Complete Guide: Student Visa (Subclass 500) for Australia

About Visa (Subclass500)

With a student visa (subclass 500), you are permitted to stay in Australia for up to five years as long as you are enrolled in full-time school.

With this visa you can:

• You can enrol in an acceptable course of study
• Include family members (such as your partner or you and your partner's dependent child) in your application.
• Apply online in Australia or from elsewhere.
• Once your study begins, you may work up to 40 hours every two weeks; however, as of July 1, 2023, the student visa work hour cap raised from 40 hours to 48 hours per fortnight.

The application process for this visa can occasionally be complicated, so if you want to increase your chances of success, click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our multilingual agents.

Who can apply

• Students enrolled in any course in Australia that is listed on the CRICOS registry are eligible to apply for the Student Visa Subclass 500, which allows them to stay in Australia while they are enrolled in the programme.
• International students can apply for the Student Visa 500 to enrol in any full-time programme of their choice, as long as it complies with Australian visa requirements.

Visa Fee for Subclass 500

Unless they are excluded, the primary applicant's visa starts at AUD 650.

Each family member who applies for a visa must pay a fee as well.

Students who had to apply for a second student visa to finish their studies because to COVID-19 and were unable to finish their course within the initial student visa's duration may be eligible for a fee waiver. See COVID-19 and the border – Student visa.

For health examinations, police records, and biometrics, you can also be required to pay additional fees.

Use the Visa Pricing Estimator to calculate the cost of your visa. The estimate disregards additional expenses

Apply for the Subclass 500

You can submit your student visa application once you've finished your paperwork and paid the required visa fee. The Immigration Office will notify you in writing of their choice as soon as one has been made.

You could prepare for a post-study employment visa with the aid of a student visa. (Visa subclass 485).

Please obtain an application form from the provider's website using the Course Search feature if you want to apply directly to an Australian educational institution.

Relevant documents include:

• Documents attesting to your prior education, including any credentials you may already own.
• Proof of your English language ability.
• Certificates or documentation attesting to prior learning or employment, if you're applying for course credit. English must be used to translate these.

Documents Required for Australia Visa

Passport

A recent passport issued by your place of residence/birth is required of applicants who want a student visa for Australia. A copy of your driver's licence and national ID card may also be necessary.

Recent Photograph and Biometrics.

You must also submit biometric data and recent identity photos. If the immigration office need your fingerprints, they will inform you.

Student Visa Application Form

The application for a student visa must be completed, signed, and included with the other necessary paperwork.

Police Certificate

You must present evidence of your excellent character while applying for a visa. This means that you must be absolutely honest about any criminal conduct you may have engaged in, and you must produce a police certificate at some point during (or after) the application process. Using this certificate, the Australian Immigration Office at the Department of Home Affairs will determine if you meet the character standards.

Age-Restriction

If a person is seeking for this visa as a school student, they must be at least 6 years old. Students enrolled in the secondary school student exchange programme are not eligible for this visa. The following guidelines need to be followed for further classes:

• The applicant must be under 17 years old by the ninth year.
• The age must be under 18 when entering Year 10.
• Age cannot exceed 20 when entering Year 12;
• Must be under 19 at the commencement of Year 11.

Evidence of Study Program

• You must submit a Confirmation Letter of Enrollment (CoE) for each course you want to enrol in as part of your study programme when you apply for a student visa in Australia. Before your visa is issued, your CoE must be filed. Keep in mind that your CoE expires, and it is your obligation to ensure that it is still current during your stay, as failing to do so could result in the cancellation of your student visa.
• You must submit all CoE for each study course you are taking if you are taking more than one. If you don't, your visa will only be good for that particular study course. If one course leads to the next and there is a gap of at least two months between the classes, you may enrol in two or more.If you fall under one of the following categories, you must submit a letter of support rather than a CoE:
• A student supported by the Department of Defence; A student supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• You must submit an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student Form if you are a secondary exchange student.
• Postgraduate research students who must stay in Australia to complete their theses must submit a letter from their institution of higher learning.

Students Under 18 in Australia

• Underage foreign students in Australia must make plans for their welfare until they reach adulthood. Welfare arrangements guarantee that young pupils will be looked after by the appropriate people or receive the necessary care.
• You must choose one of the following for welfare arrangements:
• Have a guardian for the learner. A parent, legal guardian, or relative older than 21 years old can act as a student's guardian. Make arrangements for a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare. (CAAW). Unless you are a secondary exchange student, your education provider must accept your welfare arrangements.
• Submit your Secondary Exchange Student Acceptance Advice.
• Have welfare plans that have been authorised by the appropriate Minister. if you are a student studying defence or foreign affairs.

Even if you reach adulthood before beginning your studies, your welfare arrangement must remain in effect until that point. Australia does not permit entry of underage pupils unless they have made arrangements for appropriate care.

The minimum duration of welfare arrangements if you are supplying a CAAW should be the same as the letter of confirmation (CoE) plus seven days at the conclusion of your enrollment or until you reach legal age.

Please remember that you need permission from the Immigration Office in order to amend the welfare arrangements.

Civil Documents

Documents such your birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce papers, adoption papers, and proof of your relationship with a partner must be submitted. If your name has changed, you must additionally present a certificate attesting to the change.

• Welfare Arrangements

  If a student is under the age of 18, they must make adequate welfare arrangements.

• Detailed Itinerary

  A travel schedule including all of your planned visits must be included with your visa application. The itinerary must include information such as the dates of your trips, the locations you intend to visit, tickets you have purchased evidence, how long you intend to stay, and similar details.

• Accommodation Reservations

  When you apply for the visa, you must show proof of any accommodations you've made for your trip. Included in this are hotel reservations, rental contracts, private housing arrangements, Airbnb setups, or documentation proving you'll be staying with family or friends in Australia.

• Employer Letter

  You must also include a letter from your company granting approval for your travels if you are employed.

• Invitation Letter

  If a friend or family member extends an offer for you to visit them in Australia, you must submit a letter of invitation written by your host. If you were asked to work, include a letter inviting you. (work visa).

• Authorised Recipient Form

  You must complete out this form and submit it with your application if you designate someone to assist you with your visa application.

• Health Insurance

  For the duration of your stay in Australia, you and your family must be protected by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an authorised Australian health insurance carrier.

You must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies in Australia as an international student.

Your application for a student visa will be rejected if you can't show that you've purchased this insurance.

• You can pay for medical or hospital care while studying in Australia with the aid of OSHC.
• Pay for the majority of prescription drugs.
• Give you access to an ambulance for emergencies.

Make sure you order an OSHC card to use at doctor appointments while you are residing in Australia along with your health insurance. Visit our insurance website to learn more. At PrivateHealth.gov.au, you may learn more about OSHC coverage, including where to buy it.

Evidence of Financial Capacity

You must provide:

• Enough money to pay for your tuition fees, travel expenses, and a year of living expenses in Australia. (including funds to cover family members).
• Evidence that the applicant's family will provide financial support for the duration of the programme. For students who are single, the family members must have an annual income of at least AUD 62,222; for students who are living with other family members, the minimum annual income is AUD 72,592.
• For exchange students, the Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student Form.
• A letter of support from the Department of defence or the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Temporary Entrant

Write a statement that satisfies the following two requirements in order to satisfy the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement:

1. That you are travelling to Australia solely to study and for no other purpose.
2. That you will only be spending a short time in Australia (and not overstaying your visa).

Include information about your ties to home in your statement, such as your friends, family, or a work you must return to, as well as how the course will help you achieve your academic or career goals.

• By providing this information, you can demonstrate both your sincere desire to study in Australia and your intention to return home at the end of your visa.
• The requirements for obtaining a visa state that after completing their program, the applicant must return to his own country.

Character Requirement

The health and character requirements must be met by the students and any family members who are older than 18 years old.

Get your visa application right the first time

There are things you can do to make sure that when you submit your visa application it is ‘decision ready’. This will help us process your application faster.

When preparing your application for a visa to Australia, remember to:

• provide all the required information and documents
• allow plenty of time to collect the necessary documents and information. It can take longer than you expect to get copies of official documents such as birth and marriage certificates, police checks, medical reports and translations of documents
• double check you have included everything and all information is correct before you submit your application
• make sure your name is spelt as it appears in your passport, including your middle name, and that it has not been auto-corrected by your device
• check you have entered your date of birth in dd/mm/yyyy format
• submit your application well ahead of when you want to travel. We suggest you book your flight after your visa has been granted.

Submit one application for the visa type you want

Submitting multiple visa applications for the same type of visa can slow the decision process.

• For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children.
• For student visas, dependents can be included in their parent or guardian’s application

No Previous Cancellation Or Refusal

The student cannot have a history of departmental withdrawals or rejections.

English Language Certification Requirements for Australia Student visa

When requesting a student visa, proof of English language proficiency is required. Some department-approved exams' test results may be used as evidence.

It may be necessary for students to provide proof of adequate English language proficiency:

These students may be exempted from the language requirement:

• Residents of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or New Zealand.
• Applicants who are supported by the Department of defence or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Candidates who are exchange students in secondary school.
• Applicants who are registered in a course that is approved for credit at a school.
• Those who have signed up for a stand-alone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students.
• Participants enrolled in a course taught in a language other than English.
• Applicants from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland who have finished at least five years of study in any of these nations.
• Candidates who held a student visa and had at least two years prior to their application completed either the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia or a significant course of study (in English) leading to a qualification at level IV or higher from the Australian qualifications framework.

