Planning to study in Australia?
Get the subclass 500 right the first time.
The Australian student visa has become considerably harder to get. The Genuine Student requirement replaced the old GTE test in March 2024, the application charge rose again on 1 July 2026, and financial evidence is scrutinised far more closely than it was three years ago. Get the guidance before you lodge, not after a refusal.
- Subclass 500 across all course types, from ELICOS to PhD
- Genuine Student responses, financial evidence and health cover
- PR pathway planning from day one of your studies
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Tell us your course, institution, nationality and financial position. We will tell you where your application is strong, where it is weak, and what a case officer is likely to question.
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The 2026 student visa changes that catch people out
Most student visa content online was written before these took effect. If a guide is still telling you to write a long GTE essay, it is out of date.
Application charge rose to AUD 2,500
Up from AUD 2,000, an increase of roughly 25 per cent. A lower tier of around AUD 2,050 applies to ELICOS and certain non-award courses, and to eligible ASEAN passport holders. The charge is non-refundable if you are refused.
Subclass 485 charge rose to AUD 5,750
Up from AUD 4,600, the second rise in about a year. The graduate visa is now a serious budgeting decision rather than an automatic next step, and it should factor into your course choice now.
Genuine Student replaced GTE
You no longer write one long free-form statement. You answer structured questions inside the visa application itself, each with a word limit, assessed against Ministerial Direction 106.
Financial benchmark at AUD 29,710
The annual living cost figure for the primary applicant, up sharply from AUD 24,505. Additional amounts apply for a spouse and for each dependent child, on top of tuition and travel.
Work rights capped at 48 hours per fortnight
Applies during study periods, with unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Exceeding the cap is a breach of your visa conditions and a cancellation ground.
No onshore student applications for most 485 holders
Graduate visa holders can no longer apply for a student visa from within Australia. Course hopping as a way to extend a stay has largely been closed off.
Subclass 500 key requirements
Meeting the basic requirements is the starting point, not the finish line. Decision makers assess these factors together rather than ticking them off individually.
Enrolment and course
- Enrolment in a course registered with a CRICOS provider
- A full-time registered program, not part-time study
- A valid Confirmation of Enrolment from your institution
- Universities, TAFEs and private colleges all qualify if CRICOS registered
- Overseas Student Health Cover for the full visa duration
Financial capacity
- Tuition fees for the first year of study
- Living costs at the benchmark of around AUD 29,710 per year
- Additional amounts for a spouse and each dependent child
- School costs for any accompanying school-age children
- Travel costs to and from Australia
- Funds must be genuine and accessible, with a credible origin
English language
- Minimum proficiency set by your course level and institution
- IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and Cambridge English all accepted
- Higher education typically requires IELTS 6.0 or equivalent
- Some providers offer English pathway programs below the threshold
- Results must not be expired when you lodge
Health and character
- Health requirements, with a medical examination where required
- Chest x-ray for applicants from higher TB risk countries
- Character requirements, with police clearance sometimes requested
- All previous visa refusals and immigration breaches must be disclosed
- Dependants included must also meet health and character requirements
The Genuine Student requirement
This is where most student visa refusals happen. It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test on 23 March 2024, and the change was more than cosmetic.
The old GTE test asked you to prove you intended to leave Australia after studying. The Genuine Student requirement asks something different: whether study is genuinely your primary purpose and whether your course makes sense for your background. Wanting to pursue post-study work or permanent residency no longer counts against you, provided education is the immediate goal. Plenty of guidance online has not caught up.
How it is assessed now
You answer a set of structured questions inside the visa application itself rather than uploading a separate essay. Each response carries a word limit, generally 150 words. Offshore applicants answer four questions and onshore applicants answer five. Assessment is against the factors in Ministerial Direction 106.
What officers actually weigh
Your circumstances at home, including family, employment and financial ties. Your immigration history and whether you complied with previous visas. Whether the course is a logical step given your existing qualifications. Your understanding of the course, the provider and the conditions attached to the visa.
Course level still matters
Applying for a qualification below the level you already hold, such as a Certificate III when you already have a bachelor's degree, raises immediate questions. It is not fatal, but you need a specific and credible educational reason, not a generic one.
Higher scrutiny profiles
Applicants from some countries face closer examination, as do young applicants with no prior study history, anyone with a previous visa refusal, and applicants who cannot explain why Australia rather than a closer or cheaper destination. Higher scrutiny is not the same as a likely refusal, but it raises the evidence bar.
Word limits change the task
Under GTE, applicants often submitted several thousand words. The structured format rewards precision instead. Every sentence has to carry weight, and vague filler is more visible in 150 words than it ever was in a long essay.
