Student visa (subclass 500)
The Student visa (subclass 500) lets you study a registered course in Australia. Here is an overview of the main requirements – checked against the Home Affairs website – and how we can help.
Who it is for
The Student visa (subclass 500) is for people who want to study a full-time course registered on CRICOS with an Australian education provider. It lets you stay for up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment.
Main requirements
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) – you need a CoE for each course when you apply (a few groups of applicants are exempt).
- Genuine Student requirement – in the online application you answer questions about your plans to study in Australia, with up to 150 words per answer.
- Financial capacity – you may need to show that you have enough money for travel, course fees and 12 months of living costs. When we checked, Home Affairs listed living costs of AUD29,710 a year for a student. In some cases you can instead show that your parents or partner earned at least AUD87,856 in the 12 months before you apply.
- English – you may need a score from an English test approved by Home Affairs. Tests delivered entirely online ("at-home" tests) are not accepted, and the minimum scores depend on when you took the test.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – you need adequate health insurance for your stay, unless an exemption applies.
Working while you study
Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session. Students studying a master's by research or a doctoral degree have no work limit.
Applying in Australia
From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia. You can only apply in Australia if you hold an eligible visa and meet one of the exemptions set by Home Affairs – for example, you need up to 12 more months to finish your main course with the same education provider, or you have completed your main course and are moving to a course at a higher AQF level. Holders of some visas – for example visitor, working holiday and temporary graduate visas – cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia at all.
Cost and processing time
The visa application charge changes from time to time and lower charges apply in some cases – please use the Visa Pricing Estimator on the Home Affairs website. For processing times, use the Home Affairs visa processing time guide; it is a guide only.
How we help
- Choosing a course that is a genuine and logical next step for you
- Explaining the current requirements and the documents you need
- Explaining your study history and your plans clearly
- Timing – planning ahead, especially now that most applications must be lodged outside Australia
Rules change often. We check the current requirements for your situation before we give you advice – please don't rely on general information alone, including this page.
Last checked: 20 October 2026 – source: Home Affairs (Student visa (subclass 500), Genuine Student requirement, Visa Pricing Estimator, visa processing times). Rules change – always check the current information on the Home Affairs website.