Subclass 500 · Student
Student visa
The subclass 500 is the visa nearly every international student in Australia holds. It covers one enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course, lasts for the length of that course plus a short buffer, and lets you bring family members. You must stay enrolled, keep adequate health cover, and satisfy the Genuine Student requirement.
By Roman Lama
- Stay period
- Up to 5 years, matched to your course length
- Permanent residence
- No, temporary only
- Points tested
- No
- Age limit
- No upper age limit; applicants under 18 need welfare arrangements
- Base application charge
- AUD 2,000, rising to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026
- Processing time
- Most decisions in 1 to 4 months, varies by country and course
- English requirement
- Typically IELTS 5.5 overall (or equivalent) for direct entry, lower with a packaged English course; providers set their own higher bars
Who it’s for
You are likely eligible if you:
- Hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course
- Meet the Genuine Student requirement, which replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test in March 2024
- Have enough money for tuition, travel, and living costs (the living-cost figure is set by Home Affairs and is reviewed regularly)
- Hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the full visa period
- Meet health and character requirements
Pathway to permanent residence
The student visa itself is temporary and gives no direct PR entitlement. The common route is to finish an eligible qualification, move onto a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, gain skilled work experience, and then apply for a 189, 190, or 491. Studying in a regional area can add points and open regional nomination streams.
What the subclass 500 covers
One student visa covers one primary course of study, plus any pre-requisite courses packaged with it. If you change to a course at a lower AQF level than the one you were granted the visa for, you generally need a new visa.
Working on a student visa
You can start working once your course begins, not before. The 48-hour fortnightly cap applies while your course is in session. Hours worked in a registered course's mandatory work placement do not count toward the cap.
Bringing family
You can include your partner and dependent children. Family members over school age who want to work face the same 48-hour cap, or no cap if you are studying a masters or doctorate.
How long it lasts
For courses longer than 10 months finishing in November or December, the visa usually runs to 15 March the next year. Shorter courses get a one to three month buffer after the course end date.
Common reasons applications fail
Thin Genuine Student statements, unexplained gaps in study history, funds that appear only days before applying, and course choices that do not build on previous study are the usual culprits.
Visa conditions
Common student visa conditions:
- 8105 limits work to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. Work is unlimited during scheduled breaks, and postgraduate research students are exempt once their course has started.
- 8202 requires you to stay enrolled, maintain satisfactory attendance, and make satisfactory academic progress.
- 8501 requires you to keep health insurance for the whole stay.
- 8516 requires you to keep meeting the circumstances you were granted the visa under.
Student visa (subclass 500): common questions
How much does the subclass 500 visa cost?
The base application charge for the Student visa (subclass 500) is AUD 2,000, rising to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026. Family members you include each pay an additional charge, and there are separate costs for health checks, police certificates, and skills assessments.
How long does the subclass 500 visa take to process?
The Student visa (subclass 500) is generally processed in Most decisions in 1 to 4 months, varies by country and course. Times vary with your occupation, how complete your application is, and demand at the time.
Does the subclass 500 visa lead to permanent residence?
No. The Student visa (subclass 500) is a temporary visa. Some holders move onto a skilled or employer-sponsored visa afterward, but the 500 itself gives no permanent residence entitlement.
What is the age limit for the subclass 500 visa?
No upper age limit; applicants under 18 need welfare arrangements. Age is assessed at a specific point in the process, usually the date of invitation or application, so check exactly when before you plan around it.
How long can I stay on the subclass 500 visa?
Up to 5 years, matched to your course length.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Visa criteria change often, so always confirm the current rules on the Department of Home Affairs website or with a registered migration agent before you apply.