Applying for Australia’s Student Visa (subclass 500) starts well before you open an ImmiAccount. First comes the course, then your enrolment, OSHC health insurance and proof that you can afford the move. Depending on your case, you may also need an English test. And throughout the application, you’ll need to show that studying is your main reason for going to Australia.
Your exact document list depends on your passport, English level, course and whether your partner or children are coming with you. But the order is pretty much the same for everyone:
- Choose your course and education provider.
- Accept the offer and confirm your enrolment.
- Check whether you need to prove your English level.
- Prepare your Genuine Student answers.
- Work out the full cost and gather proof of funds.
- Arrange your OSHC health insurance.
- Collect the rest of your documents.
- Submit the application through ImmiAccount.
There can be small changes depending on the provider and your circumstances. One rule doesn’t change: your enrolment must be confirmed before you apply for the visa.
Step 1. Choose your course and provider
A Student Visa can cover English courses (ELICOS), vocational education and training (VET), university, postgraduate research and school. Whatever you choose, the course must be eligible for the visa.
Don’t choose on price alone. Think ahead to the Genuine Student questions in step 4. A course that fits your education, work experience or a well-explained career change will be easier to justify.
Still deciding between courses or cities? This is a good place to ask for help, before you spend time collecting documents for a plan that may not fit you.
Step 2. Accept the offer and confirm your enrolment
Your provider will first send an Offer Letter. It sets out the course, price and conditions of enrolment.
Once you accept the offer and pay the deposit, the provider issues your Confirmation of Enrolment, usually called the CoE. You can’t submit the visa application without it.
Step 3. Check your English requirement
What you’ll be asked for depends mainly on the course. Many applicants need a result from an English test approved by the Department of Home Affairs. The accepted tests include:
- IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).
- TOEFL iBT.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced.
- LanguageCert Academic.
The test must be taken at an official test centre. At-home versions such as IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition aren’t accepted for the visa.
There are two scores to check: the one your provider wants and the one the visa requires. They aren’t always the same. The visa minimum can also change if your study plan begins with an English course, so confirm both requirements before booking a test.
Some applicants don’t need a test at all. You may be exempt if you’re enrolled full-time in a standalone English course. Passport holders from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland are also exempt.
One last detail: the result must be less than 2 years old on the day you apply. If you took the test a while ago, check the date to make sure.
Step 4. Write your Genuine Student answers
The Genuine Student requirement is where you explain why this study plan makes sense for you. The questions sit inside the visa form and cover your circumstances, course choice and study history.
The Australian Government is trying to understand:
- Why you chose this course and provider.
- What you know about the course and the school.
- How the course fits your education or work experience.
- What your current situation is in your home country.
Your answers and documents need to tell the same story. If you say the course will help you at work, for example, an employment letter, contract or CV can back that up. The Government can ask for more evidence while it assesses the application.
This isn’t the place for a generic paragraph copied from the internet. Write about your own studies, work and plans. Specific details are much more useful than saying you simply want a better future.
The course choice matters too. A Certificate IV in Cookery may make sense if you already work in hospitality, or if you can explain a planned career change. A course picked only because it was the cheapest option is harder to defend.
Your background doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to make sense, with documents to support it.
Step 5. Work out the costs and gather proof of funds
There are two different amounts to plan for: what you’ll actually pay and what you’ll need to show in your account.
| Item | Approximate amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Student Visa application charge | 2,500 AUD |
| Charge for certain standalone ELICOS courses | About 2,050 AUD |
| OSHC health insurance | 600 to 800 AUD per person, per year |
| Funds for living costs (you don’t pay this amount) | 29,710 AUD for 12 months |
| English test, health examination and translations | Depends on your situation |
From 1 July 2026, the standard application charge is 2,500 AUD for the main applicant. Certain standalone English courses have a lower charge of about 2,050 AUD .
Adding a partner or children increases the fee, and the payment system may add a processing charge. Tuition, OSHC, an English test, a health examination and translations are separate. Before you pay, check with us which fee applies to your course.
The money you show for living costs isn’t another fee. It stays yours. The point is to prove that you can cover travel, tuition and daily life in Australia.
