Student visa – Subclass 500

The Student visa (subclass 500) allows international students to live, study, and work in Australia while enrolled in an approved course of study. This visa opens the door to a world-class education system, the chance to experience Australian culture, and the ability to work part-time* during study periods.

Duration: Valid for the length of your enrolment, ranging from a few months to several years.
Where you can apply (updated 9 November 2026): since 2 October 2026 many applicants must apply from outside Australia, including most current Student visa holders and holders of Visitor, Working Holiday, 482 and 485 visas. See who can apply in Australia below.
Family members: your partner and children can be included only in specified cases, and must generally apply together with you, at the same time and in the same place.

Main Student Visa 500 Requirements

To qualify for the Australian Student visa subclass 500, you must:

Hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered education provider.
Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, showing your intention to study in Australia temporarily.
Have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full visa duration.
Demonstrate access to sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, travel, and living expenses (see Q&A section).
Meet the English language requirement (e.g. IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL), unless exempt (see Q&A section).
Satisfy health and character checks, which may include medical examinations and police clearances (see Q&A section).

The "GS" - Genuine Student Requirement – Student Visa Subclass 500

To be granted a Student visa (subclass 500), you must satisfy the Genuine Student (GS) requirement under Ministerial Direction 106. This ensures your main purpose in Australia is to undertake full-time study in a CRICOS-registered course and that you will comply with all visa conditions. Meeting the GS requirement is critical to secure your Student visa subclass 500 Australia.

What You Need to Show

Course Choice
Explain why you selected your course and education provider in Australia, and how this decision aligns with your background, qualifications, and future career goals.

Personal Circumstances
Provide information about your family, community, and employment ties both in Australia and in your home country. This helps show that you intend to return home or continue your studies in line with visa conditions.

Academic and English Ability
Demonstrate that you are prepared for your chosen course. This may include past study results, work experience, or English test results (only required in some cases).

Financial Capacity
Show that you can cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs during your stay. Financial evidence is only mandatory in certain cases, depending on your risk assessment.

Visa Compliance
Highlight your history of following visa rules, and confirm your intention to comply with all conditions of the Student visa, such as maintaining enrolment, meeting attendance and course progress requirements, working within permitted hours, and holding valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Student Visa 500 Changes 2026: Who Can Apply Onshore and Who Must Apply Offshore

Last updated: 9 November 2026

The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 apply to Student visa applications lodged on or after 2 October 2026. Applications lodged before that date and not yet decided are not affected.

When You Must Apply for a Student Visa Offshore

You must apply from outside Australia if:

You currently hold a Student visa (as the main student or as a family member) and you are applying for a new one as the main applicant, unless an exception applies (see next column).
You hold certain other visas, including subclasses 400, 407, 408, 417, 462, 482, 485 and 600, and some 403 and 995 visas. The exact scope depends on the subclass, the stream and, in some cases, whether you are the main visa holder.
If you had to apply offshore, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted, so plan to stay offshore while the application is processed.

When You Can Still Apply for a Student Visa in Australia

You may still apply in Australia if:

Your current visa is not one of the offshore-only visas, and you are not a current Student visa holder.
You are a current Student visa holder who:
- is a Defence, Foreign Affairs or school student;
- is enrolled in a doctoral degree;
- cannot complete the course because of a provider default and meets the time and course requirements;
- needs a further visa to complete the principal course within the prescribed period; or
- can demonstrate course progression.
Your previous Student visa was cancelled and the Administrative Review Tribunal set the cancellation aside after the visa ended: you have 28 days from the decision to apply.

Each exception has detailed requirements: simply wanting to keep studying is not enough.

Student Visa 500 with Partner and Children (2026 Rules)

From 2 October 2026 a partner or child can apply as a secondary applicant only in specified cases, for example when the main student:

is a Defence or Foreign Affairs student;
holds a passport from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country;
is a doctoral student or a foreign government scholarship recipient (for some family members); or
falls within another class set out in the legislation, including some provider-default and course-completion cases.

Where family members are eligible, they must generally apply at the same time and in the same place as the main student. If one member of the family must apply offshore, the whole family may need to apply offshore. Adding family members after the visa is granted is now substantially restricted.

