Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500)
The Student visa allows eligible international students to undertake a CRICOS-registered course in Australia, travel during the visa period and work within the conditions attached to their visa.
A valid Confirmation of Enrolment is essential. You generally need a valid CoE for every intended course when lodging the application and when the Department makes its decision. A cancelled or completed CoE may no longer support the application.
What is the Subclass 500 Student Visa?
Subclass 500 covers eligible study across schools, vocational education and training, higher education, postgraduate research, ELICOS, non-award programs and specified sponsored or exchange arrangements. The visa period is generally aligned with the enrolled course or packaged courses.
Applicants must demonstrate that studying is their primary reason for coming to Australia and meet enrolment, financial capacity, English, health insurance, health, character and other requirements relevant to their circumstances.
Key eligibility requirements
Genuine Student requirement
The Genuine Student requirement assesses whether studying in Australia is the applicant's primary reason for seeking the visa. The online application asks targeted questions about current circumstances, family and community ties, reasons for choosing the course and provider, understanding of the course and life in Australia, and the value of the course to the applicant's future.
Responses should be personal, clear and supported by evidence. Course progression, previous study, employment history, immigration history and any apparent inconsistency may be considered. A generic statement should not replace accurate answers to the application questions.
How the Student visa process works
Choose a suitable course and provider
Select a CRICOS-registered program that aligns with your academic background, career plans and genuine study goals.
Receive your Confirmation of Enrolment
Accept the offer, satisfy provider conditions and obtain a CoE for each course included in your intended study package.
Prepare visa evidence
Arrange Genuine Student material, funds, English results where required, OSHC, identity, academic, employment and family documents.
Lodge through ImmiAccount
Submit a complete application, attach the current checklist documents and provide accurate information about all applicants.
Monitor and respond
Check ImmiAccount regularly, maintain a valid CoE and OSHC, complete health checks and respond promptly to Department requests.
Financial capacity
Applicants may need to demonstrate access to sufficient funds for travel, course fees and living costs for themselves and accompanying family members, including school costs for school-aged dependants where applicable. The visa amount is a minimum benchmark; actual living costs can be higher and students should not rely on employment to fund their stay.
English language evidence
Depending on passport, education provider, course and evidence level, an applicant may need an approved English test result or evidence of an exemption. Accepted tests, required scores and pathway arrangements can change, so the current Home Affairs requirements and Document Checklist Tool should be checked immediately before lodgement.
OSHC and family members
The student and included family members must generally maintain Overseas Student Health Cover for the required visa period. For applicants outside Australia, cover must begin by the date of arrival, not merely the course commencement date. Eligible partners and dependent children may be included or may later apply as subsequent entrants, subject to disclosure and eligibility rules.
Student Visa Conditions to Remember
- Maintain enrolment in an eligible registered course.
- Maintain required academic progress and attendance.
- Keep adequate OSHC for yourself and accompanying family.
- Most students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
- Different work settings apply to masters-by-research and doctoral students.
- Maintain approved welfare arrangements if under 18.
- Check every visa condition in the grant letter and VEVO.
Applying while in Australia
Not every person in Australia can validly lodge a Student visa application onshore. Holders of specified visas—including Visitor, Temporary Graduate, eVisitor and Electronic Travel Authority visas—are generally restricted from applying for Subclass 500 while in Australia. Visa status and application validity should be checked before lodgement.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports, CoEs, academic transcripts and certificates, English results, Genuine Student evidence, employment history, proof of funds, OSHC details, relationship and dependant records, under-18 consent and welfare documents, health examinations and character information.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our education and migration team can help compare courses and providers, manage admission and CoE steps, prepare a tailored visa checklist, review Genuine Student evidence, organise OSHC and guide the Subclass 500 application from enrolment through decision.