1. Enrolment and CoE
For most applicants, hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment for a full-time CRICOS-registered course and include every intended course when applying.
Student Visa Subclass 500: Requirements and Application Help
A Student visa subclass 500 generally requires valid enrolment evidence, Genuine Student answers, OSHC and any financial, English, health and character evidence that applies to your circumstances. Check the requirements before lodging or ask Registered Migration Agent MARN 2519006 to review your evidence.
Registered Migration Agent MARN 2519006 No visa outcome guarantee Reviewed 22 July 2026
Subclass 500 checklist
Student visa 500 requirements at a glance
Enrolment alone is not enough. Home Affairs assesses the visa requirements and the evidence for your individual circumstances.
2. Genuine Student
Show that study is the primary reason for the visa. Answer the application questions in English and support the course explanation with evidence.
3. Financial capacity
If required by the current Document Checklist, provide funds evidence covering the applicable course, living, travel and family costs, plus genuine access to the money.
4. English evidence
Provide an approved English test result or evidence of an exemption when required. Home Affairs can request English evidence during processing.
5. OSHC
Hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the required period unless an exemption applies. Check that the policy matches the people and dates in the application.
6. Other criteria
Meet the applicable health and character requirements, arrange welfare if under 18, and disclose family members and previous immigration history accurately.
Course evidence
Make the CoE and Genuine Student story consistent
The provider, course, past study, future benefit and financial plan should make sense together. A generic statement cannot repair conflicting documents.
Confirmation of Enrolment checks
- Use the required enrolment evidence. Most applicants need a valid CoE when lodging and when Home Affairs decides the application.
- If courses are packaged, include the CoE code for each intended course so the full package can be considered.
- Check course start dates, gaps between packaged courses and whether any CoE has been cancelled or completed.
Genuine Student checks
- Answer each online GS question in English. Home Affairs currently applies a 150-word limit to each response.
- Explain why this course and provider fit your education, employment history and realistic career direction.
- Attach documents that support key claims. Home Affairs states that evidence-supported statements receive more weight.
Evidence that varies
Financial capacity, English and OSHC
These requirements are easy to oversimplify. Use current Home Affairs instructions for the applicant's passport country, provider, family composition and intended course.
Financial evidence
The current Document Checklist indicates whether evidence must be attached at lodgement. If required, cover the applicable course fees, living costs, travel and accompanying family costs. Also show where the money came from and that it is genuinely available.
Student visa funds guideEnglish language evidence
The checklist may require an approved test result or proof of an exemption. A provider's admission requirement and the visa requirement are not necessarily the same, and Home Affairs may ask for evidence during processing.
Open the official Document ChecklistOverseas Student Health Cover
OSHC is generally required unless an exemption category applies. Review the insurer, policy dates and all applicants covered rather than relying only on the enrolment record.
Compare OSHC informationAvoid stale figures: financial thresholds, accepted English tests and document settings can change. Confirm the live Home Affairs requirements immediately before lodging.
After visa grant
Working while you study
A Student visa is primarily for study. Work rights depend on the visa conditions and whether the course is in session.
- Student visa holders and their accompanying family members generally cannot work before the student's course starts.
- The usual limit for the student is 48 hours a fortnight while the course is in session.
- The student can generally work unlimited hours when the course is not in session.
- Different work-limit settings apply to students undertaking a master's degree by research or a doctoral degree.
- Check the grant letter and VEVO for the conditions that apply to the individual visa holder. Family member work rights can differ.
Higher-risk situations
When a standard checklist is not enough
Timing and strategy need closer review where the application history or proposed study plan raises another legal or evidentiary issue.
Study gap or course change
Explain the timeline and course progression with documents. If already in Australia, check provider transfer, CoE and visa-condition implications before acting.
Course-change guidePrevious refusal or cancellation
Review the decision record, current visa status, any review deadline and whether a valid further application can be made before choosing a pathway.
Refusal and ART guideApplying in Australia
Check current visa conditions, expiry, eligibility to apply onshore and the effect of any prior refusal or cancellation. Do not assume a bridging visa solves eligibility issues.
Family members
Existing family members generally need to be declared, even if they will not travel immediately. Evidence, financial capacity, OSHC and work rights can differ for secondary applicants.
Student visa evidence and pathway guides
Use the guide that matches the decision you need to make now.
Genuine Student requirement
Plan the 150-word responses, course logic and supporting documents.
Read the GS guide
Financial evidence
Understand funds, sponsors, source of money and genuine access.
Read the funds guide
Changing course or provider
Check provider transfer, study level, condition 8202 and CoE timing.
Read the course-change guideRefusal and ART review
Start with the decision record, current status and strict review deadline.
Read the refusal guideStudent visa to PR planning
Compare later graduate, skilled, employer, regional and eligible family pathways without assuming a PR outcome.
Explore post-study pathwaysStudent visa 500 FAQs
Direct answers to common questions before a subclass 500 application.
What are the main Student visa subclass 500 requirements?
The main requirements can include enrolment in a full-time CRICOS-registered course with a valid Confirmation of Enrolment, meeting the Genuine Student requirement, holding OSHC unless exempt, and meeting applicable financial, English, health and character requirements. The exact evidence depends on the applicant.
Do I need a Confirmation of Enrolment for a Student visa 500 application?
Most applicants must provide a valid Confirmation of Enrolment for every intended course when they apply. Home Affairs says an application without the required enrolment evidence may be invalid. Limited exceptions use another specified document, such as a letter of support or an AASES form.
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
An applicant must show that studying in Australia is the primary reason for the Student visa. The online application asks for English responses to Genuine Student questions, generally limited to 150 words each, and supporting documents should be attached. Home Affairs gives more weight to statements supported by evidence.
How much money do I need for a Student visa 500?
The required amount depends on current Home Affairs figures, course fees, travel, the intended stay and any accompanying family members. If the Document Checklist requires financial evidence, it must be attached when the application is submitted. Evidence should also show genuine access to the funds.
Do Student visa applicants need OSHC?
Student visa applicants generally need Overseas Student Health Cover for their stay unless they fall within an exemption category. The policy dates and people covered should be checked against the course and intended stay before applying.
Can I work on a Student visa 500?
Student visa holders generally cannot work before their course starts and can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while the course is in session. Different settings can apply during scheduled course breaks and to research masters or doctoral students. Always check the visa grant letter and VEVO.
Can I apply after a previous refusal or study gap?
A previous refusal or study gap does not automatically determine the outcome of a new application, but the decision record, current visa status, course progression, immigration history and supporting evidence should be reviewed before deciding whether and how to apply.
Get your Student visa 500 evidence reviewed
Send your course and CoE details, passport country, visa history, funding plan and deadline for a circumstances-based assessment.