There is no single pass mark
It remains a holistic assessment. A strong application from a higher scrutiny country can succeed, and a weak one from a low scrutiny country can still fail. Getting these responses right is the single most important part of the application.
Applicants from these countries face tighter scrutiny, and the evidence supporting your responses needs to be correspondingly stronger. Read the current student visa rules for Indian students for what has changed specifically.
Course types covered by the subclass 500
The student visa covers almost all registered full-time courses. Choosing the right course matters for your visa and for whatever comes after it.
University degrees
Bachelor, Masters and PhD programs at Australian universities. Graduates generally qualify for the subclass 485 post-study work visa, which is where most PR pathways begin.
Vocational education and TAFE
Certificate and Diploma courses across trades, hospitality, childcare and business. Strong employment outcomes in several fields, though course level relative to your existing qualifications needs care.
Technology and IT
Among the most in-demand fields, with graduates often moving directly to employer-sponsored work visas. See other high-demand courses.
Healthcare and nursing
Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and allied health. Consistently among the strongest post-graduation PR pathways, given persistent shortages across the sector.
Business and accounting
MBA, accounting and finance degrees carry recognised skills assessment value for skilled visa applications, though accounting invitation rounds have been competitive.
English language programs
ELICOS courses can be included in a student visa when combined with another registered course. Note that ELICOS and non-award applicants sit in the lower application charge tier from July 2026.
From student visa to permanent residency
For many international students, study is the beginning of a migration journey rather than the whole plan. Here is how that pathway typically runs. Read the full student visa to PR guide.
Student visa granted
You arrive, begin studying and can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester. The visa runs for the duration of your course plus a short grace period.
Build points and work experience
Australian qualifications add points to a skilled migration score, and work in your field, even part-time, builds the profile you will need later. Studying in a regional area adds points too. Plan this from the first semester rather than the last.
Apply for the graduate visa
Most graduates qualify for the Temporary Graduate visa, giving two to four years to work and build experience. Budget for it: the charge rose to AUD 5,750 on 1 July 2026. How to apply for the 485.
Skills assessment and expression of interest
Use the graduate visa period to complete your skills assessment, lift your points score and submit an expression of interest for a 189, 190 or 491. Check your points score.
Invitation and grant
With Australian qualifications, local experience and a competitive score, invitations follow. Be realistic: state nomination allocations were cut for 2025 to 2026, so the score being invited matters more than the 65 point minimum. Read about the 485 to 189 transition.
Alternative routes to PR
Employer sponsorship, 482 and 186
Many graduates are sponsored directly by an employer during or after the 485 period, bypassing the points system entirely. Work visa help.
Regional visa, 491
Studying in regional Australia for at least two years adds 5 points, and regional nomination can add 15 more. Regional allocations have tightened, so check current state criteria before committing.
Partner visa
Students who form a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident during their studies may have a partner pathway, one of the more common routes from a student visa.
Global Talent visa
Exceptionally talented graduates in selected fields may qualify for a fast-track pathway outside the points test. Read the Global Talent guide.
Mistakes that lead to student visa refusal
These are the most common reasons applications fail, and every one of them is preventable with preparation.
Vague Genuine Student responses
Generic answers that could belong to any applicant are the fastest route to refusal. The word limits leave nowhere to hide, so every response has to be specific to your circumstances and supported by evidence.
Insufficient or unexplained funds
Funds that barely cover tuition with nothing for living costs, or a large sum that appeared recently with no explanation of its origin, raise immediate questions about whether your financial position is genuine.
Course does not fit your background
A course with no logical connection to your qualifications or career, particularly at a lower level than you already hold, invites scrutiny. You need to explain the educational progression clearly.
Provider not CRICOS registered
Not every Australian provider is registered to take international students. If your institution is not on the CRICOS register your application will be refused regardless of how strong everything else is.
Not disclosing a previous refusal
Every application asks whether you have had a visa refused. Failing to disclose one, including for another country, is treated as a character issue and will almost certainly result in refusal.
Expired or insufficient English results
Test results are typically valid for two to three years. Lodging with an expired test, or scores below the minimum for your specific course, is entirely avoidable. More on English test mistakes.
How our free student visa assessment works
From Genuine Student review to PR pathway planning, here is what happens after you send the form.
Tell us your plans
Course choice, institution, nationality, financial position and any previous visa history. Takes about two minutes.
We review your profile
We assess your Genuine Student risk, financial evidence, English results and course selection against current requirements.
