Australian Student visa (subclass 500) — the complete guide

The process, step by step

• Choose a CRICOS-registered course. Every course legally offered to an international student has a CRICOS course code — we show it on each course page so you can verify it on the government register.
• Apply and receive a Letter of Offer. Most offers are conditional at first, typically on your final transcript or an English score.
• Accept the offer and pay the first fee instalment. This is what triggers the next step, and nothing downstream can happen before it.
• Get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This is the document the visa application is built around.
• Buy Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved insurer, covering the entire visa period.
• Prepare your financial evidence — tuition, travel and twelve months of living costs.
• Answer the Genuine Student (GS) questions in your own words, then lodge online through ImmiAccount and pay the visa application charge.
• Complete health examinations and biometrics if you are asked for them, then wait for the decision.

The Genuine Student requirement

In March 2024 the Genuine Temporary Entrant test was replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. Instead of a free-form statement, you answer targeted written questions about your current circumstances, why you chose this course and this provider, what the qualification does for you, and any other relevant details.

Generic, templated or agent-written answers are one of the most common reasons a decision goes badly. Write specifically about your own situation, and make sure the answers are consistent with your funding evidence and your study history.

Documents you’ll typically need

• A passport valid well beyond your intended stay.
• Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for every course on the application.
• OSHC policy certificate covering the full visa period.
• Evidence of financial capacity — bank statements, an approved education loan, a scholarship letter or a sponsor’s documents.
• English test results (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1) unless you meet an exemption.
• Academic transcripts and completion certificates, with certified translations where they are not in English.
• Your Genuine Student responses, and for applicants under 18, welfare arrangements.
• Health examination results and biometrics if requested.

Costs & timelines

The Student visa application charge is set by the Department of Home Affairs and has risen substantially in recent years, so check the current amount on the Home Affairs site rather than relying on a figure you read elsewhere. Additional charges apply for each family member included.

Processing times vary widely by country, by provider and by the evidence level applied to your application. Lodge as soon as you have your CoE and OSHC — a visa that arrives after the census date usually means deferring to the next intake.

Working while you study

A Student visa holder may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unrestricted hours during scheduled course breaks. Postgraduate research students have unrestricted work rights once their course has commenced.

Australia has a high minimum wage and strong workplace protections that apply to you regardless of visa status. A part-time job genuinely helps with living costs — but the visa is assessed as though you will not work at all, so it can never be part of your funding case.

After you graduate — the Temporary Graduate visa

Eligible graduates of an Australian qualification can apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to live, study and work in Australia after finishing. Eligibility, the available stream and the length of stay depend on your qualification level, your field, your age and where you studied — regional study has at times attracted a longer stay.

These rules have changed repeatedly, including age limits and eligible qualifications, so treat any second-hand summary as out of date and check the current settings before making a decision that depends on them.

This guide is general information, not immigration advice. In Australia, only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner may lawfully give immigration assistance. Always confirm current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and with your university’s international office.