Student Visa 500 FAQs

It depends on the visa you hold. From 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders applying for a new Student visa as the main applicant must generally apply from outside Australia, unless they meet a specific exception (Defence, Foreign Affairs or school students, doctoral students, provider default, completing the principal course within the prescribed period, or course progression). Holders of several other visas, including 400, 407, 408, 417, 462, 482, 485 and 600, must also apply offshore. If you had to apply offshore, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Check your exact visa subclass and stream before lodging: an application made in the wrong place may be invalid.

If your Student visa application made in Australia is refused, you can usually apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for a review. Act quickly: the time limit is in your refusal letter and is strict.

From 1 June 2026, most Student visa refusal reviews are decided without a hearing, only on the written submissions and evidence you provide, so a complete written case from the start is essential. In some cases a new application may be a better option than a review. Read more on our Tribunal Review and visa refusal appeal page.

International students can choose from a wide range of CRICOS registered courses in Australia, including:

ELICOS – English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students.
VET courses – Vocational Education and Training in areas such as hospitality, trades, business, and IT.
Higher Education – University degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate qualifications.

To qualify for a Student visa subclass 500, your studies must be full-time (generally 20 hours per week or more) and the course must be listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Only CRICOS-registered courses are open to international students and allow you to apply for a student visa.

Yes. With the exception of students from Belgium, Norway and Sweden, holding Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for anyone applying for a Student visa in Australia.

No, at the moment of the visa application you must hold a cover valid for the entire duration of your visa, otherwise the visa may be granted for a shorter period

Only in specified cases. For applications lodged from 2 October 2026, your partner and dependent children can be included only if you fall within one of the categories in the legislation (for example Defence or Foreign Affairs students, students with a Pacific or ASEAN passport, some doctoral students and foreign government scholarship recipients). Where eligible, your family must generally apply at the same time and in the same place as you, and adding them after your visa is granted is substantially restricted. See Student Visa 500 with Partner and Children above.

Yes. The Student visa (subclass 500) allows most international students to work while they study in Australia, but there are rules you must follow:

Standard students: You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (every two weeks) during study periods.
During holidays: There are no work restrictions when your course is not in session, such as semester breaks or after you completed your course.
Master’s by research or PhD students: You can work unlimited hours during your course and holidays.
Family members (dependants):
- In most cases, dependants can work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
- If the main student visa holder is studying a Master’s degree or higher, dependants have no work restrictions.

Remember: It’s your responsibility to comply with visa conditions. Breaching work limits can affect your current visa and any future visa applications.

Not every applicant needs to provide detailed financial documents. The requirement to show evidence of funds depends on your risk assessment:

Low-risk applicants: If you are from a low-risk country and enrolling with a low-risk CRICOS-registered education provider, you will usually not be asked to provide financial evidence. However, you must still declare that you have genuine access to funds to cover your costs.
Higher-risk applicants: Students from higher-risk countries or enrolling with providers considered higher risk are more likely to be required to provide bank statements, income records, or sponsorship evidence.

Regardless of your risk level, the Department of Home Affairs may ask for financial documents at any time during processing. You should always be prepared to demonstrate that you can pay tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and health insurance (OSHC) for yourself and any dependants you may have.

Not in every case. The English language requirement for a Student visa (subclass 500) depends on your course type, education provider, and country of passport:

Vocational (VET) or higher education courses: An English test result (such as IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL) may be required to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements for your course.
Exemptions: Applicants from certain passport countries (e.g., the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland) are usually exempt. You may also be exempt if you have completed prior study in English.
Assessment level: Students considered low risk based on their country of passport and education provider may not be required to submit test results, although the Department of Home Affairs can still request evidence at any stage.

Always check the requirements of your chosen CRICOS-registered course and be prepared to provide English test results if requested.

A recurring question is whether the Student visa subclass 500 Australia can lead to permanent residency (PR). There are no courses in Australia that guarantee permanent residency. However, certain study pathways can help you build a strong foundation for a migration plan towards a permanent visa.

In particular, courses that:

Allow you to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after completion, such as many university degrees, VET*, or TAFE qualifications**.
Lead to occupations listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Core Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) which are often the basis for skilled visas or employer sponsorship.

While studying alone will not give you PR, choosing the right course can create opportunities to combine skills, work experience, and visa eligibility in the future.

A well-planned immigration pathway should always be discussed with a registered migration agent, as requirements can change depending on your occupation and individual circumstances.

Book your consultation today and take the first step towards your future in Australia.

Book a Consultation