Planning to study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course? Australia remains one of the world’s top destinations for international students, offering world-class universities, diverse programs, and strong post-study work opportunities. The Subclass 500 visa is your entry point to Australian education and life.
However, even a single missing requirement or incomplete document can cause costly delays or rejection. From financial evidence and English test scores to Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and character checks, every step matters.
This guide explains all the 2025 Subclass 500 visa requirements, documents, fees, and updates—presented as a clear checklist to help you submit a decision-ready application and feel confident about meeting Australia’s student visa requirements
What is the Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500)
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is the chief visa that allows foreign students to live and study in Australia. Anyone enrolling in a CRICOS-registered full-time course (such as English language study (ELICOS), vocational training, undergraduate, postgraduate, or higher research programs) is eligible.
With a Subclass 500 visa, you can:
- Remain in Australia as long as your course lasts (the maximum period is five years based on your Confirmation of Enrolment).
- Complete a full-time course with one of the approved education providers.
- Part-time work within the work restrictions of the visa.
- Eligible family members who apply as dependents should be joined.
Simply put, the Subclass 500 visa will be required when you intend to study in Australia for longer than three months. Online submissions are done on the ImmiAccount and evaluated by the Department of Home Affairs based on your evidence and documents. Knowing how to apply for student visa Australia is the first crucial step you need to know while pursuing higher education.
Types of Student Visas in Australia
The Student Visa Australia ( Subclass 500 ) is the key visa for international students. This visa enables you to reside in Australia in order to pursue a full-time CRICOS-registered course. To succeed in your application, you will be required to satisfy the Subclass 500 criteria (i.e., producing your Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE), evidence of funds, English test scores, as well as student visa Australia documents).
Also, closely associated visa subclasses are:
- Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590): To accompany their students who are below the age of 18 years.
- Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485): It is not a study visa, but the most frequent post-study work route, which currently can be taken by applicants of up to 35 years (2025 update).
In the context of applying for a student visa Australia, always ensure that you check the type of visa needed depending on your situation. The process of the Australia student visa 2025 is entirely online through ImmiAccount; expectations and eligibility are different with respect to the visa you choose.
Learning these choices at the beginning makes you map your study pathway – enrolment to graduation and onward.
Core Australia Student Visa Requirements 2026
Meeting the Australia student visa requirements is the single most important step in your study abroad journey. The Department of Home Affairs evaluates all applications by strict eligibility requirements, and any missing detail can slow or abort your plans. The most important requirements of the Subclass 500 visa, including enrolment and English proficiency, financial evidence, OSHC, health examination, and so on, are listed below.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE / eCoE / eCOE)
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an electronic file that is issued by your Australian university or college upon accepting an offer and having paid a first deposit of your tuition. It is not equivalent to an offer letter – an offer letter only demonstrates that you have been offered a place, whereas the CoE demonstrates that your place is actually registered and approved by a CRICOS-approved course.
Why it matters:
- The CoE becomes compulsory in the event that you file your Subclass 500 visa application.
- The visa period directly depends on the dates on your CoE.
- In the absence of CoE, your application will not be considered, even with an offer letter.
Prior to applying, ensure that your CoE states the appropriate CRICOS course code, provider information, as well as the start date/end date, as these will dictate your visa validity.
Genuine Student Requirement (GSR)
The Genuine Student Requirement (GSR) was introduced to replace the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test for all applicants of the Subclass 500 visa. This change renders the process more evidence-based and systematic.
What it involves:
- Rather than composing a lengthy statement, you now respond to a number of very short, specific questions (about 150 words each) directly in the online application.
- Questions will discuss your academic background, motivation for choosing Australia, your course, career aspirations, and personal situations.
Supporting documents:
Include documents to support your responses, academics, work experience letters, evidence of finances, or a connection with your native country.
Why it matters:
The GSR is made to ensure that you are truly interested in studying in Australia and will adhere to student visa requirements. Evidence-based, clear answers decrease the possibility of decline and demonstrate that your plan of study is a rational move in your career.
English Language Requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE & More)
In order to be eligible to get a Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500), you have to fulfill the English proficiency requirement imposed by the Department of Home Affairs. This enables you to pursue your course and engage in normal everyday life in Australia. You will have to complete approved English tests for Australia student visa.
