Subclass 500 / Your study plans, understood
Student visa
(subclass 500)
A new course. A clearer beginning.
Build your study plans on a clear understanding of the visa requirements. We help you connect your course, circumstances and evidence, so you know what to prepare before you apply.
- Purpose
- Eligible study in Australia
- Stay
- Linked to your course and visa grant
- Key evidence
- Enrolment, genuine study and finances
- Apply from
- Check current location rules
What this visa can support
Your studies at the centre. The practical details in view.
An enrolment is an important starting point. Your application also needs to explain why the course makes sense for you and how you will support your stay.
A course that fits your plans
Understand the visa implications of your proposed course, provider and study history before making commitments.
Clearer preparation
Bring together your enrolment, Genuine Student responses, finances, English evidence and health cover.
Your circumstances considered
Look at application location, welfare arrangements and any family eligibility alongside the study plan.
Understand the options in context
Different courses. The same need for a sound plan.
The Student visa covers different education sectors. These are course contexts, rather than separate visas with the same requirements in every case.
Higher education and research
Degree and postgraduate study, with the course, academic progression and any research arrangements considered together.
Vocational and English study
Eligible vocational courses, ELICOS and other registered study. Check course packaging, English evidence and any later graduate eligibility separately.
School and other eligible study
School, non-award and supported study arrangements. Students under 18 also need appropriate welfare and custody arrangements.
The requirements in context
What needs to line up.
We check the requirements against your actual circumstances, rather than treating an offer of enrolment as visa approval.
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01
A valid course and enrolment
Check the registered course and required Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), including that the CoE remains valid at decision. Specific arrangements apply to some supported students.
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02
Genuine Student evidence
Explain your course choice, previous study, current circumstances and the value of the course to your future. Responses should be personal and supported by documents.
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03
English, funds and health cover
Review any English evidence or exemption, genuine access to the required funds, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies. Health and character requirements also matter.
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04
Location, family and welfare
Check whether you can apply in Australia, any exemption needed to include dependants, and welfare arrangements if you are under 18. Your current visa and conditions need a separate review.
Before you plan another application.
From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia. Current Student visa holders also need to meet a specific exemption to lodge a further application onshore.
Possible exemptions cover specified course completion or progression, doctoral or school study, provider default and supported students. Each has conditions. Course progression generally requires a higher AQF level and only one future course; higher education must progress to eligible higher education.
Family inclusion is also restricted. You need an applicable exemption to include a partner or dependent child when lodging. New subsequent-entrant applications to join a Student visa holder are no longer available. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the earlier rules.
A plan you can follow
From your circumstances to a practical next step.
Start before enrolment, travel or visa expiry creates pressure. We explain the application work and the evidence needed for your circumstances.
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Review the study and visa position
Discuss your course, academic history, current location and visa. Check whether a valid application can be made where you intend to lodge.
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Prepare the supporting records
Work through enrolment, Genuine Student responses, funding, English, OSHC and any family or welfare documents.
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Lodge a complete application
Check the required information, documents and charge before online lodgement. Meet any health, biometrics or further-information requests.
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Understand the decision and conditions
If granted, check your visa dates, study and work conditions. Review proposed course changes or a future visa before taking the next step.
Preparation that makes sense
The right records. A clearer picture.
The checklist depends on your circumstances and the work agreed with you. It may include:
- Passport, identity documents and previous visa information.
- CoE and relevant offer, course, academic and study-history records.
- Genuine Student responses and evidence supporting your circumstances.
- Required financial records, English evidence or exemption, and OSHC.
- Any eligible family, custody, welfare, health or character records.
A little more clarity
Your 500 questions, made clearer.
A starting point for understanding the requirements. We can look at the detail when we know your circumstances.
Has Genuine Student replaced GTE?
For Student visa applications lodged from 23 March 2024, the Genuine Student requirement applies. Studying must be the primary reason for the visa. The requirement recognises that an eligible student may later consider permanent residence; that possibility does not replace a genuine study purpose.
Can I apply for another Student visa while in Australia?
Only if the current application rules allow it. From 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders generally need a specified exemption. For example, the course-completion exemption has provider and timing conditions; the course-progression exemption has AQF, provider and course-packaging conditions. Holding a CoE alone is not enough.
Can my partner or children join me?
Family inclusion at lodgement now requires an exemption. Examples include specified doctoral, scholarship, DFAT or Defence arrangements and eligible Pacific or ASEAN students. Some existing dependants may qualify in a further application. New subsequent-entrant applications are unavailable. Check the exact criteria and same-location requirements before planning travel.
How many hours can I work?
The usual limit is 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, with different rules for scheduled breaks and some research students. Work before your course starts is restricted, subject to the applicable exception. Check your own grant conditions and VEVO rather than assuming the same rights apply to every student or dependant.
Can I change my course or provider?
A change can affect your visa conditions, AQF level, CoE, provider-transfer requirements and any later application. Check the implications before changing. A new CoE or provider approval does not, by itself, establish that you can apply for another visa in Australia.
How much money and which English result do I need?
Use the current Home Affairs financial and English requirements for your circumstances and test date. Course fees, living and travel costs, any eligible dependants and the source of funds need consideration. A provider's entry requirement may differ from the visa requirement.
Will this course qualify me for a graduate visa or permanent residence?
Neither follows automatically from enrolment or graduation. Graduate eligibility depends on the qualification, eligible study, age, timing and relevant stream. Any later skilled or employer-linked pathway has separate requirements. Review these before choosing a course for a longer-term goal.
How long will it take and what will it cost?
Check the current processing-time guide and visa fee information for the relevant application. Times are guides and charges can change. We explain the agreed professional scope and fees separately from government charges and other costs.
Your next step starts with you
Start your studies with a clearer plan.
Tell us what you want to study, where you are now and any visa deadline. We will help you understand the requirements and next steps.