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Study

Subclass 500

Student visa

For studying a registered course in Australia, from school to postgraduate research, for up to 6 years in line with your enrolment.

Open official source Preparation checklist

Overview

With this visa you can

  • Take part in an eligible course of study
  • Travel in and out of Australia
  • Work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session

Requirements

The official page lists these main requirements. Each stream adds its own.

  • Apply from outside Australia, unless you hold an eligible visa and meet an exemption
  • Be enrolled in a course and hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
  • Hold Overseas Student Health Cover, unless exempt
  • Meet the Genuine Student requirement
  • Show a welfare arrangement if you are under 18

Official pages that explain them

All requirements on the Home Affairs page

Documents & forms

The official page lists the documents to provide with an application. Open the documents list on Home Affairs.

Forms often used with this visa

The official page lists the documents each application requires.

Browse all departmental forms

Preparation checklist: a printable list of common steps and documents, each linked to its official source.

Published processing times and charges

Official processing times

Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.

YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.

Official processing times by stream
Stream25% of applications50%75%90%Reporting period endedSource published
Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector1 day3 days10 days22 days31 August 202629 September 2026
Higher Education Sector8 days16 days49 days4 months31 August 202629 September 2026
Independent ELICOS Sector2 days22 days34 days53 days31 August 202629 September 2026
Non-Award SectorLess than 1 day3 days18 days43 days31 August 202629 September 2026
Postgraduate Research Sector4 days17 days50 days55 days31 August 202629 September 2026
Schools Sector11 days28 days57 days7 months31 August 202629 September 2026
Vocational Education and Training Sector25 days53 days7 months7 months31 August 202629 September 2026

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗

Processing times for this visa, by stream, with the reporting period.

Visa application charge

Visa application charges by applicant
ApplicationMain applicantEach additional applicant 18 or overEach additional applicant under 18
ELICOS sector
Official conditions and notes

Note The base application charge is not payable if you are applying for a new Student visa (subclass 500) because of an education provider default . If you are in Australia when you lodge your application the subsequent temporary application charge (STAC) may be payable. You may not have to pay this charge if you currently hold or recently held a visa granted because of an education provider default . get_app Go to visa page

$2,050$1,255$410
Foreign Affairs or Defence sector
Official conditions and notes

Note The base application charge is not payable if you are a subsequent entrant of a student in the foreign affairs or defence sector. get_app Go to visa page

No charge——
Postgraduate research sector
Official conditions and notes

Note N/A get_app Go to visa page

$2,500——
All other students
Official conditions and notes

Note A lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens and eligible ASEAN citizens who lodge a valid Student visa application. For more information, visit About this visa To work out what your visa will cost, use the Visa Pricing Estimator . The estimator does not take into account the other costs. The base application charge is not payable if you are applying for a new Student visa (subclass 500) because of an education provider default . If you are in Australia when you lodge your application the subsequent temporary application charge (STAC) may be payable. You may not have to pay this charge if you currently hold or recently held a visa granted because of an education provider default . get_app Go to visa page

$2,500$1,530$500
Secondary exchange (Schools sector)
Official conditions and notes

Note N/A get_app Go to visa page

No charge——
Non-Award sector
Official conditions and notes

Note The base application charge is not payable if you are applying for a new Student visa (subclass 500) because of an education provider default . If you are in Australia when you lodge your application the subsequent temporary application charge (STAC) may be payable. You may not have to pay this charge if you currently hold or recently held a visa granted because of an education provider default . get_app Go to visa page

$2,050$1,255$410

YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs price list on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry. Other costs, such as health checks or a second instalment, may apply, and government charges are separate from any professional fee. Current official pricing ↗

Updates & sources

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This summary was written from the official page on 20 October 2026.

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Follow this visa by email (an email summary; needs an account). All source updates

This page is general information written from the official page. It does not assess anyone’s eligibility, is not migration advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent. The official page is always the current source. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

Latest news for this visa

Published updates checked against the official source, newest first.

Source update

Subclass 500

Changes to Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) application rules

From 2 October 2026, new rules apply to Student (subclass 500) and Student Guardian (subclass 590) visas. The rules change who can apply for and be granted these visas while in Australia, and whether family members can be included in a Student visa application. The changes may affect people applying for a Student visa in Australia, Student visa holders applying for another Student visa, and applicants who want to include family members or have them join later. The Department has published a fact sheet, an infographic and decision trees explaining the new rules.

Read updateRead official source

All news for subclass 500

Registered practitioners

Find a practitioner for Student visa (subclass 500)

No registered practitioner is listed for this visa yet

Registered migration agents and lawyers appear here once they have chosen to be listed for this visa. For requirements and how to apply, the official page is the place to start.

Open the official pageRead the Visa RoomAll listed practitioners

More current visas in the study group.