Minimum scores:
- The majority of the higher education programs require IELTS 6.0 (or above).
- Competitive fields such as Business, IT, or Engineering might require 6.5 overall.
- Health-based programs (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Teaching) tend to have 7.0 or more.
Accepted English tests in 2026:
- IELTS (Academic/General with OSR)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- OET (healthcare programs)
- CELPIP General
- LanguageCert Academic
- MET (Michigan English Test)
Test Score Guide 2026:
| Test Type | Minimum Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall | Higher bands (6.5–7.0) may be required for top or health programs. |
| PTE Academic | 50 | Equivalent to IELTS 6.0; some providers may require higher. |
| TOEFL iBT | 60–78 | Varies by course; check provider requirements. |
| Cambridge C1 | 169 | Recognised for higher education entry. |
| OET | Pass (B grade) | Primarily for Nursing, Medicine, and other health-related fields. |
| CELPIP General | 7 | Newly accepted from Aug 2025. |
| LanguageCert | B2 level | Accepted only if taken at secure centres. |
| MET | 55 | Accepted from Aug 2025; check validity at time of application. |
Financial Capacity: Proof of Funds & Living Costs
Among the most significant Australia student visa requirements is proving that you have sufficient finances to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel expenses during the tour. Since May 2024, the Department of Home Affairs has revised the minimum amounts that you need to prove as proof of funds for student visa Australia.
Living costs requirements (per year):
- Primary student: AUD 29,710
- Spouse/de facto partner: AUD 10,394
- Each dependent child: AUD 4,449
- Education of dependent children: AUD 13,502.
Alternative income option:
You are not required to provide bank balances, but can prove that you, your spouse, your dad, or your mom earn at least:
- AUD 87,856 (single applicant)
- AUD 102,500 (with family)
Authenticated financial records comprise:
- Past 3-6 months bank statements
- A permitted loan letter from a recognised bank.
- Scholarship or sponsorship epistles (officially issued).
- Tax evaluations (when using the income option)
Hint: Do not put money in lumps without reason. Banks employ a clear and consistent banking history, which will make your evidence of funds sound.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
The other major Australia student visa requirement is Overseas Student Health cover (OSHC). Unless you have valid OSHC, your Subclass 500 application will not be granted.
What OSHC covers:
- Physician appointments and inpatient care.
- Ambulance services.
- A part of the expenses of prescription medicine.
How long must it be valid:
- Your OSHC policy has to start on the day of your arrival in Australia and has to take you all the way to the completion of your course (as indicated on your CoE).
- If you are travelling with family, your OSHC should also be extended to your spouse and children throughout the visa period.
OSHC Australia student visa is usually organised via preferred providers in most universities, but can also be bought directly by approved insurers. It is always advisable to ensure that your policy certificate bears start and end dates, the name of the insurer, and that it includes all applicants.
Health & Character Requirements
In order to meet the Australia student visa requirements, it is also necessary to live up to the health and character criteria established by the Department of Home Affairs.
Health checks:
- A medical examination with an approved panel physician is required of many applicants.
- Once you submit your application, a HAP ID will be sent to you, and you will use this to book your health exam.
- Your application is connected to the eMedical system, which records the results electronically.
Character requirement:
- You might require submitting police clearance certificates of all countries where you have lived for at least 12 months or more during the last 10 years.
- You may also be requested to fill in Form 80 (Personal particulars) or Form 1221 (Additional character information) in some cases.
Hint: Get police clearance certificates early, because the time it takes to get one can be different in various countries.
CRICOS-Registered Courses
To be eligible to receive a Subclass 500 visa, your selected program should be listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses to Overseas Students (CRICOS). Failure to get a CRICOS-registered course means that your application will be rejected, despite an offer letter. Here is why CRICOS student visa Australia matters.
Why CRICOS matters:
- CRICOS registration identifies the course as approved against international students.
- It guarantees that the provider will achieve the standards of quality in teaching, facilities, and support to students in Australia.
- The CRICOS course code will always be included in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and that will be the one that will be directly linked to your visa application.
CRICOS code to be checked:
- To confirm the institutional and program registration, you can do a search on the official CRICOS website.
