📊 Visa At A Glance
Who This Visa Is For
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is for international students who have been accepted to study a full-time course at an registered educational institution in Australia. This includes ELICOS (English language), schools, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education (universities).
What It Lets You Do
This visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your studies (typically up to 5 years, depending on your course length).
- Participate in an eligible course of study registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
- Travel in and out of Australia multiple times.
- Work up to 48 hours per fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
⚠️ Visa Condition 8104 (Work Limitation)
International students must not work more than 48 hours per fortnight during study terms. Working beyond this threshold is a visa breach and can lead to cancellation.
Fees and Application Charges
The base visa application fee for a primary applicant is $2,000 (which was increased significantly by the federal government in July 2024 and adjusted in 2025/2026).
- Additional Applicant (18+): $1,445
- Additional Applicant (under 18): $720
Other compulsory costs: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your entire visa length (typically $1,500 - $3,500 depending on duration and family status), biometrics, and medical checks.
Eligibility and the Genuine Student (GS) Requirement
To qualify for a subclass 500 visa, you must satisfy the following:
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): Be enrolled in a registered course and provide a valid CoE.
- Genuine Student (GS) Requirement: Provide evidence and a written statement addressing your genuine intent to study in Australia. The GS assessment evaluates your educational background, ties to your home country, course relevance to your career, and financial incentives.
- English Proficiency: Provide test results (IELTS, PTE Academic) showing you meet the required score for your course stream.
- Financial Capacity: Show evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, travel costs, and living costs (min $29,710/year for a single applicant). You can estimate your exact indicative target based on family structure using our interactive Student Funds Capacity Calculator.
- OSHC: Maintain adequate health insurance (OSHC) for the duration of your stay.
⚖️ Visa Officer Assessment Guide: The Genuine Student (GS) Criteria
Under Ministerial Direction 107, visa officers evaluate your study history and intent using strict statutory questions. Your written statement must be backed by objective evidence addressing: - Home Country Circumstances: Proof of why you cannot study a similar course in your home country, and economic/family ties that compel you to return (e.g. employment contracts, assets). - Academic Progression: If you are switching fields, or enrolling in a lower or equal level qualification (such as a university Bachelor's to a trade Diploma), you must supply a logical justification. Enrolling in lower courses to extend stay is a high-refusal flag. - Career Value: Clear, localized evidence of how the course will increase your career earnings in your home country (e.g., job listings matching your study targets). - Financial Sourcing: Sourcing for your living funds ($29,710/year minimum) must show stable, verified tax files or bank logs. Sudden loan deposits are heavily scrutinized.
General Document Checklist
You must attach sufficient evidence to support your visa claims. Use our interactive checklist to track and prepare your files before applying:
Unlock Interactive File Checklist for Subclass 500 Student Visa
Access a customized list of required documents, allowed file types, and size limits based on Home Affairs guidelines.
Common Reasons for Refusal
Student visas are heavily vetted, with high refusal rates for high-risk profiles:
- Weak Genuine Student Statement: Inability to explain why you chose this course, why you chose Australia, or how it benefits your career path relative to your home country options.
- Insufficient or Unverified Funds: Failing to provide clear proof of source of funds, or failing to meet the minimum living cost threshold.
- Non-genuine Study History: Unexplained study gaps, switching to a lower-level course (e.g. university to trade diploma), or enrolling in unrelated programs.
- Document Inconsistencies (PIC 4020 Fraud Warning): Providing false information, altered documents, or misleading declarations.
⚠️ The PIC 4020 Integrity Warning (3 & 10 Year Ban)
Under Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020, if the Department of Home Affairs detects any fake documents (e.g., falsified bank logs, altered English reports, or fabricated work references) or misleading declarations, the visa is refused. Furthermore, you will face a 3-year or 10-year ban from applying for any other Australian visa. Because Australia shares biometric and refusal databases via the Five Eyes Alliance, a PIC 4020 fraud refusal will also severely impact your ability to secure visas to Canada, the UK, the US, and New Zealand.
💡 Visa Officer Tip: Submit a "Decision-Ready" Package
Visa officers process Decision-Ready Applications (DRAs) much faster. If you attach your positive skills assessment, English test reports, police clearances, and complete your medical checkups *before* lodging, your visa can be approved without delays. If the officer has to issue a Request for Information (RFI) letter for missing documents, your application is pushed to a secondary queue, delaying processing by 30 to 90 days.