- Application fee (USD) 1300 1740
- Fees updated
- Post study options updated
retained the 60-month maximum duration while recording an official-source conflict between Home Affairs and Study Australia Source
Tuition
$10k–50k
per year
Work during study
Allowed
vacations: Unlimited
Post-study work
24 months
3 options
Proof of funds
$19,000
per year
Path to staying
- Post-study workup to 24 months
- Permanent residencypossible
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
Overview
- Country
- Australia
- Visa name
- Student Visa (Subclass 500)
- Status
- Active
- Max duration
- 60 months
- Renewable
- Yes
Visa for international students to study full-time at CRICOS-registered courses in Australia. Covers higher education, vocational education and training (VET), English language courses (ELICOS), school education, and non-award foundation programs. Home Affairs currently describes stays of up to 6 years in line with enrolment; Study Australia's current visa overview still says a maximum of 5 years, so the stored 60-month maximum is retained pending reconciliation.
Tuition and costs
- Tuition policy
- Full fee
- Tuition range
- $10,000 – $50,000/year
- Proof of funds
- $19,000/year
- Funds type
- Bank statement
- Scholarships
- Available
International tuition varies by provider, qualification and field. Students should use the course offer/CRICOS provider fee schedule; there is no national fixed tuition rate. The current indicative fee schedules are not a comprehensive estimate of market prices.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Automatic
- Freelance
- Allowed
48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session; unlimited hours when it is not in session. The limit does not apply to students who have started a master's by research or doctoral degree. Work rights start when the course commences. Student visa conditions also apply to self-employment. Family work rights vary by the student's course and visa conditions.
Post-study work options
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) — Post-Higher Education Work Stream | Work permit | 24 mo–36 mo | Bachelors | Unrestricted | No |
| Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) — Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream | Work permit | 12 mo–24 mo | Bachelors | Unrestricted | No |
| Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) — Post-Vocational Education Work Stream | Work permit | 18 mo | Associate | Unrestricted | No |
Language requirements
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Visa | English | 6.0 | For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. A lower overall threshold applies with qualifying packaged ELICOS, foundation or pathway study. Universities may require higher scores. |
| TOEFL iBT | Visa | English | 67 | For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. From 21 January 2026, select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” at registration. Lower thresholds apply with qualifying packaged study. |
| PTE Academic | Visa | English | 47 | For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Lower thresholds apply with qualifying packaged study. |
Fees and costs
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Fee (base charge) | Application | $1,740 | One time |
| Additional Applicant Charge (18 or older) | Application | $1,065 | One time |
| Additional Applicant Charge (under 18) | Application | $348 | One time |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | Health | $390 | Annual |
Long-term pathway
- Post-study visa
- Available
- Work permit
- Possible
- Permanent residency
- Possible
- Citizenship
- After 5 years
How to apply
- Method
- Online
- Processing
- 35-61 days
- Interview
- Not required
- Official site
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Health insurance
- Required (buy separately)
Notes and caveats
From 2 October 2026, most applicants must lodge from outside Australia; onshore applications are limited to eligible visa holders and exemption categories. Most applicants cannot include family members, and subsequent entrants are no longer permitted; exceptions cover specified doctoral students, sponsored students, scholarship recipients, eligible Pacific/ASEAN nationals and certain current student visa holders. Existing visa applications lodged before that date are assessed under prior rules. From 1 July 2026, the base application charge is AUD $2,500, with additional applicant charges and concessions. OSHC must cover the stay. The 2026 National Planning Level is a provider-level allocation framework, not a hard individual visa quota.
Also in Australia
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source