Tools
(GS) Checklist
The GS requirement applies to all student visa (Subclass 500) applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. It replaced the previous Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test and is assessed under Ministerial Direction No. 106. This page explains what officers assess, shows the verbatim form questions, and gives you an interactive document checklist to track your evidence. A from a CRICOS-registered institution is required before lodging.
General information only — not migration advice
This page provides general information sourced from published government instruments. It is not migration advice and not produced by a MARA-registered agent. All figures are dated as at their retrieval date. Every decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs. For advice about your specific application, consult a MARA-registered migration agent or an Australian immigration lawyer.
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
GS applies to applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024 (it replaced the GTE test for new lodgements). Officers assess the applicant's intention to genuinely undertake their course. Importantly, Home Affairs states that studying to develop skills Australia needs:
“does not count against an applicant under GS”
Source: Home Affairs — Genuine Student requirement — as at 20 Aug 2026
The GS form questions (verbatim)
These four questions appear in ImmiAccount for all applicants. Each answer has a 150-word limit and must be written in English only. A fifth question (below) only appears for applicants with onshore visa history.
- “Give details of the applicant's current circumstances. This includes ties to family, community, employment and economic circumstances.”
- “Explain why the applicant wishes to study this course in Australia with this particular education provider. This must also explain their understanding of the requirements of the intended course and studying and living in Australia.”
- “Explain how completing the course will be of benefit to the applicant.”
- “Give details of any other relevant information the applicant would like to include.”
Fifth question (onshore visa holders only): A fifth question applies only to applicants who have held or currently hold a visa in Australia. Its exact wording appears only inside the ImmiAccount form itself — it is not published externally.
Source: Home Affairs — Genuine Student requirement — as at 20 Aug 2026
What the decision-maker weighs (Ministerial Direction 106)
Officers assess GS against five broad factor areas set out in Ministerial Direction No. 106. None is determinative on its own — the officer weighs them in totality.
Circumstances in home country
Why not study a similar course at home. Family, community, and employment ties. Economic circumstances. Military service. Political or civil unrest.
Potential circumstances in Australia
Knowledge of the course, provider, and what living in Australia involves. Research done. Ties to Australia. Whether the visa is being used to maintain ongoing residence rather than genuine study.
Value of the course to the applicant's future
Consistency with the applicant's education level and work history. Relevance to future employment and income prospects.
Immigration history
All visas held, refusals, cancellations, and compliance record — in Australia and in any other country.
For minor applicants
The intentions and circumstances of the applicant's parents or guardians are also considered by the decision-maker.
Source: Ministerial Direction No. 106 (PDF — legislation.gov.au) — as at 20 Aug 2026
Document checklist — track your evidence
Grouped to match the way Home Affairs frames evidence in its published guidance. Tick items as you gather them. Nothing is saved anywhere.
Nothing you tick here is saved or sent anywhere — it only lives in this browser tab. Refreshing the page resets it. Ticks live only in this tab.
Previous study
Previous study in Australia
Current employment
Ties to home
Economic circumstances
The groups above reflect Home Affairs' published evidence framework. For a list generated specifically for your application:
Home Affairs' own evidentiary tool — generates a personalised list →Financial evidence — published figures
12-month living costs (LIN 19/198 as amended by LIN 24/042, F2024C00445, in force 10 May 2024)
- Primary applicantAUD 29,710
- Accompanying partnerAUD 10,394
- Each accompanying dependent childAUD 4,449
- School-age child tuition (per year)AUD 13,502
Annual-income alternative pathway
- No secondary applicantAUD 87,856
- With secondary applicantAUD 102,500
Travel costs: required as evidence but no fixed dollar amount exists in the instrument.
and medical costs: additional — no government-set figure. See the Financial Capacity Calculator for more detail on those costs.
Instrument unchanged since 10 May 2024. In-force compilation: F2024C00445.
Source: Migration (LIN 19/198) Specification 2019 (as amended) — legislation.gov.au/F2019L01366 — as at 20 Aug 2026
English requirement — quick reference
Current instrument: F2025L00906, in effect 7 Aug 2025. Test must be taken within 2 years of the date of application.
| Test | Score / band |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall — or 5.5 with a 10+ week ELICOS package — or 5.0 with a 20+ week ELICOS package |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 |
| PTE Academic | 47 |
| CAE (Cambridge) | 161 |
| OET | 1210 (average across sub-tests) |
Exemption highlights
- Passport holders: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland
- ELICOS-only enrolments
- Postgraduate research candidates
- 5 years of study conducted in English in specified English-speaking countries
Source: Student Visa (Subclass 500) English requirement instrument F2025L00906 — legislation.gov.au — as at 20 Aug 2026
Application charge and processing context
Visa application charge
- Standard (from 1 July 2026)AUD 2,500
- ASEAN (subitem 5A countries) & ELICOS-only / non-award enrolmentsAUD 2,050
- Pacific / Timor-LesteAUD 745
25% rise from the previous AUD 2,000 (effective 1 July 2026). Instrument: F2026L00874. View legislation — as at 20 Aug 2026
Processing priority (Ministerial Direction 115, from 14 Nov 2025)
Priority 1
~1–4 weeks
Priority 2
~5–8 weeks
Priority 3
~9–12 weeks
Priority allocation is provider-based. See provider priority tiers → — Home Affairs processing priorities — as at 20 Aug 2026
If the application is refused
Since 1 June 2026, Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) merits reviews of student-visa refusals are decided “on the papers” — there is no oral hearing, except in limited cases involving Public Interest Criteria (PIC). Applicants have a 28-day window to lodge submissions. This is general information only; no inference about any particular outcome should be drawn from this description.
Source: Administrative Review Tribunal (Student Visa) instrument F2026L00640 — legislation.gov.au — as at 20 Aug 2026
Related tools and pages
General information only. Not migration advice. Not from a MARA-registered agent. All figures dated as at their retrieval date; all decisions rest with the Department of Home Affairs. Consult a MARA-registered migration agent before lodging.
Source: Department of Home AffairsUpdated: 20 August 2026View official source