Student visa (Subclass 500)

The Subclass 500 is the one visa that lets you study in Australia — from an English course to a PhD. It's also the visa the Department has tightened the most in recent years: higher financial thresholds, a stricter Genuine Student test, and closer scrutiny of study intentions have made it far easier to be refused for a paperwork weakness than for a genuine one. This is the hub for how the 500 works, where applications fail, and how a student visa fits into a longer plan to stay.

MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au

The 500 at a glance

Covers: all sectors — ELICOS, VET, higher education, postgraduate research, schools
Needs: a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course
Genuine Student requirement (replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant test)
Financial capacity — tuition, travel and a set annual living-cost amount (confirm the current figure)
English proficiency and OSHC health cover for the visa period
Work: generally up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying; unlimited on breaks

Student visa settings — financial thresholds, English rules and work limits — change frequently; confirm the current requirements before applying.

Planning to study in Australia?

Tell us your course and country, and we'll come back within one business day on your student visa options, the financial evidence you'll need, and the pathway beyond study. Free, no obligation.

The requirements, one by one

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): a genuine offer and enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course.
Genuine Student requirement: your circumstances, study choice and intentions must show you are a genuine student. See the Genuine Student guide.
Financial capacity: evidence you can cover tuition, travel and living costs — genuine, well-sourced funds. See the cost & financial guide.
English: the required test score (or an exemption), appropriate to your course.
Health cover: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full visa period.
Health & character: examinations and police checks as required.

Where student visas fail — and how to avoid it

Most 500 refusals cluster around two issues. The first is finances: funds that appear suddenly, can't be traced to a genuine source, or fall short of the required amount. The second is the Genuine Student statement: a study plan that doesn't add up against your background, age, previous study or career, or that reads as templated. Both are avoidable with honest, well-documented preparation — and both are far cheaper to get right the first time than to fight after a refusal.

Never inflate or fabricate finances or documents. Providing false or misleading information can trigger PIC 4020 and lead to refusal and a three-year exclusion. Genuine, well-evidenced applications are both safer and stronger.

Applying from your country

Student visa scrutiny — especially on finances and study intent — varies by country and by the assessment level applied to your circumstances. We have country-specific guidance for common source countries:

Get your student visa right the first time

A short, honest read on your student visa — finances, Genuine Student, and the pathway beyond. Free, within one business day.

After you graduate: turning study into staying

The student visa is step one. Most graduates move to the 485 Temporary Graduate visa for post-study work rights, then build toward permanent residence through a skilled pathway (189 / 190 / 491) or employer sponsorship (482 → 186). Choosing a course with an eye on that end goal — see the study pathway guide — is the single most valuable decision a prospective student makes.

If your student visa was refused

Refusal is not always the end — but the time limits to seek review are short. Start with the student visa refusal guide and what to do after any refusal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Subclass 500 Student visa?

The Subclass 500 is the single student visa for Australia, covering every education sector — English language (ELICOS), vocational (VET), higher education, postgraduate research, schools, and non-award and foreign-affairs/defence students. It lets you study a registered (CRICOS) course full-time, work within the allowed limit, and bring eligible family members. It is valid for the duration of your course, generally up to five years.

What are the main requirements for a 500?

The core requirements are: a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course; meeting the Genuine Student requirement; evidence of financial capacity to cover course fees, travel and living costs; the required level of English; adequate health cover through Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC); and health and character requirements. Each of these is tested, and a weakness in any one — most often finances or the Genuine Student statement — is a common reason for refusal.

How much money do I need for a student visa?

You must show you can genuinely cover tuition, travel and a set annual living-cost amount for yourself and any family members. The living-cost figure is set by the Department and has risen in recent years, so confirm the current amount before you apply. Just as important as the number is that the funds are genuine and well-evidenced — unexplained, recently-deposited or borrowed funds are a frequent trigger for refusal. See our student visa cost guide for a full breakdown.

Can I work on a student visa?

Yes, within limits. Student visa holders can generally work up to a capped number of hours per fortnight while their course is in session (currently 48 hours per fortnight) and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Postgraduate research students and some others have different arrangements. Working beyond your limit breaches your visa conditions and can lead to cancellation, so treat the cap seriously.

What happens after my studies?

Many graduates move onto the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa to gain post-study work rights, then build toward permanent residence through a skilled (189/190/491) or employer-sponsored (482/186) pathway. The student visa is the first step of a longer journey — planning that journey early, before your course ends, is what separates graduates who reach PR from those who run out of time.

General information only, not migration advice. Subclass 500 settings — the Genuine Student requirement, financial thresholds, English, work limits and OSHC — are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change frequently; confirm the current requirements for your situation. No visa outcome is guaranteed (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.