Student Visa
Student Visa (500)
Apply for an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500). Expert help with Genuine Student assessment, financial evidence, OSHC, and family inclusion. Free consultation for international students.
What Is the Student Visa 500?
The Student Visa (subclass 500) is Australia’s main visa for international students wishing to study full-time at a CRICOS-registered education provider. The visa can be applied for from inside or outside Australia, covers the full duration of your enrolment (including packaged courses), and allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight (increased from the previous 40-hour cap in 2023, with full-time work allowed for some Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals under bilateral arrangements).
The Student visa is available at every level of study — English language courses (ELICOS), vocational education and training (VET/TAFE), Bachelor degrees, graduate diplomas, Masters degrees, and PhDs. The visa can also cover packaged courses (for example, an English course followed by a Bachelor degree at the same institution).
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement in March 2024. It is assessed based on the totality of your circumstances and asks a single question: are you a genuine student who intends to study in Australia and comply with your visa conditions?
The Department considers your circumstances in your home country (ties, career plans, reasons why you cannot study at home), your study intentions in Australia (the logic of your chosen course and institution relative to your background), your immigration history, and your overall circumstances. There is no single document that “proves” genuine study intent — it is assessed holistically.
Eligibility Requirements — Full Checklist
- Enrolled in a registered full-time course at a CRICOS-registered Australian education provider
- Hold a current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your institution
- Satisfy the Genuine Student requirement
- Have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay (must be purchased before lodgement)
- Satisfy health requirements (health examination may be required depending on country of origin and course)
- Satisfy character requirements
- Meet English language requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or others depending on course level)
| Condition | Requirement | Consequence of Breach |
|---|---|---|
| 8105 — Work restriction | Maximum 48 hours work per fortnight while enrolled (unlimited during course breaks) | NOITCC / visa cancellation |
| 8202 — Attendance and enrolment | Maintain enrolment and satisfactory course progress | NOITCC / visa cancellation, provider may report to DIBP |
| 8501 — Health insurance | Maintain adequate health insurance (OSHC) throughout stay | Visa condition breach — cancellation risk |
| 8516 — Notify address changes | Notify Department of changes of address within 7 days | Condition breach |
Including Family Members on Student Visa
Your partner (spouse or de facto) and dependent children under 18 can be included in your Student visa application as secondary applicants. Secondary family members receive the same visa duration as the primary student holder. Your partner will receive work rights under the student visa, but the nature of those work rights depends on your course level — partners of students undertaking Masters by research or PhD programs have unlimited work rights.
Student Visa Refusals — What We See Most Often
- Generic or template Genuine Student personal statements that fail to address the applicant’s specific circumstances
- Inconsistency between stated study intentions and the chosen course or institution
- Insufficient financial evidence — bank statements that do not clearly cover tuition and living costs
- Previous visa refusals or overstays not adequately addressed in the application
- Applicants from higher-risk source countries receiving additional scrutiny without supporting documentation
- Gaps in employment or education history not explained in the Genuine Student statement
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