We come back to you
Within 24 hours on business days, by email or WhatsApp, with specific guidance and any red flags we can see.
You apply with confidence
Knowing where your application is strong and where it is weak, you lodge a properly prepared application.
Situations we see most often
These are the patterns that come up repeatedly in student visa enquiries. If one of them describes you, mention it in your message.
The first application was refused on Genuine Student grounds
Usually because the responses were generic or the course choice was never explained. A second application is possible, but it has to address the refusal reasons directly rather than resubmitting the same material with minor edits. The previous refusal must also be disclosed.
The course was picked without thinking about what comes next
A common and expensive mistake. Where you study affects your points score, whether regional points apply, and whether your qualification leads to a skills assessment at all. This is far cheaper to get right before enrolment than after graduation.
The chosen college turns out not to be CRICOS registered
It happens more often than it should, sometimes after fees have already been paid. Checking the CRICOS register takes a couple of minutes and prevents a refusal that no amount of preparation elsewhere can rescue.
Student visa questions we get asked most
How many hours can I work on an Australian student visa?
Up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. This replaced the older 40 hour cap from 1 July 2023. Working beyond the limit breaches your visa conditions and can lead to cancellation. More on earnings for international students.
What does the student visa cost in 2026?
The subclass 500 application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026 for most applicants. A lower tier of around AUD 2,050 applies to ELICOS and certain non-award courses, and to eligible ASEAN passport holders. Secondary applicants attract separate charges. The charge is not refunded if your application is refused, so it is worth being confident before you lodge.
How much money do I need to show?
The benchmark for living costs is around AUD 29,710 per year for the primary applicant, with additional amounts for a spouse and each dependent child, on top of first-year tuition and travel. The figure is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current amount with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging. What matters as much as the amount is that the funds are genuine, accessible and have a credible origin.
Is the GTE statement still required?
No. The Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement was replaced by the Genuine Student requirement on 23 March 2024. Rather than a separate free-form statement, you answer structured questions inside the visa application, each with a word limit. The old GTE test still applies to the subclass 590 Student Guardian visa.
Can I bring my family on a student visa?
Yes. A partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants, each attracting an additional charge and additional financial evidence. Partners generally receive work rights, though these can be limited depending on your course level. Children can attend school, though school fees may apply.
What happens if I fail or withdraw from my course?
Your visa is tied to your enrolment. If you withdraw, your provider must report it to the Department and your visa may be cancelled. Changing course or provider needs care, and you generally need your current provider's release within the first six months of your principal course.
Can I apply for a student visa while already in Australia?
In many cases yes, though it depends on what you currently hold. Some visas carry a condition preventing further applications onshore, and since 1 July 2024 most subclass 485 graduate visa holders can no longer apply for a student visa from within Australia. Read the guide on switching to a student visa.
What is OSHC and is it mandatory?
Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory for the full duration of your student visa. It covers doctor visits, hospital treatment and some medications. Your institution will usually arrange it or direct you to an approved provider when you accept your offer.
Can studying in Australia lead to permanent residency?
It can, and it is one of the more common routes, but it is not automatic and it has become harder. Most graduates move to the 485 graduate visa, then to skilled migration or employer sponsorship. Australian qualifications and local work experience genuinely help, though nomination allocations have tightened. Choosing a course with a viable skills assessment behind it matters more than most applicants realise. Full student to PR guide.
Related guides worth reading
Student Visa Rejection: Mistakes and Ineligibility Guide
The exact reasons student visas get refused and how to avoid each one.
Read article →Student Visa to PR in Australia: Pathways and Steps Explained
How to turn an Australian qualification into permanent residency, with the routes mapped out.
Read article →How to Apply for the 485 Visa After Studying in Australia
The post-study work visa, eligibility, timing and what the 2026 charge increase means.
Read article →New Student Visa Rules for Indian Students
The changes that specifically affect Indian student visa applicants.
Read article →How to Switch Your Current Visa to a Student Visa
Already in Australia on another visa? What is possible and what is now closed off.
Read article →Student Visa Travel Rules During Holidays
Leaving and re-entering Australia during your studies without creating problems.
Read article →Your Australian study plans start with the right visa
A well-prepared application is the foundation of everything that follows. Get your free assessment and lodge with confidence rather than hope.
About this page
Aussie Migration Guide is an independent Australian migration information platform. It is not a registered migration agency, not a law firm and not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. Nothing on this page constitutes legal or migration advice.
Application charges, financial capacity benchmarks, work hour limits and processing times are indicative and change regularly. Always confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs, and obtain advice from a MARA-registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner before lodging.