Subclass 500 Student Visa
The main visa for international students. Covers school, VET, higher education, and research. Allows work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study and unlimited hours during official breaks.
Subclass 500 · 590 · 485 · 2026 Rules
Your Australian student visa, done properly the first time.
Studying in Australia is one of the best long-term decisions a young person can make. It can also be one of the most expensive mistakes if the student visa is rushed, the course is wrong, or the financial evidence does not hold up. This page walks you through every student visa pathway and how to plan study as the first step of a longer stay in Australia.
QEAC certified education specialist
Full pathway from offer to PR
The three student-related visas
One main visa. Two companions.
The Subclass 500 is the main student visa. The 590 is for guardians. The 485 is for after graduation. Most students need one or more of these during their time in Australia.
Subclass 590 Student Guardian
For a parent or legal guardian accompanying a student under 18. The guardian must provide accommodation, support, and welfare for the minor student.
Subclass 485 Graduate Visa
For recent graduates of Australian qualifications. Allows work and further study after graduation. The fee doubled to $4,600 from 1 March 2026, which changes the financial value for many graduates.
What the Department looks at
Every student visa application is assessed against six things.
The weight given to each one depends on the applicant's country, the course, and the institution. Here is what matters.
Genuine Student (GS) requirement
Replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant test in 2024. The Department wants to see you are coming to study, not to migrate. The GS statement is where most refusals happen.
English language requirement
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English scores are accepted. The required score depends on your course and institution.
Financial capacity
Evidence that you can pay course fees, living costs, travel, and any accompanying family costs. Second biggest refusal reason after the GS test.
Health and character
Health examinations for most applicants. Police clearances for applicants 17+ from every country lived in for 12+ months over the last 10 years.
Health insurance (OSHC)
Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory for the full duration of the student visa. Must be paid before the visa is granted.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Issued by your Australian institution after you accept the offer and pay fees. You cannot lodge a Subclass 500 visa without a CoE.
How the pathway works
From choosing a course to permanent residency.
Seven stages. The decisions you make in Step 1 shape every stage that follows. Plan the whole pathway before you commit.
1
Decide what to study
The most important step. The course determines your graduate visa options and PR eligibility.
2
Apply to institutions
Directly or through an education agent. Our QEAC specialist handles this step for many clients.
3
Accept, pay, get CoE
Confirmation of Enrolment issued by the institution once deposit is paid.
4
Prepare visa file
GS statement, financial evidence, English test, OSHC, health, character all come together.
5
Lodge Subclass 500
Online through ImmiAccount. Processing times vary by country and institution.
6
Arrive and study
Visa granted. Enter Australia and begin study on the CoE start date.
Why student visas get refused
The patterns we see in the appeals we handle.
These are the most common refusal reasons across the hundreds of student visa refusal appeals our team has worked on.
Weak Genuine Student statement
Too generic. Missing country-specific return factors. Lists reasons that have been read thousands of times before.
Unclear financial evidence
Funds appearing suddenly in bank accounts. Documents that do not clearly show the source of money.
Course-career mismatch
Applying for a course that has no connection to the applicant's previous study or work.
Previous refusals or cancellations
Previous visa refusals or cancellations not properly addressed in the new application. Hiding a refusal almost guarantees a fresh one.
Character or health issues flagged
Health conditions or character concerns identified but not explained with supporting evidence and, where needed, waiver arguments.
Age-versus-course mismatch
An older applicant starting a basic qualification that does not match their career history. A pattern the Department watches closely.
The Graduate visa fee doubled on 1 March 2026.
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa application fee increased to $4,600 on 1 March 2026. This is the largest increase the visa has ever seen, and it changes the cost-benefit calculation for many students. Planning the student-to-graduate-to-PR pathway early has become even more important.
How Education Embassy helps
Course planning and visa lodgement, under one roof.
Most agencies do either education or migration. We do both. Our QEAC-certified education specialist and our Registered Migration Agents work on your file as one team.
Full pathway planningVishal Sharma (QEAC) handles course and institution selection. Our RMAs handle the visa and long-term migration strategy.
Genuine Student statement draftingThe GS statement is where most refusals happen. We draft it properly with country-specific return factors, financial stability evidence, and a coherent study-to-career narrative.
Financial evidence structuringHow to present funds so the Department can verify and accept them. Family sponsorship statements, bank records, income documentation.
Appeal representation if something goes wrongIf your student visa is refused, we can represent you at the Administrative Review Tribunal. Student visa appeals are one of our strongest areas of practice.
Common questions about student visas
The questions we hear most often.
If your question is not here, raise it at the consultation. Most initial student visa questions are answered in the first 20 minutes.
How long does a Subclass 500 visa take to process?
Processing times vary by country of application and the education sector. The Department of Home Affairs publishes current processing time estimates on their website. Most university-level applications are processed within 4 to 12 weeks, though this can be faster or slower depending on your circumstances.
Can I bring my family on a student visa?
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be added to your Subclass 500 application. Family members must meet health and character requirements and be covered by OSHC. Your partner has the same work rights as you.
How many hours can I work on a student visa in 2026?
48 hours per fortnight during study periods. Unlimited during official course breaks. The 48-hour rule is enforced through Condition 8105 on your visa. Breaching it can lead to cancellation.
Do I need to show a specific amount of savings?
The Department publishes a minimum financial capacity figure that is updated each year. The amount needs to cover course fees, 12 months of living costs, travel, and any accompanying family. The current figure is available on the Department of Home Affairs website. We review your exact situation during the consultation.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.