELICOS 10 wks | ELICOS 20 wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAE | 169 | 162 | 154 |
| OET | B for each test component | B for each test component | B for each test component |
| PTE | 50 | 42 | 36 |
| IELTS | 6 | 5.5 | 5 |
| TOEFL_iBT | 64 | 46 | 35 |
Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
| Test | Standard | ELICOS 10 wks | ELICOS 20 wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| MET | 53 | 49 | 44 |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
| TOEFL_iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| C1_Advanced | 161 | Excluded | Excluded |
| PTE_Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| CELPIP_General | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| IELTS_Academic | 6 | 5.5 | 5 |
| LANGUAGECERT_Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| IELTS_General_Training | 6 | 5.5 | 5 |
Notes
- •At-home or online English tests are not accepted where the entire test is delivered online.
- •Some applicants may be exempt from providing English test evidence.
- •The Document Checklist Tool should be used to determine evidence requirements.
Financial requirements
Living costs (per 12 months)
| child | AUD 4,449 |
| partner | AUD 10,394 |
| student | AUD 29,710 |
Annual income option
| with family | AUD 102,500 |
| without family | AUD 87,856 |
Schooling costs (per child, per year)
At least AUD 13,502 per year
Travel costs guidance
| west africa | AUD 3,000 |
| applying in australia | AUD 1,000 |
| east or southern africa | AUD 2,500 |
| outside australia general | AUD 2,000 |
Source snapshots
PDF snapshot
Captured: 24 April 2026
This page provides general information only. It does not provide migration advice or legal advice. For personalised advice, speak with a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner.