Key Features

• Stay period: Up to 6 years, depending on your course type and length.
• Education sectors covered: Schools, VET, Higher Education, Postgraduate Research, ELICOS, Non-Award, and Foreign Affairs/Defence.
• Work rights: Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. Unlimited hours during breaks. Masters by Research and PhD students (and their families) may work unlimited hours at any time.
• Multiple entry: Travel in and out of Australia freely while your visa is valid.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for this visa, you must:

• Be at least 6 years old (with specific age limits for high school students: e.g. under 17 for Year 9, under 20 for Year 12).
• Have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered provider, or an AASES form / DFAT or Defence letter if applicable.
• Meet the Genuine Student requirement – your primary purpose must be to study, and your course should make sense for your future.
• Satisfy the English language requirement (unless exempt).
• Show evidence of financial capacity (to cover tuition, living, travel, and schooling for dependants if applicable).
• Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full visa duration. Visit Australiahealthcover.com to choose your preferred OSHC from various providers.
• Meet health, character, and Australian Values Statement requirements.

Genuine Student Requirement

Since 23 March 2024, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) has been replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

This test looks at whether you are a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, considering:

• Your circumstances in your home country,
• Your potential circumstances in Australia,
• The value of your course to your future,
• Your immigration history, and
• Your intention to comply with visa conditions.

You may no longer need to write a GTE statement. Instead, the Department may ask you targeted questions and review your supporting documents.

Immigration Risk & Evidence Levels

Your visa assessment depends partly on the immigration risk level of both:

• your country of citizenship, and
• your education provider.

This determines whether you must provide full documentary evidence of finances and English, or if a streamlined declaration will be accepted.

You can check your specific requirements using the Department’s Document Checklist Tool.

English Language Requirement (Updated August 2025)

Unless exempt, all Student Visa (Subclass 500) applicants must meet the English language requirement.

Accepted English Tests

As of 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs accepts the following nine tests:

• IELTS (Academic or General Training, including One Skill Retake)
• TOEFL iBT
• PTE Academic
• OET (Occupational English Test – for healthcare professionals)
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced
• CELPIP General (new)
• LANGUAGECERT Academic (new)
• Michigan English Test (MET) (new)

Minimum Scores (unchanged in 2025)

• Direct entry (main course): IELTS 6.0 overall (or equivalent across other approved tests).
• With 10 weeks of ELICOS/Pathway/Foundation: IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent).
• With 20 weeks of ELICOS: IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent).

Note: TOEFL iBT minimum scores have been adjusted slightly to align with IELTS 6.0 equivalency.

Validity of Test Results

• Test results are usually valid for 2 years before visa application or decision.
• Special rule: Scores obtained on or before 6 August 2025 remain valid for up to 24–36 months (depending on visa subclass) — generally until August 2028 for Student Visa applicants.

Exemptions

You may be exempt from providing English test evidence if:

• You hold a passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ, or Ireland, or
• You are a DFAT/Defence-sponsored student, or
• You are a secondary exchange student (AASES), or
• You are enrolled in a registered school course, a standalone ELICOS, or postgraduate research, or
• You have completed at least 5 years of study in English in eligible countries (including Australia).

Financial Capacity

You must have genuine access to sufficient funds. Current (LIN 19/198) figures are:

• Main applicant: AUD 29,710
• Spouse/partner: AUD 10,394
• Dependent child: AUD 4,449
• Annual school cost (per child): AUD 13,502
• Alternative: Annual income of AUD 87,856 (single) or AUD 102,500 (with family), from a parent or spouse.

Evidence can include savings, bank statements, education loans, scholarships, or proof of income.

Course Eligibility

• Your course must be CRICOS-registered.
• It must be delivered in Australia. Predominantly online courses are not eligible for a student visa.
• You may package courses together, but the principal course (the highest-level qualification) determines your visa assessment for English and finances.

Health Insurance

You and your family must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full length of your visa, unless exempt (Belgium, Norway, Sweden, or DFAT/Defence sponsorship). Visit Australiahealthcover.com to choose your preferred OSHC from various providers.

Family Members

You can include your partner and dependent children under 18 in your application, or they can apply later as subsequent entrants.

Dependants must meet financial, health, and insurance requirements, and school-age children must be enrolled in school.

Visa Periods

• Tertiary study: Up to 6 years (depending on course progression).
• High school: Up to 6 years.
• Primary school: Generally capped at 3 years.
• Postgraduate research: Extra 6 months for thesis marking.
• Visa length is tied to CoE, OSHC cover, and welfare arrangements.

Work Rights

Work rights depend on your enrolment status:

• In session (while classes are running): Up to 48 hours per fortnight.
• Out of session (during scheduled breaks, after course completion, or approved deferral): Unlimited hours.
• Masters by Research/PhD students (and their dependants): May work Unlimited hours.

“In session” includes exam periods and compulsory study components. “Out of session” covers official breaks and after you finish your course, while your visa remains valid.

Visa Application Charges (as of July 2025)

• Main applicant: AUD 2,000
• Additional applicant (18+): AUD 1,225
• Additional applicant (under 18): AUD 400

Fees are updated every July — always check the Department’s website before applying.

Application Process

1. Contact us at PMEC and consult with Registered Migration Agent.
2. Receive a COE
3. Prepare documents
4. Apply for the visa
5. Complete biometrics (if applicable), health checks (if applicable), or respond to requests if required.
6. Await a decision and upon visa grant you’ll receive a visa grant notification with your visa details and conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions