Student visa

Student visa (subclass 500)

If you intend to study in Australia, you will need to apply for the Student visa (subclass 500). This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study full-time in a recognised education institution.

If you intend to study in Australia, you will need to apply for the Student visa (subclass 500). This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study full-time in a recognised education institution.

Overview

If you intend to study in Australia, you will need to apply for the Student visa (subclass 500). This visa allows you to stay in Australia to study full-time in a recognised education institution.

Processing Time

For more update processing time, please click here.

Requirements

Before you apply for this visa, you must have:

  • been accepted to study full-time in a registered course at an educational institution in Australia
  • organised appropriate welfare arrangements for the duration of your intended stay in Australia if you are under 18 years of age.

English language requirements

Unless you are considered "low risk" you would need to show evidence of your English language ability.
The following applicants will be exempt from English Language testing:

  • Hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland
  • Enrolled in an ELICOS course, school or post-graduate research course
  • Foreign affairs, defence or secondary exchange students
  • Completed Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia
  • Substantially completed a Cert IV or higher in Australia
  • Completed 5 years of study in English medium in Australia, Canada, NZ, South Africa, Ireland, UK or USA

If English testing is required, the level required will depend on whether the course is packaged with an ELICOS course as follows:

 

Test

Score

10 Weeks ELICOS

20 Weeks ELICOS

IELTS

5.5 Average

5 Average

4.5 Average

TOEFL (Paper)*

527

500

450

TOEFL iBT

46

35

32

CAE

162

154

147

PTE

42

36

30

OET

B Pass

B Pass

B Pass

 

Financial capacity requirements

primary applicant must provide evidence of sufficient available funds to:

  • meet travel expenses; living costs and expenses of AUD 21,041 if the applicant intends to stay for 12 months or more or pro rata if less than 12 months; and if the course is less than 12 months, the full amount of course fees or if the course is longer than 12 months, the fees for the first 12 months of the course.
  • meet for any secondary applicants: their travel expenses; living costs for partner of AUD 7,362 and dependent child AUD 3,152, if intending to stay for 12 months or more or pro rata if staying less than 12 months; and school fees for school age dependents of AUD 8,296 if staying more than 12 months or pro rata if staying less than 12 months, unless waived in specified circumstances.
  • evidence of financial capacity that the primary applicant’s parent, spouse or de facto partner has a personal annual income, in the 12 months immediately before the application is made, is if there is no secondary applicant at least AUD 62,222 or
    if there is a secondary applicant – at least AUD 72,592.
  • if the primary applicant is a Foreign Affairs student – the evidence of financial capacity is a letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • if the primary applicant is a Defence student – the evidence of financial capacity is a letter of support from the Department of Defence.

Working while studying

When you have started your course of study in Australia, you can generally work up to 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Students completing a Masters’ degree by research or a doctoral degree (PhD) do not have work restrictions.
Your family members can work up to 40 hours per fortnight, after you have started your course of study in Australia. If you are doing a postgraduate course, such as a Masters degree, your family members can work unlimited hours once you start your study.
Your accompanying family members aged 18 years or older can study in Australia for up to three months. If they want to study for more than three months, they must apply for their own student visa.

How long the visa lasts

This visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your course

Family

  • You can study a registered full-time course in Australia.
  • Eligible family members can accompany you to Australia.
  • You and your family members can generally work a specified number of hours.
  • You can generally stay in Australia until your course is finished.

NEED HELP?

VISA Aus has significant expertise in obtaining Student and Guardian visas. One of the main benefits of using VISA Aus to assist with your Student and Guardian visa application is that we can lodge a "decision-ready" application on your behalf. This will lead to significantly faster processing than lodging directly with the Department of Immigration.

Please contact us if you need help.