Student Visa (subclass 500)
Migration advice for eligible international students undertaking approved studies in Australia. Assess enrolment, Genuine Student evidence, finances and current application restrictions before committing to visa or travel plans.
- Status
- Temporary · period specified in the grant notice
- Apply from
- Usually outside Australia; eligible onshore applicants must meet the relevant visa and exemption criteria
- Genuine purpose
- Genuine Student (GS)
- Work rights
- Generally 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, after course commencement; exceptions and other conditions apply
Important cautions
- Most applicants must apply outside Australia under the rules effective 2 October 2026. Do not enrol, travel or let an existing visa expire on the assumption that another onshore application will be available.
- Offshore application restrictions also affect where the visa can be granted. A pending application does not itself provide lawful status, entry permission or work rights.
- Family inclusion is restricted unless an exemption applies. Subsequent entrant applications after grant are not available. Children born in Australia have separate visa-status and notification rules; this is not the same as applying as a subsequent entrant.
- Work rights are not unrestricted employment rights. Generally, students cannot work before the course starts. The usual limit is 48 hours per fortnight in session; research-degree exceptions and different family-member rules must be checked against actual visa conditions.
- A Student visa is not simply extended. Further study may require a new visa, and eligibility to apply in Australia must be reassessed.
- Study, a particular qualification or a Student visa grant does not guarantee a graduate visa, skilled invitation, employer sponsorship or permanent residence.
Student visa changes effective 2 October 2026
Application location, location at grant and family inclusion are separate eligibility questions. Check the rules before making study, travel or family plans.
- 500: Most applicants must apply outside Australia and also be offshore at grant. An eligible visa and a relevant exemption are required to apply in Australia.
- 500 family: A separate exemption is needed to include partners or children. Subsequent entrant applications after grant are not available.
- 590: Affected temporary visa holders must apply and be outside Australia at grant. Current 590 holders can apply for a further 590 in Australia, subject to eligibility.
Application, grant-location and transitional details
- Where you apply
- Most subclass 500 applicants must apply outside Australia. An eligible visa and an applicable exemption are needed for onshore lodgement. Certain current student holders can qualify; holding a valid Australian visa alone is not enough. Restrictions also affect temporary visa holders applying for subclass 590.
- Where you are at grant
- Applicants affected by the offshore rules must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Check the requirements for the exact visa and exemption; do not assume application location and decision location are interchangeable.
- Family members on 500
- Most new or further subclass 500 applications cannot include partners or dependent children unless an exemption applies. Family members cannot apply as subsequent entrants after grant. Family-inclusion exemptions are not the same as onshore-application exemptions.
- Transition
- Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 continue to be assessed under the rules applying when lodged. These changes do not cancel an existing Student visa. Further applications must satisfy the rules applicable to them.
Key requirements
- Be at least six years old and meet any age requirements applicable to school study.
- Be enrolled in an eligible course and provide the required Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), unless a specific exception applies. Check enrolment evidence at application and decision.
- Meet the Genuine Student requirement: studying must be the primary purpose. Explain your circumstances, course choice and the value of the proposed study using accurate supporting evidence.
- Demonstrate genuine access to sufficient funds for the relevant tuition, living, travel and any permitted family or schooling costs.
- Meet the applicable English language requirements or establish an exemption. Education-provider admission requirements and visa requirements are separate.
- Maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the required period unless exempt, and approved welfare arrangements if under 18.
- Meet the current application and grant-location rules and any separate family-inclusion exemption requirements.
- Meet health, character, identity and other applicable visa requirements.
What this visa allows
- Study the eligible course or course package covered by the visa and comply with enrolment and progress requirements.
- Stay for the approved period stated in the grant notice; completing a course does not itself extend your stay.
- Work only within the applicable visa conditions and travel while the visa permits.
- Include eligible family members in the application only if the current exemption requirements permit it. This does not create a later subsequent entrant option.
Evidence to prepare
- The required CoE or permitted alternative enrolment evidence, plus the proposed study history and course details.
- Answers to the GS questions supported by relevant evidence of personal circumstances, prior study, employment, course choice and future value. A generic statement is not a substitute for accurate responses.
- Acceptable financial evidence, including access to funds and support arrangements where someone else provides funding.
- Applicable English evidence, OSHC, identity, immigration history and any required under-18 welfare documents.
- Evidence for the exact onshore-lodgement or family-inclusion exemption being relied on; these must be assessed separately.
How the process works
- Assess immigration history, the proposed studies, GS evidence and where a valid application can be made.
- Obtain the required enrolment evidence from the education provider; consider visa restrictions before committing to study or relocation plans.
- Prepare GS responses, financial, English, insurance and welfare evidence, including any separate exemption evidence.
- Lodge a valid application from the permitted location and respond to health, biometrics or other requests where required.
- Check the required location for grant. If granted, review the expiry, work, study, welfare and other visa conditions before acting on them.
How we actually help
- Assess visa eligibility, immigration history and the current onshore and family-inclusion restrictions.
- Review genuine GS responses, financial access and supporting documents against the relevant requirements.
- Prepare the visa application and advise on conditions, proposed study changes or a further visa assessment. This is migration advice, not course placement.
Related pathway
Any later visa requires its own eligibility assessment and a valid application. GS recognises that a genuine student may later pursue lawful migration options, but this does not guarantee another visa or permanent residence.
General information, not an individual eligibility assessment. Requirements, charges and processing times change and are not promised. Official sources:
- Subclass 500 — Student visa (opens in a new tab)
- Genuine Student requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Applying in Australia — current restrictions and exemptions (opens in a new tab)
- Including or adding family members (opens in a new tab)
- Visa Pricing Estimator — current application charges (opens in a new tab)
- Visa processing times — current guide, not a guarantee (opens in a new tab)
About the 500
Only if you hold an eligible visa and meet the relevant exemption. Some current student holders can qualify, for example for specified course completion or progression circumstances, PhD or school studies, sponsorship or provider default. The detailed conditions matter; a valid visa alone is insufficient.
Only if a family-inclusion exemption applies. Limited categories include PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students, foreign government scholarship recipients and eligible Pacific or ASEAN students, with provisions for some existing families. The full criteria must be checked separately from onshore application eligibility.
Under the rules effective 2 October 2026, they cannot apply as subsequent entrants after grant. Births have separate notification and visa-status rules. Obtain advice before planning family travel or a further application.
Generally 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, and not before the course starts. Masters by research and doctoral students have different limits. Family-member rules and the visa actually in effect must be checked separately.
The online application asks GS questions, with supporting evidence as relevant. Use accurate answers tailored to your actual circumstances rather than assuming a generic statement alone satisfies the requirement.
There is no simple visa extension. A new application or other action may be needed. Check current visa conditions, provider transfer requirements, study level, expiry and where you are eligible to apply before making changes.
The Department says those applications continue to be assessed under the rules applying when lodged, including family members included in those applications. A later further application is a separate assessment.
Not automatically. Another skilled, employer-sponsored or other visa requires its own eligibility. Do not choose a course on a promise of permanent residence.
Your matter:
Student Visa (500).
Selected service · Student Visa (500)
A consultation assesses your circumstances, discusses realistic options and outlines possible next steps. It is not a visa or review application and not a representation agreement. Any further work, its scope and fees are agreed separately.
- 01Book your appointment
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After booking, add your details and circumstances for your student visa (500) consultation.
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