Student visa (Subclass 500)

What is the Student Visa (subclass 500)?

Student Visa allows international students to study in Australia.

Student Visa (subclass 500) allows international students to study full-time in CRICOS registered courses in Australia.

While there is no age limitation for a student who wants to study course above Higher Secondary school level, but for a school student (not participating in a secondary school student exchange program), must be aged 6 or older to apply for this visa.

Recent Changes

The Government has announced that student visa holders working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023. From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be re-introduced and capped at 48 hours per fortnight. For more information see Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders. The Australian Government is streamlining requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia. Check if you still need to undertake a medical examination and chest x-ray.

Length of stay for a Student Visa (subclass 500)?

Student Visa is a temporary visa to study, which could be granted up to 5 years. Your length of stay will determine by the type of course and its length. If for some reason you cannot complete your course on time or you may want to study further, you must apply for a new Student visa.

Only Primary school children enrolled in years 1-4 can only be granted a student visa for a maximum of 2 years.

Can I Include my family members on my visa application?

You can include your partner and dependent children with your visa application. If your child is 18 years or above and not dependent on you, they must apply for their own student visa. You must declare your family members in your student visa application even if they do not plan to travel with you to Australia. If you do not declare your family members in your student visa application, your family members will not be eligible for a student visa to join you in Australia as a dependent applicant on that granted student visa, unless they born or become a family member after your visa has been granted. If you or accompanying family member are under 18 years of age, you must have adequate welfare arrangements in place to be eligible for a student visa.

If you get married or entered in a De factor relationship after your student visa approved, or your family members want to join with you in Australia at a later time, they can apply as a subsequent entrant later.

Student Visa Eligibility??

To be eligible for Student visa (subclass 500) you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a certain age (For school student only)
  • ~~less than 17 years old when you beginYear 9
  • ~~less than 18 years old when you beginYear 10
  • ~~less than 19 years old when you beginYear 11
  • ~~less than 20 years old when you beginYear 12
  • Be enrolled in a CRICOS registered course.
  • Have an active Confirmation of Enrolment (COE)
  • Make welfare arrangements (if you or accompanying family member are under 18 years)
  • Have adequate health insurance
  • ~~You and your family members must have and maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole of your stay in Australia (entire COE duration). It is recomended to have at least 3 months extended cover than your COE. If your COE finishing at the end of the Australian academic year (November to December) then up to 15 March of the following year.
  • ~~Students from some specific countries are exempt from OSHC as Australi have special arrangements with their own national schemes/ Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.
  • ~~OSHC policies assist to cover the cost of hospital and medical treatment. Benefits are also paid for ambulance services. The minimum requirements of a OSHC policy are set out in the OSHC Deed.
  • ~~Applying outside Australia: Your cover must start from the day you and your family arrive in Australia, not the day your course starts.
  • ~~Before you purchase your OSHC you must compare the cover to match with your needs.
  • ~~Compare your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Today.
  • Have not held a certain visa: If you have one of these visas, you can't apply for a student visa while you are in Australia
  • ~~Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (subclass 426)
  • ~~Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or consular) stream
  • ~~Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) – primary visa holder only. A family member of a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) can apply for a student visa in Australia
  • ~~Transit visa (subclass 771)
  • ~~Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Sponsored Family stream or the Approved Destination Status stream
  • Have Financial capacity for your study in Australia: Be financially capable of paying for your course fees, living and travel costs while in Australia.
  • ~Visa applicant must provide either:
  • ~~sufficient funds to cover travel costs and 12 months of living and tuition fees for all visa applicants and school costs for any school aged dependants, or
  • ~~evidence that applicant's spouse or parents are willing to support and they have an annual income of at least AUD 62,222 for single students or at least AUD 72,592 for students that are accompanied by family members.
  • ~~an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students form for secondary exchange students only
  • ~~a letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence
  • ~Work out how much money you need for the visa: At a minimum, visa applicant must have enough money to pay for the followings:
  • ~~Travel cost + 12 months of your course fees + 12 months of living costs + school fees for any school-age children.
  • Work out how much 12-month living costs are for:
  • ~~a students or guardians - AUD21,041
  • ~~a partner coming with you - AUD7,362
  • ~~a child coming with you - AUD3,152.
  • Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement: ​​​​All applicants for a Student visa must show they are coming to Australia temporarily to gain a quality education. Applicants need to provide a personal statement in English addressing how the student meet the GTE requirement. The statement needs to address student's personal circumstances for undertaking the proposed study in Australia. In addition to the written GTE statement, Student will also be required to provide supporting documents with their student visa application. A guideline of what evidence and information to include in the GTE statement is provided by the Department of Home Affairs. The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement is not intended to exclude students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence.
  • Meet the Australian government’s health and character requirements: Student visa applicant and any family members who apply for the student visa must meet Australian immigration health requirement & character requirement.
  • Not have had a visa refused or cancelled:
  • ~~Applying inside Australia: You are not be eligible to apply for another Australian student visa if your visa application was refused or cancelled since last entering Australia. But you might be eligible to apply for some other visas. To be granted a visa, you must meet all relevant visa eligibility criteria.
  • ~~Applying outside Australia: Visa could be refused for many reasons. As long as you can fulfil the visa requirement and can provide sufficient supporting evidence you may apply for your student visa again when you are ready.

Benefits of the Student visa (subclass 500):

The student visa is a temporary visa, and lasts for the duration of your studies, with a maximum validity period of five years.

  • Bring your family with you or joing later.
  • Multiple travel in and out of Australia during the Student visa duration.
  • Work up to 48 hours a fortnight when course of study or training is in session.
  • Full time work rights while course not in session
  • Student dependent visa holder also have unlimited/limited work rights depending on the primary visa holders course of study.
  • Eligibility for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) for 18 months to up to 6 years after courese completion, T&cs apply.
  • Extra migration points for study in Australia.
  • Opportunity for skilled migration in Australia, if you manage to have enough points for your chosen profession listed on the Skilled Occupation List.

Student Visa (subclass 500) Application process:

To Find what documents/evidence will be required with you student visa application please use the Document Checklist Tool. Before you use this tool please read the disclaimer.

Student visa must apply online. You can apply Student visa while you are in or outside of Australia.

If your requrie our assistacne for your University/College admission and student visa application, you may contact us, Vista Migration and Education Services have proven track reacord of helping international students successfully for their Student Visa & Admission matters.

Note: You might be able to apply for a new student visa if it has been less than 28 days since your Student Visa expired and provided this has not happened before.

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