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. Maximum validity of 5 years.
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: VET courses AUD $10,000–$20,000/yr, ELICOS AUD $300–$500/week, undergraduate AUD $20,000–$50,000/yr, postgraduate AUD $22,000–$55,000/yr, medicine/dentistry up to AUD $80,000/yr.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Automatic
- Freelance
- Allowed
48 hours per fortnight during course sessions. Unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Master's by research and doctoral students have no work hour limits. Work rights start once course has commenced, not on visa grant date. Can work in any type of employment including self-employment.
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 |
Language requirements
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Visa | English | 5.5 | Minimum 5.0 in each band. Higher for some courses. |
| TOEFL iBT | Visa | English | 46 | Visa minimum is 46 overall. Universities typically require 70–100+. |
| PTE Academic | Visa | English | 42 | Widely accepted in Australia. Visa minimum 42 overall / 36 per section. |
Fees and costs
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Fee | Application | $1,300 | One time |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | Health | $390 | Annual |
Dependents and family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Spouse work
- Limited
- Conditions
- Spouse work rights depend on primary student's course level: bachelor's or lower = 48 hrs/fortnight (same as student). Master's or doctoral = unlimited hours for spouse. Work rights start when student commences course.
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
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) required for all applications since January 2025. Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test. Application fee increased from AUD $710 to AUD $1,600 in July 2024, then to AUD $2,000 in July 2025. For 2026, offshore applications are processed under the National Planning Level framework of 295,000 new overseas student commencements rather than a hard visa quota. OSHC must cover entire stay.
Also in Australia
Last verified May 3, 2026 Source