Australia’s student visa has changed more in the past two years than it did in the previous decade. The application fee has more than doubled. The Genuine Temporary Entrant test has been replaced. Financial requirements have been significantly increased. And the government has introduced a cap on the total number of international student visas it will grant each year.
If you’re planning to study in Australia in 2026 — or you’re helping a family member do so — understanding the current student visa 500 subclass conditions before you apply is not optional. Getting the application wrong costs money, costs time, and in some cases affects your ability to apply again.
This blog covers what’s changed, what the current conditions actually require, what you need to pay, and where most applications go wrong.
What Is the Student Visa Subclass 500?
The student visa 500 is Australia’s primary visa for international students. It allows you to study full-time at a CRICOS-registered Australian education provider — covering English language programs, vocational education and training (VET), undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD study.
You can apply for a Subclass 500 from outside Australia (offshore) or from within Australia if you are already here on an eligible visa (onshore). The application process is the same in both cases, though onshore applicants need to confirm that their current visa conditions permit them to lodge a further visa application — some visa conditions specifically prevent this.
Once granted, the student visa 500 allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your enrolled course, typically up to five years.
Student Visa 500 Fees — What You Actually Pay in 2026
This is the area that catches the most applicants off guard, because the student visa 500 fees have risen sharply over the past three years and are now significantly higher than most people expect.
The fee history tells the story clearly:
- AUD $710 until July 2024
- AUD $1,600 from July 2024
- AUD $2,000 from 1 July 2025
- AUD $2,500 from 1 July 2026 — the current standard fee
As of now, AUD $2,500 is what primary applicants pay when lodging a Subclass 500 application. This increase reflects Australia’s broader 2026 Federal Budget policy of managing international student volumes through both caps and pricing.
One important exception: Applicants enrolling in standalone ELICOS (English language intensive courses for overseas students) or non-award programs qualify for a reduced fee tier of AUD $2,050. If this applies to you, confirm it at the time of lodgement.
For full details on the current fee schedule, see the Department of Home Affairs Subclass 500 Portal.
Student visa 500 fees for secondary applicants (family members included in the application) are lower — check the Department of Home Affairs website for current secondary applicant charges at the time of lodgement.
Beyond the visa application charge, the total cost of applying typically includes:
- Medical examination: AUD $300–$500 depending on the panel physician and tests required
- Police clearances: varies by country of origin, typically AUD $50–$200 per country
- English language test: IELTS, PTE, or equivalent — AUD $330–$450
- OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover): varies by provider and duration — roughly AUD $600–$900 per year for a single student
- Migration agent fees: where applicable — see below
For most applicants, total out-of-pocket costs before arriving in Australia (excluding tuition and living expenses) fall between AUD $3,500 and $5,500.
Student Visa 500 Subclass Conditions You Must Meet
Understanding the student visa 500 subclass conditions is the foundation of a well-prepared application. Each condition is assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, and falling short of any one of them — even if everything else is in order — will result in refusal.
1. Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Before you can apply for the student visa, you must be enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course at an approved Australian institution, and you must hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from that institution. The CoE is a reference document the Department uses to verify that your proposed study is legitimate and registered. You can check whether your institution and course are listed on the Official CRICOS Register before committing to an enrolment.
If you change institutions during your visa, you must obtain a new CoE and notify the Department within seven days.
2. The Genuine Student (GS) Requirement
The Genuine Student requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) criterion on 23 March 2024. The change is structural rather than philosophical — the assessment now happens through a set of targeted questions embedded in the visa application form rather than through a separate written statement.
The Department is assessing whether you are a genuine student — someone whose primary purpose in coming to Australia is to study, and who intends to comply with visa conditions during their stay. The assessment considers:
- Your reasons for choosing Australia and your chosen course
- Your immigration history and any previous visa conditions
- Evidence of ties to your home country
- Whether the course is consistent with your educational background and future plans
- Whether the course level is appropriate for where you are in your education
A weak Genuine Student response is the single most common reason for student visa refusals. Unlike the old GTE statement (which was a separate document you could draft carefully), the GS questions are answered inside the form itself — meaning the quality of your answers is entirely dependent on how well you understand what the Department is looking for. Full guidance is available on the Department of Home Affairs Genuine Student Requirement page.
3. Financial Capacity
You must demonstrate that you have access to sufficient funds to cover your living expenses in Australia for the first 12 months of your course, in addition to your tuition fees and travel costs.
The current financial capacity benchmark is AUD $29,710 per year for the primary applicant. If family members are accompanying you, additional funds are required:
- AUD $10,394 for a spouse or partner
- AUD $4,449 per dependent child
The financial evidence must show a consistent history of available funds — not a large deposit made in the weeks immediately before application. Recent lump-sum deposits without a clear explanation of the source are a significant red flag for the Department and can trigger additional scrutiny or refusal. If your financial situation involves complex sources of income (business ownership, inheritance, sponsorship), this needs to be properly documented. The Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) Financial Capacity Guidelines set out the Department’s expectations in detail.
4. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
OSHC is a mandatory condition (Condition 8501) of the student visa 500 subclass conditions. You must hold OSHC for the entire duration of your visa — from your arrival date until the last day your visa is valid. If your visa is extended or you change courses, your OSHC must be updated to match.
There are several approved OSHC providers in Australia including Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, Medibank, and NIB. The Department does not specify which provider you must use, but the cover must meet minimum standards. OSHC costs roughly AUD $600–$900 per year for a single student.
5. English Language Proficiency
You must provide evidence of English language proficiency through an approved test. As of late 2025, the Department of Home Affairs expanded the list of accepted tests. Currently accepted options include:
- IELTS (Academic or General Training)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- OET (Occupational English Test)
- CELPIP General
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- MET (Michigan English Test)
The minimum score for visa purposes is generally IELTS 5.5 overall equivalent, however your specific institution and course will typically require higher scores than the visa minimum. Always check your offer letter for the exact requirement, as it will be higher than the visa floor in most cases.
Approved tests must be completed in person — online or at-home test variants are not accepted for student visa applications.
6. Health and Character Requirements
Most applicants must complete a medical examination with an approved panel physician. Chest X-rays are required for many adult applicants. Character requirements include police clearances from all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Work Rights Under the Student Visa 500
Work rights under the student visa 500 are one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the conditions. Here is what currently applies:
- During the academic term: Up to 48 hours per fortnight (two-week period). This applies while your course is in session.
- During scheduled course breaks (holidays): Unlimited work hours during officially scheduled holiday periods.
- Before your course begins: You may not start working until your course has commenced, even if you arrive in Australia early.
If you are enrolled in multiple courses, the work rights are based on your primary course enrolment. If you cease your studies — whether voluntarily or due to cancellation of enrolment — your work rights under the student visa 500 cease at the same time.
Breaching the work conditions is one of the more serious visa condition violations and can result in cancellation of the student visa. If your work situation changes or you are unsure about what applies to your circumstances, confirm with a MARA-registered agent before working additional hours.
Conditions That Must Be Maintained During Your Stay
Being granted the student visa 500 subclass conditions is not the end of the compliance obligation — conditions must be maintained throughout the visa’s duration. The key ongoing obligations include:
- Condition 8202 — Satisfactory course progress: You must maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress as defined by your institution. If you fall below your provider’s minimum standards, the provider is required to notify the Department, which can lead to visa cancellation.
- Condition 8516 — Notify change of address: You must keep your contact address and details updated with your institution and the Department.
- Condition 8533 — Notify change of enrolment: If you change courses or institutions, the Department must be notified and a new CoE lodged.
- Condition 8501 — OSHC: As above — OSHC must remain continuous and valid.
- Condition 8503 — No further stay (in some cases): Certain student visas are granted with a condition preventing further visa applications from within Australia. Check your visa grant notice carefully.
Student Visa 500 Processing Times in 2026
Processing times vary significantly depending on your nationality, the completeness of your application, and your institution’s risk classification under the Department’s tiered assessment framework.
As a general guide based on current data:
- 50% of applications are processed within approximately 29 days
- 90% of applications are processed within approximately 56 days
Applications from higher-risk countries or with incomplete documentation take longer. Applications with health and character issues outside the norm take longer. Having a complete, well-organised application from the moment of lodgement is the single most effective way to minimise processing time.
What If Your Student Visa Is Refused?
A refusal of the student visa 500 is not necessarily the end of the road, but time limits matter.
You may have the right to seek a merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) within 28 days of the refusal decision. The success rate for ART reviews is approximately 25% — meaning it is not a guaranteed outcome, and the quality of the review application matters significantly.
Alternatively, you can re-apply — but only after properly addressing the reason for refusal. Re-applying with the same evidence that led to the original refusal will produce the same result.
If you have received a refusal notice, do not delay in seeking professional advice. The 28-day window moves fast.
Why Work With a MARA-Registered Migration Agent?
The student visa 500 subclass conditions are more complex in 2026 than they have been in previous years — and the consequences of getting it wrong are more significant than before.
A MARA-registered migration agent is legally authorised to provide Australian immigration advice and can assist with the preparation and lodgement of a student visa application. They can assess your specific circumstances before any fees are committed, identify potential issues with your Genuine Student responses, advise on financial evidence, and handle correspondence with the Department during processing.
FTS Visa Services is a MARA-registered migration agent in Parramatta (Sydney), Newcastle, and Melbourne. Our team assists students and families with student visa applications across Australia and overseas — including assessing eligibility, advising on the Genuine Student requirement, and preparing applications that reflect current Department of Home Affairs standards.
You can verify the registration of any migration agent through the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).
