Student & Graduate
Subclass 500 — Student visa
General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, book a verified practitioner.
Compiled from official Department of Home Affairs sources — practitioner verification pending.
For international students enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course. Requires a Confirmation of Enrolment, the Genuine Student requirement, adequate health insurance (OSHC) and evidence of financial capacity. Work is capped per fortnight while studying.
Government charge
$2,000.00
This is the government Visa Application Charge (VAC), payable directly to the Department of Home Affairs when you lodge. It is not a fee charged by this platform, and it is separate from any platform or practitioner fee. Always check the official source for the current amount.
Estimate for a family application
Total VAC: $2,000.00
Arithmetic on the published government fee schedule — an estimate only, not platform fees and not advice. Always check the official estimator ↗
Official processing time
Most applications: 4–6 weeks (check the official monthly figures)
Home Affairs ↗Community-reported
Median 3.9 months · middle 50%: 3.8 months–3.9 months · 6 reports
Indicative community data, not official, not advice · tracker
Toolkit — $49.00 incl. GST
- Step-by-step application walkthrough for this visa
- Stage-by-stage document checklist
- Document vault and reminders as they roll out
This is a YourVisaSite software fee for organisational tools. It is not the government Visa Application Charge shown above, and it does not include immigration assistance or advice — for advice, book a verified practitioner.
Eligibility snapshot
In general terms: enrolment in a registered (CRICOS) course evidenced by a Confirmation of Enrolment, meeting the Genuine Student requirement, Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay, sufficient funds for fees and living costs, and English language evidence where required. Requirements vary by education sector and citizenship — this is general information only.
Costs
The government Visa Application Charge is $2,000 for the main applicant (from 1 July 2025), plus additional charges for family members. OSHC, course fees and biometrics/health checks are separate. The VAC is paid to the Department of Home Affairs and is not refundable if the application is refused — and it is entirely separate from any fee charged by this platform.
Frequently asked questions
Official information and lodgement
Applications are lodged through your own ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website — never through this platform.
Visit the official Home Affairs page ↗Practitioners who cover the 500
Advice about your circumstances can only come from a registered practitioner — these verified practitioners list the 500 as an area of expertise.
See all practitioners for the 500 →Related news
- Student visa application charge now $2,00013 June 2026
General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, book a verified practitioner.
Compiled from official Department of Home Affairs sources — practitioner verification pending.