- Ensure that the code of the course as mentioned in your CoE is the same as the CRICOs listing, so as not to make mistakes when you are processing your visa.
Biometrics & Passport Requirements
Applicants for the Subclass 500 visa are requested to provide biometrics (digital fingerprints and a facial photograph) as part of their Australia student visa requirements after they submit their application.
Biometrics process:
- In case you are needed, you will be sent a letter to the closest Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC).
- A visa application can be delayed, but you need to have your biometrics appointment done within the time frame.
- The collection receipt can also be uploaded to your ImmiAccount.
Passport validity:
- Your passport should be active during the whole duration of study as indicated in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
- In case your passport expires with your course end date, you are only allowed a visa till your passport expiry.
- You are advised to renew your passport before applying, in case of less than 12-18 months of validity.
Visa Application Fee (2026)
When applying for the Australia student visa (Subclass 500), a visa application charge is payable at the time of application by submitting through the ImmiAccount. The student visa Australia fees 2025 has been revised.
Current base fee (July 1, 2025):
- The initial application charge is AUD 2,000, as compared to the earlier AUD 1,600.
- This is charged on the majority of international students seeking to study in Australia.
Additional charges:
- There are additional fees charged on each dependent (spouse or child) listed in the visa application.
- Other costs, including medical examinations, police certificates, and biometrics collection, are also related costs, which are independent of the visa fee.
Hint: It is important to verify the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing estimator before implementing the changes because fees are subject to change at any time.
Student Visa Conditions You Must Follow (Subclass 500)
After receiving your Australia student visa (Subclass 500), you are expected to abide by some of the visa requirements. By not adhering to these guidelines, you risk losing your visa – and even your study plans.
Key conditions include:
- Work Limits: You may work as many as 48 hours in a fortnight (20 hours per week equivalent) during teaching times, and unlimited times in official course vacations.
- Enrolment and Course Attendance: To continue with the course, you need to have enrolled in a CRICOS-registered full-time course and be attending classes and making satisfactory progress.
- Maintain OSHC: Your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) needs to be on time during the whole of your stay in Australia.
- Inventory Address Update: You have to update your education provider within seven days in case of a change of residential address in Australia.
Hint: You should always remember to check your visa grant letter in ImmiAccount, which contains the specific conditions that apply to you.
Onshore vs Offshore Applications and Processing Times
Applying for a Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500) may be done in Australia (onshore) or abroad (offshore). Although the process remains largely similar, location can influence bridging visas, entry requirements, and processing.
| Application Type | When to Apply | Key Features | Processing Times* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onshore | While already in Australia (on a visitor visa, working holiday visa, or another temporary visa) | May be granted a bridging visa to stay lawfully in Australia until your student visa is decided | 8–12 weeks (varies) |
| Offshore | From outside Australia, usually before your course begins | Visa becomes active once you enter Australia | 8–12 weeks (varies) |
*Processing times are determined by how complete your application is, the number of applications and additional checks (health, character, biometrics) required.
Common Reasons for Student Visa Refusal and How to Avoid Them
Well-prepared students have refusals of their Australia student visa (Subclass 500) in some cases. The majority of refusals occur due to unpreventable errors or missing evidence.
Common causes of student visa refusal Australia:
- Weak GSR responses: Response to the Genuine Student Requirement, which is generic or unsupported, may result in rejection. It is better to give brief and evidence-based answers.
- Lack of sufficient or verifiable funds: When your bank statements, education loan, or income evidence does not convincingly indicate actual access to funds, then your application can be denied.
- Non-CRICOS course: To take a course that is not a CRICOS-registered course, you automatically lose your eligibility.
- Expired or invalid English test: Only the approved English tests that have been taken during the valid period are accepted.
- Lack of OSHC: Application failure to provide evidence of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to cover your entire stay is a reason to be refused.
- How to prevent rejection: Check your documents against the official student visa application list twice and make sure that all the claims are backed with solid evidence.
Can You Appeal or Review a Student Visa Refusal?
When your student visa to Australia (Subclass 500) is rejected, there is still a chance that you can do something, depending on your home country.
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT): In case you have an application onshore and your visa is declined, in most cases, you can appeal to the AAT. The tribunal examines your case and determines whether the Department of Home Affairs has made the correct decision or not. There are hard deadlines, such as 21 days of refusal.
