Subclass 500
The Subclass 500 visa is the gateway to Australia’s world-class education system.
The 500 Student Visa
The Subclass 500 is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to 5 years (6 years for some postgraduate research) to participate in a full-time course of study.
Whether you are pursuing ELICOS, schools, VET, Higher Education, or Postgraduate Research, this visa can help you pursue your academic dreams.
Key Factors:
- Genuine Student Requirement: The Department assesses your ties to your home country, economic circumstances, course value, and immigration history.
- Sufficient Funds: You must demonstrate genuine access to funds covering travel, 12 months of living costs ($29,710 AUD in 2026), and your tuition fees.
- OSHC: You must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover for the entire duration of your visa.
- Where you apply from (from 2 October 2026): If you already hold a Subclass 500, you must apply for your next one from outside Australia unless you are in an exempt group, such as a school student, a doctoral student or a student moving up to a higher-level course. Holders of the 482, 407, 408, 417, 462 and 485 visas, and visitor visas, must also apply from outside Australia.
- Family members (from 2 October 2026): A partner or child can only be included in limited cases, and must apply at the same time as the student. Family can no longer be added after the visa is granted. Read our guide to the 2 October 2026 changes.
Higher Education & VET
What it is for: Diplomas, Bachelor's, Master's degrees, and Vocational certificates (VET).
What it allows: Stay for the duration of the course; work up to 48 hours per fortnight. Family members can only be included in limited cases, for example where the student holds a passport from a Pacific-regional or listed ASEAN country, or the study is fully funded by a foreign government.
Key Requirements:
- A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
- Meet English requirements (e.g., IELTS 6.0 for Higher Ed, 5.5 for VET).
- Satisfy the GS requirement specific to the career outcome of the course.
- Already on a Subclass 500? You can only apply in Australia if you are finishing your current course, moving up to one higher-level course, or affected by provider default. Otherwise you must apply from outside Australia.
Length of Stay: Generally up to 5 years.
Postgraduate Research
What it is for: Masters by Research or PhD students.
What it allows: Extended stay; unlimited work rights for the primary applicant once the course commences. Doctoral (PhD) students can apply for a further student visa from inside Australia and can include family members. Masters by research students are not in those exempt groups, so the general family and onshore rules apply to them.
Key Requirements:
- Research proposal and academic transcripts.
- A letter of support or CoE from the university.
Length of Stay: Up to 6 years.
Independent ELICOS
What it is for: Standalone English language intensive courses.
What it allows: Full-time English study; work up to 48 hours per fortnight. Family members can only be included in limited cases, and a current Subclass 500 holder generally must apply from outside Australia for a new ELICOS visa.
Key Requirements:
- CoE for an ELICOS course.
- Strong GS justification for why English study is required.
Length of Stay: Duration of the course (usually up to 2 years).
Schools & Exchange
What it is for: Primary or secondary school students and exchange participants.
What it allows: Study in an Australian school; welfare arrangements must be in place if under 18. School students who already hold a Subclass 500 can still apply for a further student visa from inside Australia.
Key Requirements:
- AASES form (for exchange) or CoE (for schools).
- Welfare and accommodation approval (CAAW).
Length of Stay: Duration of the school program.
Maintaining compliance
- Condition 8105 (Work): You must not work more than 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. Work is unlimited during scheduled course breaks.
- Condition 8202 (Academic): You must maintain enrolment in a registered course, satisfactory attendance, and course progress. You must remain in a course at the same or higher AQF level.
- Condition 8533 (Contact): You must notify your education provider of your Australian residential address within 7 days of arriving in Australia and update them within 7 days of any change.
- Condition 8501 (Health): You must maintain adequate OSHC for yourself and all family members for the duration of your stay.
The 500 Application Process
Enrolment
Secure your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered provider.
Evidence Gathering
Collect your GS evidence, English test results, and financial documents.
Lodgement
Submit your application via ImmiAccount. You must include all CoE codes if you are applying for a packaged course. If you already hold a Subclass 500, check whether you must lodge from outside Australia.
Health & Biometrics
Complete any requested medical examinations and provide biometrics.
Finalisation
Once the Department assesses your GS status and processing priority, the visa is decided. If you were required to apply from outside Australia, you must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
For 500 Visa Applicants
The Subclass 500 is a study-first visa. If the Department suspects the primary purpose of your stay is work rather than education, the application will be refused under the GS criteria. At Immilex, we assess your "Statement of Purpose" and educational gaps to ensure they are logically explained and supported by evidence.
It is also important to plan for Packaged Courses. If you are taking a "foundation" or "English" course before your main degree, you must provide CoEs for the entire package at the time of lodgement to receive a visa for the full duration.
From 2 October 2026, where you lodge matters as much as what you lodge. Unless you are in an exempt group, a current student visa holder must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted, and family members can only be included in limited cases. We check which rule applies to you before you enrol or book a flight. See what changed on 2 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must maintain satisfactory progress to comply with Condition 8202. If your provider reports you for unsatisfactory progress, your visa may be subject to cancellation.
Yes. Even if your family members are not traveling to Australia, you may still be required to show that you have the financial capacity to support them in your home country while you study.
No, you cannot make a valid application for a Student visa if you hold a Visitor visa (600) or an ETA (601) while inside Australia. You must apply from offshore.
Yes. If family members are included in the application, you must show you have the financial capacity to support them, including school costs for any school-aged children.
Yes, but you must remain in a course at the same or higher AQF level. If you move to a lower-level course, you may breach your student visa condition (some exemptions apply).
Secure Your Academic Future
Want the detail first? Read our full guide: Student Visa Changes from 2 October 2026.
Related guide: Direction 115: what the new student visa rules mean for you.