Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) 2026 Guide: Requirements, Documents and the AUD 2,500 Charge

From 1 July 2026, the base application charge for a Student visa (subclass 500) starts from AUD 2,500. That figure applies to the main applicant’s base fee; dependent and underage child charges are calculated separately. This guide covers the current requirements, the documents you will need, and how the 2026 fee change fits into the broader application picture.

As of 15 August 2026, the information below reflects the Department of Home Affairs published position. Visa processing times and fee calculators change, so the final step before lodging should always be a live check on the official Home Affairs pages.

The AUD 2,500 base charge: what it is and what it is not

The AUD 2,500 figure is the starting point for the base Student visa (subclass 500) application charge for a main applicant. It took effect on 1 July 2026. Lower-cost arrangements exist for specified eligible cohorts, so the actual fee you pay depends on your circumstances and must be verified live before you lodge.

What the AUD 2,500 does not cover:

• Dependent family members included in the same application
• Subsequent temporary application charges
• Any additional charges that may apply depending on your situation

For dependents and children, the fee is calculated separately. The Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator is the only reliable way to get an exact figure for your family composition. Do not rely on third-party summaries or older guides that quote dependent charges, as those figures change frequently.

Who needs a Subclass 500 visa

The Student visa (subclass 500) is the primary visa for international students undertaking full-time study in Australia. It covers:

• English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS)
• Schools, including primary and secondary
• Vocational education and training (VET)
• Higher education, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees
• Non-award and foundation studies

If you are planning to study two or more courses in a packaged arrangement, the subclass 500 allows this. A packaged enrolment means you complete one course and then clearly progress to the next, such as a foundation year followed by an undergraduate degree. Your education provider issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course, and you lodge one visa application covering the full packaged program.

Core eligibility requirements

The Department of Home Affairs assesses several factors when deciding a subclass 500 application. These are the fundamental requirements you need to satisfy.

Genuine student requirement

You must demonstrate that you are a genuine student who intends to stay in Australia temporarily for study purposes. This assessment looks at your circumstances in your home country, your potential circumstances in Australia, the value of the course to your future, and your immigration history. There is no single document that proves this; it is a holistic assessment based on the evidence you provide.

Enrolment in a registered course

You must be enrolled in a course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Your education provider will issue a CoE after you accept an offer and pay any required deposit. You cannot lodge a valid subclass 500 application without a CoE, except in limited circumstances such as school exchange students or certain government-sponsored students.

Financial capacity

You need to show you have enough money to cover:

• Course tuition fees
• Living costs
• Travel costs
• School fees for any dependent children

The specific amounts change regularly, so the current figures must be verified on the Home Affairs website at the time you prepare your application. The key point is that you must provide evidence of genuine access to these funds, not just a statement of intent.

English language proficiency

Most applicants need to provide evidence of English language proficiency. The accepted tests and minimum scores depend on your country of passport, the course level, and your education provider’s requirements. Some applicants are exempt, including those who have completed a substantial period of study in English or who hold a passport from an English-speaking country.

Health and character requirements

You must meet Australia’s health requirements. This may involve a medical examination, depending on your circumstances and the length of your stay. You must also meet character requirements, which involves police clearance certificates from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.

Overseas Student Health Cover

You must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia. Your education provider may arrange this for you, or you can purchase it yourself from an approved provider. The cover must be in place before your visa is granted.

Documents you will need

The document checklist below reflects the standard requirements for a subclass 500 application. The Department of Home Affairs may request additional documents depending on your individual circumstances.

Identity and personal documents

• Passport bio-data page for every applicant included in the application
• National identity card, if applicable
• Birth certificate, if applicable
• Name change documents, if applicable
• Photographs meeting the specified requirements

Evidence of enrolment

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course you will study
• If you have not yet received a CoE, a Letter of Offer may be acceptable in some circumstances, but a CoE is the standard requirement

Evidence of financial capacity

• Bank statements or deposit certificates showing sufficient funds
• Education loan sanction letters
• Scholarship or financial support letters
• Income tax returns or payslips if you are self-funded
• Evidence of any dependents’ financial needs

English language evidence

• Test results from an approved English language test, if required
• Evidence of exemption, such as previous study in English

Health and character documents

• Medical examination results, if required
• Police clearance certificates from relevant countries
• Health insurance (OSHC) evidence

Additional documents for dependents

• Relationship evidence, such as marriage certificates or de facto relationship evidence
• Birth certificates for children
• Custody documents, if applicable

The Department of Home Affairs may ask for more documents during processing. If your application contains missing or incorrect information, processing time will be extended. Submit everything you have at the time of lodgement, and respond promptly to any requests.

How the 2026 fee change affects your budget

The AUD 2,500 base charge is a significant figure to plan for, but it is only one part of the total cost of a student visa application. You also need to budget for:

• The Visa Pricing Estimator calculation for any dependents
• Medical examinations and police checks
• OSHC premiums
• English language tests
• Translation and certification of documents

The fee is payable in Australian dollars at the time you lodge your application through ImmiAccount. Exchange rate fluctuations can affect the cost in your home currency, so factor that into your planning.

