🎓Student Visa (Subclass 500)
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is Australia’s primary visa for international students pursuing full-time education. It accommodates various study levels, from primary school to postgraduate research, and offers opportunities for work and family accompaniment.
Key Features
Duration: Valid for the length of your course plus additional time (up to 5 years).
Work Rights:
Up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.
Unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
Postgraduate research students (Master’s by research or PhD) may work unlimited hours after course commencement.Â
Family Members: Eligible dependents can accompany you.
Multiple Entries: Allows travel in and out of Australia during the visa validity.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
Enroll in a CRICOS-registered course: Obtain a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from an Australian institution.
Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement: Demonstrate genuine intent to study temporarily in Australia.
Provide evidence of sufficient funds: Cover tuition, living expenses, and travel.
Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Mandatory for the duration of your stay.
Meet English language proficiency: Provide valid test scores (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL) unless exempt.
Satisfy health and character requirements: Undergo medical examinations and provide police certificates if necessary.
With this visa you can
- participate in an eligible course of study in Australia
- travel in and out of Australia
- work up to 48 hours a fortnight when your course of study or training is in session (students studying a masters by research or doctoral degree, and their families, have no work limit).
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa to study up to 5 years. The type of course and its length will determine the length of stay
Primary school children starting their enrolment in years 1-4 will generally only be granted a Student visa for a maximum period of 3 years. Â
Stay longer
To continue studying in Australia, you must apply for a new Student visa.
If your Student visa will expire before your graduation you might be eligible for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You will need a letter from your education provider with the date of your graduation.
If you hold or held a Student visa and completed specific qualifications in Australia in the last six months, you might be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).
If you want to stay longer for other reasons, you must apply for a new visa that suits your circumstances. Explore your visa options.
Including Family Members in Your Student Visa
When applying for a Student visa, you can include your family members in the application. Eligible family members include:
Your spouse or de facto partner, and
Your dependent child or your partner’s dependent child, as long as they are under 18 years old and unmarried.
If your child has already turned 18 when your visa is being processed, they will not be granted a Student visa as your dependent. They will need to apply for their own visa separately.
It is important to list all your family members in your Student visa application, even if they are not planning to travel to Australia with you. If you leave them out, they won’t be able to apply for a Student visa to join you later.
Family members may also apply later on as subsequent entrants through their own application in ImmiAccount.
Anyone included in the visa application must meet the required health and character standards.
If you are bringing school-aged children, you should also be aware of the school fees you’ll need to pay, whether they attend public or private schools.
For more details, refer to the section titled “Evidence you have enough money for your stay” under the Gather documents section.
Studying Packaged Courses
If you’re applying to study more than one course under a packaged arrangement, you must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course included.
The final course in your package is considered your main course of study, and this course will determine the type of evidence you need to provide for things like financial capacity and English language proficiency.
If your application includes multiple courses, the gap between courses must be less than two calendar months. However, an exception is made if the first course ends at the close of the standard academic year and the next one begins at the start of the next academic year.
For instance, if the academic year ends in November and resumes in February, a break of 3 to 4 months between courses is acceptable.
Standard visa durations apply even when courses are packaged together.
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Step by step to Student Visa Application
Step 01: Before You Apply
If you’re outside Australia – Make sure to submit your visa application well in advance of your course start date. To get an idea of how long it might take, you can use the visa processing time guide tool. This tool shows typical processing times for recently finalized applications. Keep in mind that it offers general information and doesn’t reflect the status of your specific application.
If you’re in Australia – Give yourself plenty of time to apply for a new visa. Don’t leave it until the last day of your current visa, as unexpected issues could arise, and we might not be able to assist in time.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Use the Document Checklist Tool to find out what documents you need to include. Before using the tool, make sure to read the disclaimer.
To get the most accurate checklist, enter the details of your passport country and education provider. If you haven’t picked a provider yet, you can choose the option ‘I have not decided on a provider yet’ in the tool.
The tool will tell you what kinds of evidence are required. For example, if you’re asked to show proof of English proficiency, click ‘Show steps’ to view the acceptable forms of evidence.
Check the checklist again just before submitting your application to ensure you’re using the most up-to-date version, and that all required documents are included.
Please note: The checklist is updated twice yearly (on 31 March and 30 September)—an additional update was made on 20 November 2024.
Step 3: Submit Your Visa Application
This visa must be applied for online. You can lodge the application whether you are inside or outside Australia.
It’s important to submit a complete and decision-ready application. If key documents are missing, your application may be delayed or refused.Â
Step 4: After You Apply
See what you can and must do after you apply.
You should respond to any requests for information promptly. You do not need to wait until the deadline to respond to a Departmental request for further information. You should also regularly log into your ImmiAccounts to check for messages from the Department and respond promptly.
Avoid making travel arrangements until your visa has been officially granted.
Step 5: Visa Decision
Once a decision is made, you will receive written notification. This will include:
Your visa grant number
Expiry date of your visa
Any visa conditions you must follow
Be sure to keep a copy of this decision with you while you’re in Australia.
If your application is refused, you’ll be informed in writing with an explanation of the reasons and whether you’re eligible to request a review.
Please note: If your visa is refused, the application fee will not be refunded.