Student visa 500
Full-time study in a registered course. Most applicants must now apply from outside Australia.
Changing
Who it is for
People aged 6 or older who want to study full time in a course registered on CRICOS: school, English language, vocational, higher education or postgraduate research.
Main requirements
- A Confirmation of Enrolment for every course when you lodge. Without one the application is invalid.
- The Genuine Student requirement: studying in Australia must be the main reason for the visa. You answer questions in the form (up to 150 words each) with evidence.
- Financial capacity if the Document Checklist Tool asks: 12 months of living costs (A$29,710 for the student), the first year of course fees and travel costs, with genuine access to the money.
- English test results if the checklist asks, taken within 2 years at a secure test centre.
- Overseas Student Health Cover for your whole stay, starting when you arrive.
- Welfare arrangements for students under 18; health, character and the Australian values statement.
Where you apply from
From 2 October 2026 most applications must be lodged outside Australia, and you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. A current Student visa holder can apply in Australia only under one of six exemptions: up to 12 more months with the same provider, DFAT or Defence sponsorship, PhD study, school study, progression to a higher qualification level, or provider default. Holders of visitor, working holiday, graduate, training, temporary work and some other visas cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia at all. An application lodged in Australia without an exemption is invalid, gives no bridging visa and cannot be reviewed.
Streams
- Higher Education
- Vocational Education and Training
- Schools
- Independent ELICOS
- Postgraduate Research
- Non-Award
- Foreign Affairs or Defence
Your journey, step by step
From the first enquiry to the decision and after, with how a registered migration agent helps at each step. No step promises an outcome.
- First enquiry
You tell us your current visa, where you are, your family and any past refusals or cancellations.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent identifies your current visa, its conditions and expiry, and any early risk. - Check the 2 October 2026 rules
Before you enrol or pay, confirm whether you must apply from outside Australia and whether family can be included.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent checks the exemptions before you pay fees or plan travel. - Course, provider and enrolment
Choose a course and provider, accept the offer and receive your Confirmation of Enrolment.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent explains how the provider's allocation affects processing order offshore, and discloses in writing any commission or fee received, naming who receives it. - Service agreement
Before any personal advice or preparation, you receive a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent sets out the work, the fee and the refund policy in writing. No money is taken for visa work before the agreement is signed. - Evidence
Genuine Student answers with evidence, funds evidence, English test, health cover and welfare arrangements for under 18s.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent helps you write truthful, specific answers and tests the funds evidence for genuine access. - Lodge from the right place
Lodge online in ImmiAccount and pay the charge.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent lodges from the correct location and monitors requests. - Health, police and biometrics
Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics when the Department asks.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent tracks every request and deadline so nothing lapses. - Decision and arrival
If you applied from outside Australia, you must be outside Australia at grant. Travel no earlier than your health cover starts.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent explains your conditions, including work limits and course attendance. - After your course
Plan the next step: a Temporary Graduate visa (485), then skilled or employer visas if eligible.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent plans the 485 window and later skilled options.
Government charges from 1 July 2026
Paid to the Department of Home Affairs, not to us.
| Applicant or item | Charge (A$) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (most sectors) | A$2,500 |
| English language and non-award main applicant | A$2,050 |
| Family member 18 or over (where allowed) | A$1,530 |
| Family member under 18 (where allowed) | A$500 |
| Subsequent temporary application charge, if applying in Australia | A$700 |
A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN passport holders. DFAT or Defence sponsored students pay no charge. Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.
Processing times
Home Affairs Global visa processing times, updated 29 September 2026 (applications finalised to 31 August 2026). Read 22 October 2026. A guide only, not a promise.
| Higher education | 50% in 16 days, 90% in 4 months |
|---|---|
| Vocational education | 50% in 53 days, 90% in 7 months |
| Schools | 50% in 28 days, 90% in 7 months |
| Independent English language | 50% in 22 days, 90% in 53 days |
| Postgraduate research | 50% in 17 days, 90% in 55 days |
Common refusal reasons
- Genuine Student requirement not met: weak ties, unexplained course choice, gaps or poor immigration history.
- Funds not shown, or genuine access not shown.
- Invalid application: lodged in Australia without an exemption, family included without an exemption, or no Confirmation of Enrolment.
- Missing health cover details or the wrong English test.
- False or misleading documents, which can bring exclusion periods.
- Previous visa breaches or poor course progress.
Document checklist
Tick items as you gather them. Your ticks stay on this device only.
- Identity
- Study
- Money
- Under 18
Recent and upcoming changes
- 2 October 2026
Most applicants must apply from outside Australia; most can no longer include family; no family can join after grant.
- 14 November 2025
A Ministerial Direction sets the order for offshore applications by the provider's share of its allocation.
- 1 July 2026
Main applicant charge rose to A$2,500.
- 1 April 2026
Commissions for moving students already in Australia between providers are banned.
Questions
Can my partner and children come with me?
For applications lodged from 2 October 2026, most applicants can no longer include family members, and family cannot be added after grant. Exceptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsored students, fully funded foreign government scholarship holders, and eligible Pacific and ASEAN nationals.
Can I apply for a new Student visa in Australia?
Only if you hold a Student visa and meet one of six exemptions. Otherwise you must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
How much money do I need to show?
If asked, 12 months of living costs (A$29,710 for the student), the first year of course fees and travel costs. Use our student funds estimator for a general figure.
Talk it through before you apply.
The first 15 minutes are free and general. Personal advice starts after a written service agreement.
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice for your situation. Rules and charges change; check the official sources before you act.