Skip to main content
RU
AustraliaStudy

Student visa in Australia

A student visa for foreign nationals coming to Australia to study full-time at a recognised educational institution — a university, a college, a school or language courses. The visa gives the right to travel to and from Australia, to work outside study time and, on lodgement, to include a partner and minor children.

Source: Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)

Who can obtain it

The basic conditions

  • A foreign national aged 6 and over, enrolled in a full-time course at an Australian educational institution, with a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided
  • An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy has been taken out for the applicant and accompanying relatives — apart from the exceptions for citizens of Norway, Sweden and Belgium
  • The Genuine Student requirement is evidenced — study in Australia as the main reason for the trip
  • For an applicant under 18 — a welfare arrangement is confirmed

How lodgement works

  • The application is lodged online — from Australia or from abroad
  • If the applicant is already in Australia, another substantive visa has to be in effect for them both at lodgement and when the visa is decided
  • The visa is granted for a period tied to the length of the course — generally no more than six years

What it costs

Visa charge (base rate, for the main applicant)2 500 AUD

Documents to gather

The checklist depends on the country and the type of course, but the basic set includes:

  • Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) — confirmation of enrolment in the course
  • Evidence of financial capacity — if the checklist or the Department requests it during the assessment
  • An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy for the applicant and accompanying relatives
  • English language test results — if required
  • Written answers to the Genuine Student questions — up to 150 words per question

How the process runs

Once the documents are gathered the process runs as follows:

  1. 1

    Gather the documents

    The CoE, evidence of financial capacity, the OSHC policy and, if required, English language test results.

  2. 2

    Answer the Genuine Student questions

    In the online application you answer questions about the purpose of your study — up to 150 words each. If you have held a student visa before, or are applying in Australia on something other than a student visa, one more question is added.

  3. 3

    Lodge the application online

    The application is lodged through ImmiAccount — from Australia or from abroad. If the applicant is in Australia, another substantive visa has to be in effect for them at lodgement.

  4. 4

    Attach the documents and pay the visa charge

    You pay the charge for yourself and for the relatives included in the application. Without correct payment the Department does not begin assessing the application.

  5. 5

    On request — provide biometrics

    14 days

    The Department may request biometrics after lodgement; you have 14 days from the notification to book and attend, and it has to be done before departing for Australia.

  6. 6

    Wait for the decision

    The Department requests further documents through ImmiAccount where necessary — such requests are best answered straight away rather than waiting for the deadline.

  7. 7

    Receive the visa

    The visa is granted for a period that depends on the length of the course and generally does not exceed six years.

Timelines and rights

Work

During classes you work no more than 48 hours a fortnight. In the holidays and between semesters there is no limit on hours.

Who you can bring with you

The application can include:

Partner
Applies together with the main applicant or later, on a separate application in ImmiAccount as a subsequent entrant; has to meet the health, character and Genuine Student requirements
An unmarried dependent child (your own or your partner's) under 18
If the child has turned 18 by the time the visa is decided, they will not be granted a student visa as a dependant — a separate application will be needed
Relatives joining later (subsequent entrants)
They evidence financial capacity separately from the main visa holder: the main applicant's visa costs less what has already been paid, 12 months of living costs, school costs for children and travel costs. Brothers and sisters without a parent lodge separate applications and each pays the base visa charge

Renewal and the grace period

Postgraduate research students may in exceptional cases apply for a further student visa in order to stay in Australia for the marking of their thesis — with a letter of support from the educational institution.

Frequently asked questions about Student visa

Who can obtain a subclass 500 student visa?
A foreign national aged 6 and over who is enrolled in a full-time course at an Australian educational institution and holds a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided. An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy or a ground for exemption is needed, as is evidence of the Genuine Student requirement — that study in Australia is the main reason for the trip.
What does a student visa cost?
The base visa charge for the main applicant is from AUD 2,500 (concessional rates apply to certain categories: citizens of the Pacific islands and Timor-Leste, a number of ASEAN countries and applicants in the ELICOS and Non-Award sectors). The charge rose on 1 July 2026.
How much money has to be evidenced for the visa?
For 12 months you have to show at least AUD 29,710 for the student themselves, AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for a child travelling with you — plus the cost of the course for the first year and travel costs. The alternative is to evidence an annual income of a parent or partner from AUD 87,856 (from AUD 102,500 if family are travelling).
Can you work on a student visa?
Yes, during term time — up to 48 hours a fortnight. In the holidays and between semesters there is no limit on hours. Those studying for a research master's degree or a doctorate have no limit on hours at all — nor do their families.
For how long is a student visa granted?
The period is tied to the length of the course and generally does not exceed six years. For university students — as a rule up to five years, and for a chain of several courses with a clear study logic — up to six. Postgraduate research students are given a further six months for the marking of their thesis, primary school pupils a maximum of three years and secondary school pupils up to six years.
Can you bring your family with you?
Yes — a partner and an unmarried dependent child under 18. They can be included in the main application, or a separate application can be lodged for them later in ImmiAccount as a subsequent entrant; in the second case they evidence financial capacity separately.
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
The requirement that replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024: the applicant has to show that study in Australia is the main reason for the trip, and to describe their ties to family, the local community and work, and their financial position. The answers are given online, up to 150 words per question.

Other ways to move to Australia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Australia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.