Can My Family Members Come With Me on a Visa 500?

Family members can accompany international students if they are:

• A partner.
• A child under the age of 18 who is dependent (including a partner's kids).

Once your child turns 18, they must submit their own visa application.

Parental Consent

A parental consent document must be submitted to the visa application if you are taking a kid under the age of 18 with you and one of the parents is not travelling with the child to Australia.

Information for students

You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work.

Students must still:

• maintain their course enrollment
• ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
• ensure satisfactory course progress.

Student visa holders who cancel their enrollment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, may be in breach of their visa conditions.

Information for employers

Employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Overseas workers, including international students, have the same rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees.

While these measures are in place, the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will:

• exercise their discretion under s116(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. This is to not cancel the visas of students who work more than 40 hours each fortnight to support your organisation
• not refer student visa holders for investigation of any potential offence under s235 of the Migration Act 1958. This might relate to the hours worked by a student visa holder in breach of their visa conditions
• not refer you or relevant third-party labour hire companies, as an employer, for investigation of any potential offence under s245AC of the Migration Act 1958. This might relate to allowing a student visa holder to work in breach of their visa conditions

You want to withdraw an application

Withdraw a visa application

If visa has not been granted

If you applied online, you can withdraw your visa application in ImmiAccount before a decision is made. You cannot withdraw your application by removing the application.

To withdraw your application:

• Log in to ImmiAccount
• Select ‘view’ to open your application
• Select ‘Update details’
• Select ‘withdrawal of a visa application’

If you can’t see the link to the withdrawal of visa application form, complete Form 1446 Withdrawal of a visa application (on official government website). Everyone in the application aged 18 or older must sign the form.

Attach the form to your application. If you applied on paper, email the completed form to the place processing your application. Once your request to withdraw a visa application is received, it takes effect immediately. The application status in ImmiAccount however may take a bit longer to show as ‘Finalised’.

Your Immigration Status (for applicants in Australia) after the withdrawal of your visa application

If you hold a bridging visa that was granted before 19 November 2016, in association with the application being withdrawn, that bridging visa will cease to be in effect 28 calendar days from the date that you notify the department of the withdrawal.If you hold a bridging visa that was granted on or after 19 November 2016, in association with the application being withdrawn, that bridging visa will cease to be in effect 35 calendar days from the date that you notify the department of the withdrawal.

Unless you are the holder of another visa or you have been granted Australian Citizenship, you will be an unlawful non-citizen following the cessation of your bridging visa and may be subject to Immigration detention and removal from Australia

Visa application charges are paid to assess your application. You can’t get a refund just because your application was withdrawn.

Withdrawing as a sponsor of a former partner or spouse

If you wish to withdraw your proposal, write the department a letter that includes:

• your full name and date of birth
• the file reference number (FRN) for the application
• a statement that you withdraw your proposal

Email the letter to the place processing your application.

If visa has been granted

You can't withdraw an application after the department has granted the visa. All you can do is apply for a different visa.

Withdrawing as a sponsor of a former partner or spouse

If the department has already granted a permanent partner visa, you can't withdraw as the sponsor of that visa.

Withdrawing as a proposer of an applicant for a Global Special Humanitarian visa

If the department has already granted the visa, you can't withdraw as a proposer.

Withdraw a citizenship application

You can withdraw your citizenship application or an application you lodged on behalf of your child before the department makes a decision on the application.

You need to tell the department in writing that you want to withdraw the application. Include the following information:

• your full name and date of birth
• the Application ID or Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for your application
• a statement that you want to withdraw the application.

If you applied online, or have lodged a paper application and imported it into your ImmiAccount, attach the letter to your application in ImmiAccount. You can do this by selecting Attach documents> Additional documents.

Otherwise, send the letter to the address used to lodge your application by post.

The department will notify you in writing when the department have taken action on the withdrawal request.

Withdrawing an application on behalf of a child

Provide details of each child you are seeking to withdraw from your application.

If another parent lodged the application on behalf of the child, you must attach evidence that proves you have authority to request the withdrawal. This may include:

• Written consent to the withdrawal from the lodging parent, or
• Court order that gives you sole authority to act on behalf of the child.

If the department has made a decision on the application

You can't withdraw an application after the department has made a decision on it. This includes where the department have approved an application, but you have not yet been invited to or attended an Australian citizenship ceremony.