For the main applicant, the living-cost figure is 29,710 AUD for 12 months, or about 2,476 AUD per month. Add your flight and any tuition that hasn’t been paid yet. Income you hope to earn after you arrive doesn’t count towards this figure.
Bringing your partner or children? You’ll need to show extra funds for each person. The amounts can change, so check the official figure when you’re ready to prepare your bank statements.
Using your own money
You can show access to the funds with:
- Bank statements.
- Term deposits or savings accounts.
- Education loans.
- Other equivalent financial documents.
If a large amount came from a recent sale, inheritance or loan, keep the paperwork that shows where it came from. A sudden deposit without an explanation can lead to more questions.
Using a financial sponsor
A close family member or partner can help pay for your studies. If someone else is funding the trip, you’ll need proof of your relationship, their income and the money available.
A signed letter on its own is rarely enough. The immigration authorities may also ask for the sponsor’s bank statements, payslips or other financial records.
Step 6. Arrange your OSHC
Overseas Student Health Cover, or OSHC, is compulsory for the Student Visa. It must cover your full stay and remain active while you hold the visa.
Basic cover for one person is usually around 600 to 800 AUD per year. The final price depends on the insurer, policy length and whether family members are included.
When we arrange your enrolment, we organise the OSHC with you as well.
Step 7. Collect your documents
With your enrolment and insurance sorted, you can put the rest of the application together. Most applicants will need:
- A valid passport.
- A Confirmation of Enrolment for every course.
- An English test result, if required.
- Genuine Student answers and supporting evidence.
- Proof of funds or documents from your sponsor.
- Your OSHC policy.
- Qualifications and academic certificates.
- Employment records, if you refer to your work in the application.
You may also be asked to complete a health examination. The Government manages this through My Health Declaration and will tell you which checks, if any, apply to you.
The form includes questions about your background too. A police certificate may be required, and any documents that aren’t in English may need to be translated. Allow for that extra time and cost.
Step 8. Apply through ImmiAccount
The whole application is submitted online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs platform. You’ll complete the form, upload the documents and pay the charge there.
Processing times vary, sometimes widely. Check the current estimate on the official Student Visa page , and wait for a decision before buying your flight.
Keep checking ImmiAccount while the application is being assessed. That’s where the Government will ask for more information. And one important point: meeting the listed requirements doesn’t guarantee approval. Every application is assessed on its own facts.
If the visa is granted, it will normally cover your course and about one month afterwards. While you’re in Australia, you’ll need to stay enrolled, attend class regularly and leave before the visa expires.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for an Australian Student Visa?
You need an eligible course with confirmed enrolment, English evidence if it applies to you, Genuine Student answers and OSHC. You’ll also need to show at least 29,710 AUD for 12 months of living costs and meet the health and character requirements.
Can I work on a Student Visa?
Yes. You can work up to 48 hours every 2 weeks while your course is in session. The general limit doesn’t apply during official course breaks. Check VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) for the conditions attached to your own visa.
How long can I stay in Australia?
It depends on the length of your course. The visa usually covers the course plus about one extra month at the end.
How much money do I need in the bank?
The living-cost figure for the main applicant is 29,710 AUD for 12 months , plus travel and any unpaid tuition. Your total will change if the stay is shorter or family members are coming with you.
How much does the Student Visa cost in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the standard charge is 2,500 AUD for the main applicant. Certain standalone ELICOS courses have a lower charge of about 2,050 AUD.
How Australian Way helps
We start with your background, English level and what you want the course to lead to. Then we compare providers, cities, start dates and prices with you. If English needs to come before VET, we’ll build a package with dates that fit.
We coordinate the enrolment, speak to the provider and arrange your OSHC. When it’s time to prepare the Student Visa application, we sit with you through the document list and proof of funds. The application is yours, but you don’t have to work it all out alone.
You don’t pay us for this guidance.
Tell us which course you’re considering, when you’d like to start and what documents you already have. We’ll look at the full picture and tell you what the next sensible step is. The first conversation is free, and there’s no pressure to continue.
