Student visa (subclass 500)
The student visa australia pathway runs through subclass 500. It allows international students to undertake full-time education and training in Australia and stay for the duration of their course — up to five years. It covers every study level, from school and English language programs through to bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees.
You must be enrolled with a CRICOS-registered Australian education provider before lodging your application — offshore applicants need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), while onshore applicants can lodge with a letter of offer in some cases (though a CoE is still required before grant). Predominantly online courses are not eligible. New to the process? Start with 🔗how to apply to study in Australia[/apply-to-study-in-australia/].
Not sure you qualify? Get a free 🔗student visa assessment[/student-visa-assessment/] before you enrol.
500 Visa Requirements: How to Choose the Best Course & Check Your Eligibility
Meeting the 500 visa eligibility criteria starts with the right course choice — under the Genuine Student rules, a logical study choice is itself part of a strong application. If permanent residency is your longer goal, compare 🔗courses with good PR prospects[/courses-with-good-pr-prospects/] before enrolling.
The exact evidence requested with your application can vary with your education provider and passport nationality, but every applicant must:
- Enrol full-time with an Australian education provider and obtain written confirmation of enrolment — predominantly online courses are not eligible
- Genuinely intend to complete the relevant period of study in Australia (the 🔗Genuine Student requirement[/genuine-student-gs/])
- Meet the English language requirement, unless exempt
- Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full period of stay
- Have access to sufficient funds covering return airfares, tuition fees and living costs for you and any dependants included in your application
Student (SC 500) English Language Requirement — Increased From 23 March 2024
The 500 visa English requirement increased for applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024, and these settings still apply:
- Minimum test score for the English proficiency requirement increased from IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 (or equivalent)
- Minimum score for a packaged English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) increased from IELTS 4.5 to 5.0 (or equivalent)
- Students in recognised university foundation or pathway programs delivering reputable English training need IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) — these programs are listed on the Department’s website
- No change for students studying English only through ELICOS
The exact amount of funds you must show is set by the Department of Home Affairs and depends on your education provider, course of study and personal circumstances — see the full breakdown further down this page, or contact us for a personal estimate.
Related: 🔗Student visa fees[/student-visa-fees/]
Application Process & 500 Visa Processing Time
First, enrol in a full-time course with an Australian education provider and obtain your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). We then prepare and lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. The main criterion is that you meet the requirements set out above — the exact evidence required depends on your passport nationality and education provider. You must also meet the relevant health and character requirements.
The base application charge is currently AUD 2,000 — see the full breakdown on our 🔗student visa fees[/student-visa-fees/] page.
Once granted, you may enter (or remain in) Australia to undertake your course. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session — and work rights on your initial visa only commence once your course has commenced. Different provisions apply to masters by research and doctoral students, who can work unlimited hours — discuss with us if this applies to you. You should also check the work allowance for any dependants on your application.
Please note: preparing and lodging your application typically takes several weeks, largely depending on how promptly you (and your sponsor, if applicable) provide the necessary supporting information and documents.
500 visa processing time depends on the Department’s service standards and can vary due to a number of factors, including case complexity, perceived risk factors and processing priorities. Contact us for current timeframes, or see 🔗student visa processing times[/processing-times-student-visa/].
English language test score
| English language test providers | Minimum test score | Minimum test score where combined with at least 10 weeks ELICOS | Minimum test score where combined with at least 20 weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| TOEFL internet based test | 46 | 35 | 32 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English) | 162 | 154 | 147 |
| Pearson Test of English Academic | 42 | 36 | 30 |
| Occupational English Test | B for each test component | N/A | N/A |
The test must have been taken no more than two years before you apply for your student visa.
You need to have enough money that is genuinely available to you, to pay for your course fees, and travel and living costs for you and your accompanying family members while you are in Australia. Use our student visa funds calculator to determine how much you need to show for your student visa.
If you need to provide evidence of financial capacity, you will be able to demonstrate this by providing one of the following:
- evidence of funds to cover travel to Australia and 12 months’ living, course and (for school aged dependants) schooling costs for the student and accompanying family members
- evidence that you meet the annual income requirement
- an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form (secondary exchange students only)
- a letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence.
Subsequent entrants – family members who apply after the primary applicant has been granted their visa must also provide documentary evidence of financial capacity. This must be one of the options above.
Packaged Courses
You can apply to undertake two or more courses on your Student visa (subclass 500) where there is clear progression from one course to another. This is known as course packaging.
You must provide a confirmation of enrolment (CoE) or prove that a CoE is not required for each intended course with your visa application.
The final course that you will undertake as part of your package of courses is your main (or principal) course of study. Your main course of study will be used to determine your financial and English language evidentiary requirements.
GTE Requirement
As part of your student visa application the department will assess to see if you are genuinely going to stay in Australia temporarily (Genuine Temporary Entrant).
In order to prove this, we need evidence such as:
- statement of purpose
- evidence of your/your family economic circumstances in home country (this is very important, you can show your family’s financial situation in home country by bank accounts, whether they have a business, house, etc.)
- ties to your home country (evidence of financial and personal ties to your home country, such as evidence of assets in home country consistent with your family background, family or social ties that would provide sufficient inducement for them to return to home country at the end of your studies).
- Please provide a list of your family members and other social ties (friends, previous co-workers, etc.)
- evidence of past study
- work experience – Please provide evidence of employment for at least the previous
12 months, evidence of an offer of employment upon your return home, tax returns or financial statements
- letter from your employer or statement from the applicant attesting to a need by the applicant for (improved) skills for the purposes of their employment or career prospects
- evidence of a range of professional or academic outcomes supporting the need for a new career direction.
GTE requirement samples and FAQ for student visas:
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement FAQ
- Genuine temporary entrant criterion
- GTE_Statement_of_Purpose
COVID-19 and Student visas
Travel restrictions
All visa holders need to be aware of the current travel restrictions.
Extending student visas
Under Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a student visa.
You need to apply for a new visa if:
- you cannot return to your home country and your visa is expiring
- you need more time in Australia to complete your course.
You should apply for a new Student visa six weeks before your existing Student visa expires. There is no need to provide evidence of impacts of COVID-19 with your Student visa application.
If your study in Australia is ending, you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You need to do this before your Student visa expires.
More information on the Visitor visa.
Working in Australia
Course is ‘out of session’
You can work unlimited hours if your course is considered ‘out of session’. Courses are considered ‘out of session’ during scheduled course breaks or if a student has finished their course as scheduled.
Studying a masters by research or a doctorate course
If you have commenced studying a masters by research or a doctorate course, you may work unlimited hours.
Studying online
You cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight when your course of study is ‘in session’, regardless of whether you are attending classes physically or online. A course is considered ‘in session’ for the duration of the advertised semesters (including periods when exams are being held) even if the student is studying online.
Approved deferral of your course
You can work over 40 hours per fortnight if your course has been deferred.
Exemptions for some international students
There are new provisions for student visa holders if they are:
- already enrolled in nursing
- employed by select supermarkets.
See employers included in these special work arrangements.
Australian study requirements
The Department of Home Affairs does not regulate mode of study requirements.
You should contact your education provider.
Please refer to the Joint TEQSA and ASQA statement relating to flexible delivery.
For the exceptions as a result of the travel restrictions, see the National Code requirements for affected tertiary students to undertake online study.