- The Process of Reviews: The AAT does not necessarily give you your visa. Rather, it reevaluates your evidence. Additional documents or even an interview may be requested. Provided that you are successful, your refusal is reversed, and your visa is allowed.
- When Reapplying is more Appropriate: In case you applied offshore, or a denial occurred because of the lack of or wrong documents, it might be quicker and cheaper to compile a stronger one and reapply instead of denying it on appeal.
Hint: Purely optional, but it is always a good idea to read the refusal letter thoroughly, as it lets you know why your visa was denied and whether you can get a review.
Work Rights on a Student Visa in Australia
A Student Visa (Subclass 500) is not only a permit to study but also allows you to work a bit in Australia. It is significant to know such conditions to prevent violating your visa.
Part-time work rules:
- During your study, you may work up to 48 hours per fortnight (20 hours per week equivalent).
- You can work as many hours as you want during official course breaks or during a course holiday.
Internships & volunteer work:
- Unpaid internships and volunteer positions can be included in your overall learning experience and do not always have to comply with the 48-hour limit when this is done as part of your coursework.
- However, paid internships are part of your weekly 21-hour limit.
The “48-week rule”:
- To be considered a full academic year under visa restrictions, your course has to last at least 48 weeks.
- Shorter courses might not provide an equivalent right to work or post-study.
Hint: You should always remember to keep track of your working hours. Violation of the working conditions may result in loss of visa.
Australia Student Visa Application Checklist (2026)
You should be ready to send your application to the school with all the necessary documents before you press the button that says submit. The absence of any items on the checklist is one of the most typical causes of delays and refusals. Below is the complete Australia student visa requirements checklist for 2025:
- Proper Passport: A passport of sufficient validity to serve for the duration of the study.
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): of every course you intend to study that is registered by CRICOS.
- Genuine Student Requirement (GSR): includes material academic documentation, working experience, and connections to your country of origin.
- English Proficiency Tests: The English test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or any alternative approved tests during the time of validity)
- Evidence of Financial Stability: Recent bank statements, education loan letter, scholarship, or tax assessments
- OSHC Certificate: that includes you (and dependents, where appropriate) throughout the visa time.
- Police Clearance: Police clearance certificates (when demanded by the Department of Home Affairs)
- Health Examinations Clearance: Health exam findings (HAP ID) through the eMedical system.
- Biometric Proof: Biometrics receipt (when you are requested to give fingerprints and a photo)
- Payment Confirmation: Confirmation of paying the Visa application fee (AUD 2,000 to the primary applicant as of July 2025)
Hint: Check the official Department of Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool to ensure that you are fulfilling specific requirements, depending on your provider and country of education.
Final Word
Obtaining your Australia student visa (Subclass 500) has everything to do with preparation. Consider it as a three-legged pillar, which consists of eligibility, documents, and compliance. Provided there is evidence that you fit the eligibility criteria, provide all the necessary documents, and that you will abide by the visa terms, you will be well placed towards approval.
Processing may require 8-12 weeks, so make early applications to avoid it at the last minute and to have time to fix any extra requirements with the Department of Home Affairs. An application that is complete and fully prepared will always be quicker and easier to process.In need of assistance with your documents? Make a free counselling appointment with Walk International so that you can make sure that your visa application is 100% complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money is required for an Australian student visa?
The Australian student visa (subclass 500) will cost AUD 2,000 in July 2025, and an extra fee will be charged to family members. This fee increment is in accordance with processing and application requirements.
What are the basic requirements to apply for an Australian student visa?
Documents such as a valid passport, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), evidence of funds, health checks, and mastery of the English language with new test requirements are required. You should also meet true student requirements and welfare requirements if under 18.
What type of health insurance do I need for a student visa in Australia?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory during the visa months, which covers the medical expenses in Australia. The policies differ according to the provider and length of the plan, and students receive the necessary healthcare.
What are the new rules for student visa in Australia?
The 2025 rules involve a limit of 270,000 students, a CoE compulsory on application, higher fees, and the higher education sectors should be given priority. There are also added long processing times and tougher financial evidence to these updates.