Visa label

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

Australia Student Visa Cancelation

A student visa 500 can be cancelled by the Department of Foreign affairs if the student fails to meet the visa conditions:

• Limited Amount of Work.Only a limited number of hours per week are permitted for students to work.
• Course Requirements.Visa holders are obliged to attend their classes consistently, to remain enrolled in them, and to avoid gaps of more than two months between them. (unless there are extenuating circumstances)
• Remain in the Same Course.Without the Minister's consent, students are not authorised to change their programme of study. Additionally, without the Minister's permission, students are not permitted to change their thesis or study topic.
• Have Valid Insurance.Foreigners on student visas in Australia should keep their health insurance current for the duration of their stay.
• Have Valid CoE.The responsibility for updating their Confirmation of Enrollment rests with the student. Their CoE will be issued by their educational institutions.
• Maintain Educational Arrangements.Those with visas who are travelling with minors must maintain suitable educational arrangements for them.
• Have Valid Welfare arrangements.Students under the age of 18 must have sufficient welfare arrangements or be accompanied by a student guardian. See how to apply for a student guardian visa.
• Update Personal Details.Within seven days of their arrival in Australia, after receiving their visa, students must inform their educational provider of their Australian address. Students must modify their contact information if their address changes.
• Not Be Disruptive.Students must refrain from any acts that could lead to disturbance, violence, or harm to themselves or others. Participation in extremist organisations is one instance of this activity.
• Meet the Criteria for the Visa.The same requirements that were in effect at the time the visa was granted must be met by visa holders.
• No Further Stay 8534.Except when applying for a visa subclass 485, 590, or a protection visa, you cannot apply for another visa while you are in Australia.
• No Further Stay 8535.You can’t apply for a visa unless you are supported by the Commonwealth or a foreign government or you are applying for a protection visa.

Documents Guidelines for Online Australia Visa Application

When you apply online for an Australia visa, the documents you attach must follow specific rules:

• Scan each document carefully on both sides.
• Scanned copies have to be in colour if the original is also in colour.
• Attach files up to 5MB size with the following extensions:
• dcm
• doc
• dpcx
• dot
• gif
• jpg
• png
• pdf
• ppt
• pptx
• txt
• rtf
• xls
• xlsx
• bmp
• Documents containing more than one page, have to be in a single PDF file.
• The limit for uploading documents can be from 30 to 60 depending on the application.
• Images have to be sized up to 500Kb.
• Images have to be scanned on both sides.
• Compressed and encrypted files will not be accepted.

Paper Application Documents Guidelines

Your family certificates, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, adoption papers, etc., must be certified copies of the originals when you submit a paper application for an Australia visa.

How Do I Verify My Documents?

Firstly, make copies of your documents. Then take both versions to a person who can verify your documents (see below).

The person who verifies your documents has to write or stamp to your documents the following statement: “This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me”.

If there is more than one page then the certifier can write the statement on the first page and their initials on every page. Your verifier has to provide their:

• Full Name
• Signature
• Occupation. Make copies of your documents beforehand. then present a someone who can verify your documents with both versions. (see below).
• "This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me," must be written or stamped on your documents by the person who verifies them.

If there are multiple pages, the certifier can initial each page and write the statement on the first page. Your verifying party must offer their:

• Complete name
• Signature
• Occupation
• Telephone
• The verification's date
• Your Address (not obligatory)
• Phone Number
• The Date of the Verification
• Their Address (not obligatory)

Your photos should also be confirmed, with the certifier's signature and the words "This is a true photograph of (insert your full name)" written or stamped on the reverse of each image.

Who Can Verify My Documents?

Either an Australian citizen or a citizen from your home country must verify your documentation. They must not be in a personal or family relationship with you and must work in one of the following fields:

• Australian consular officer or Australian diplomatic officer (check if this service is available at your nearest Australian embassy or consulate)
• Bailiff
• Bank officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Building society officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Chiropractor (licensed or registered)
• Clerk of court
• Commissioner for affidavits
• Commissioner for declarations
• Credit union officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Dentist (licensed or registered)
• Fellow of the National Tax Accountant’s Association
• Finance company officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Judge of a court
• Justice of the peace
• Legal practitioner (licensed or registered)
• Magistrate
• marriage celebrant licensed or registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
• Master of a court
• Medical practitioner (licensed or registered)
• Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
• Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
• Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
• Member of the Australian Defence Force with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants or the Institute of Public Accountants
• Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory Legislature, or a local government authority of a State or Territory
• Minister of religion licensed or registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
• Nurse (licensed or registered)
• Optometrist (licensed or registered)
• Permanent employee of Australian, state or local government authority with at least 5 or more years of continuous service.
• Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more years of continuous service
• Pharmacist (licensed or registered)
• Physiotherapist (licensed or registered)
• Police officer
• Psychologist (licensed or registered)
• Registrar or deputy registrar of a court
• Sheriff
• Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution, or
• Veterinary surgeon (licensed or registered).

Last update: 09 June 2023