A comprehensive guide for international students to study in Australia
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is a temporary visa that allows international students live and study in Australia at a registered institution for up to 5 years.
With an access to a world-class education, part-time work right and a vibrant lifestyle, this visa is the first step toward building your future in Australia.
Visa holders are entitled to:
The students enrolled in masters by research or doctoral programs as well as their dependents can work without any limitations.
To apply for this visa as a school student (excluding those in a secondary school exchange program), you must be at least 6 years old.
The applicant must be:
Applicants for the Student Visa (Subclass 500) must enroll in a certain course of study registered in the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and subsequently, provide their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
If visa applicants do not present their CoE at the time of application lodgement, the application will not be processed.
To make sure your Student Visa covers all the courses you plan to study, you must consider all CoE codes in your application.
Applicants are not required to provide a CoE if they are:
If you are under 18 and applying for the Student Visa, you must have suitable welfare arrangements approved and in place for the entire duration of your stay in Australia.
Applicants for the Student Visa (Subclass 500) are required to to provide an evidence of their English language skills at the time of visa application.
Furthermore, applicants must have completed their English language test within 2 years prior to the date of visa application lodgement.
This is usually demonstrated by providing results from an approved English language test such as:
IELTS: Overall score of 5 or higher
TOEFL iBT: Total score of 35 or higher
Cambridge English (CAE): Score of 154 or higher
PTE: Score of 36 or higher
OET: A score of at least B for each component
The applicants in one of the following conditions are not required to provide an English language document:
To be eligible for the visa, you must provide the followings in English (150 words per question) to meet the GS requirements:
Applicants and their eligible family members are required to have and maintain an adequate health insurance (OSHC) for the entire duration of stay in Australia.
You are not required to have the insurance if one of the followings applies:
For your stay in Australia, you must have enough money to pay during your accommodation.
To check the minimum amount of money required for the visa and your stay in Australia, click here.
All applicants aged 18 and older must read and sign the Australian values statement conforming their respect to the Australian lifestyle and obedience to the laws of the country.
A cancelled visa or refused application may affect your eligibility for the Student Visa (Subclass 500).
To apply for the Student Visa (subclass 500), applicants are required to submit a comprehensive portfolio of documents establishing their identity, character, health as well as their educational history.
The following is a detailed checklist to guide the submission process:
The TOEFL iBT tests which were completed within the period of 26 July, 2023 and 4 May, 2024 shall not be accepted for visa purposes.
The processing time for the student visa generally ranges from several days to 9 months.
Yes, but only under certain conditions. International students must complete at least six months of their principal course before they can legally change their education provider. Switching earlier without permission may lead to visa cancellation, especially if the new course is at a lower qualification level (AQF level).
Yes, fulltime study in Australia is considered as a visa condition. Even if you perform well academically, maintaining at least 80% attendance is mandatory for certain courses like ELICOS and vocational training. Falling below the threshold can lead to warning letters or even a visa breach notice.
Yes, but you need to explain the gap clearly. A study gap of one or two years is generally acceptable if supported with strong justification in your Genuine Student (GS) statement. But, if the gap is longer, strong explanations and supporting documents are required to demonstrate a genuine intent to study in Australia.
Yes, this is very common. Many students extend their stay by applying for another student visa for a higher-level course, such as progressing from Diploma to Bachelor’s or Master’s. But, you must meet all standard requirements again, including a new CoE, financial proof, OSHC and a new GTE.
Financial support for your studies in Australia can come from yourself, close family members, a partner, a government or private sponsor, or a scholarship provider. If the person providing your financial support is not an immediate family member, you must provide strong evidence that you have genuine access to the funds.
If your Student Visa (Subclass 500) expires before you complete your studies, you must take immediate action. Remaining in Australia without a valid visa is unlawful and could result in detention or a future ban. However, you may be eligible to apply for a new student visa or a bridging visa if you act quickly. Always monitor your visa expiry date and apply before it ends to stay compliant and avoid serious consequences.
