How the Australian student visa works
The Student visa (subclass 500) lets you study a registered course in Australia. Here is how getting one works, in plain words.
General information only — not migration advice.
How the application works: 6 steps
How long does it take?
How long does it take?
Processing speed depends on the type of course and how full the school's yearly intake is (an estimate, not an official figure, based on Minister's Direction 115).
- Priority 1 — Fastest1–4 weeks
Schools, English language courses, postgrad research, and VET providers below 80% of their annual enrolment limit.
- Priority 2 — Standard5–8 weeks
Most university and vocational applicants at providers sitting between 80–115% of their annual limit.
- Priority 3 — Slowest9–12+ weeks
Applicants at providers that have exceeded 115% of their annual enrolment limit.
Source: Minister's Direction 115 (MD115) — processing order set by the Department of Home Affairs (14 November 2025). Time ranges are estimates, not official figures. Ask your school which priority tier it is in before you apply.
What you need
A registered course and enrolment letter
Only CRICOS-registered courses qualify. After accepting an offer, your institution issues a CoE.
Enough money
Home Affairs requires you to show a set living-cost amount per person per year.
Student health insurance (OSHC)
Overseas Student Health Cover is compulsory for the full length of your visa.
English test (where required)
Most applicants need IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL: the required score depends on the institution.
What English score do I need?
Required scores by visa type and institution: see the English hub.
Genuine Student answers
Home Affairs assesses whether your study plans are genuine, using factors in Minister's Direction 106.
Visa fee
Base application charge
The Department of Home Affairs sets this charge by regulation — it changes periodically.
AUD 2,500Current
From 1 July 2026
Department of Home Affairs — effective 1 July 2026
Only the current fee is shown. Earlier figures are not held as verified entries in StudyVisaHub's sources. Use the Visa Cost Calculator to estimate your full upfront cost.
What happened to past applications
These are real approval figures from the Department of Home Affairs. They describe what happened to past applicants: they do not predict any individual outcome.
Rules while you study
Your student visa comes with conditions you must follow throughout your stay. Breaking them can lead to visa cancellation.
- Work hours: Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running (Condition 8105). Unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
- Course progress and attendance: You must stay enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course. Your provider reports your attendance to Home Affairs.
- Health insurance (OSHC): You must hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the full duration of your visa.
Official sources
View official government links
- Student visa (Subclass 500) — Department of Home AffairsOfficial visa landing page: eligibility, requirements, and how to apply.
- Student visa requirements — Department of Home AffairsConditions, documents, and the Genuine Student requirement.
- Document checklist tool (WET) — Department of Home AffairsGenerates a personalised list of documents for your application.
- Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 — F2026L00874The regulation that set the current AUD 2,500 base application charge from 1 July 2026.
- Student visa processing priorities (MD115) — Department of Home AffairsWhich applications are processed first and how the school's yearly limit affects your wait.
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