Processing times and the MD115 priority framework

Processing times for subclass 500 applications vary. The Department of Home Affairs publishes updated processing time information on its website, and these figures change throughout the year.

In 2026, the department operates a priority processing framework under Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115). Under this framework, applications are assigned a priority level of 1, 2 or 3. The priority level is determined by the education provider’s quota status on the day you lodge your application. Priority affects how quickly processing begins, not whether your application meets the grant criteria.

The target windows for processing commencement are:

• Priority 1: 1–4 weeks
• Priority 2: 5–8 weeks
• Priority 3: 9–12 weeks

These are target windows for when processing starts, not a guarantee that a decision will be made within that timeframe. A Priority 1 application may still take longer than four weeks to finalise if additional documentation is required or if there are complex issues in the assessment. The priority level does not change the visa criteria you must meet.

The 2027 National Planning Level: what the 295,000 figure means

The Australian Government has set a National Planning Level (NPL) for new international student commencements. For 2027, the planning level is 295,000 new international student commencements, which is the same as the 2026 level.

This figure is often misreported. The 295,000 is a planning level for new student commencements in 2027, not a cap on the total number of international students already in Australia. It does not mean Australia will only accept 295,000 international students in total. Students who are already studying in Australia, or who hold a valid student visa, are not counted against this figure in a way that forces their departure.

Key points about the NPL:

• It applies to new commencements, not continuing students
• TAFE providers are exempt from the NPL for 2027
• Any active education provider’s 2027 allocation will not be lower than its 2026 allocation

The NPL affects how education providers manage their enrolment capacity. For applicants, the practical effect is that some providers may reach their allocation limit before others, which can affect whether a provider can issue a CoE at a given time. You should check with your education provider about their current enrolment capacity when you are planning to apply.

English language requirements and IELTS One Skill Retake

Most subclass 500 applicants need to demonstrate English language proficiency. The IELTS test is one of the accepted options, and IELTS offers a One Skill Retake (OSR) option that allows you to retake one component of the test.

As of August 2026, the University of Melbourne accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake for admission purposes. Their acceptance is subject to conditions: you must have completed a full IELTS test on a computer at an eligible test centre, the retake must occur within 60 days of the original test, and the overall test results must remain within the validity period.

This acceptance applies to the University of Melbourne. It does not automatically mean that all universities in Australia, or all Group of Eight universities, accept the OSR. Each institution sets its own English language admission policies. If you are considering the OSR, check directly with your education provider to confirm whether they accept it and under what conditions.

Working rights while on a student visa

Student visa holders are generally permitted to work while studying. The standard condition allows up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

There is an important exception: students who have commenced a research master’s or doctoral degree have no work hour restrictions. This applies to students who are already enrolled in and studying a research degree, not to students who intend to start one in the future.

Work rights are a visa condition, not an entitlement to a specific job. Your primary purpose remains study, and you must maintain satisfactory course attendance and progress to keep your visa valid.

After your studies: the pathway to a 485 visa

Many students intend to remain in Australia after completing their studies, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the common pathway. However, it is important to understand that no one-year or two-year master’s degree automatically qualifies for a 485 visa.

The 485 visa has specific eligibility requirements, including:

• Completion of a course that meets the Australian study requirement
• The course must be registered on CRICOS
• The course must be at least 92 weeks in duration, completed in no fewer than 16 calendar months
• You must have held a visa that permits study while completing the course

The Australian study requirement is a specific set of criteria. A course that is shorter than 92 weeks, or completed in fewer than 16 calendar months, will not meet this requirement. The length of your course, not just the qualification level, determines your eligibility. Check the current 485 requirements on the Home Affairs website before assuming your course will qualify.

Common mistakes to avoid

Lodging without a CoE

Your application can be invalid if you lodge without a CoE. Some applicants lodge with a Letter of Offer to secure a place in the queue, but this creates risk. If your CoE is not available at lodgement, you should submit it through ImmiAccount as soon as you receive it, while your application is still being assessed.

Underestimating financial evidence

The Department of Home Affairs is strict about financial capacity evidence. Bank statements must show genuine access to funds, and the funds must be available to you, not just held in someone else’s account without a clear relationship. If your evidence is unclear, processing will slow down.

Incorrect or incomplete health insurance

OSHC must cover the entire duration of your intended stay. If your insurance lapses or does not cover the full period, your visa conditions may be affected. Check your policy dates carefully before lodging.

Assuming priority means faster approval

As noted above, MD115 priority affects when processing starts, not the outcome. An application that is missing documents will take longer regardless of its priority level. Submit a complete application to avoid unnecessary delay.

How to verify current information before you lodge

The visa system changes frequently. The information in this guide was accurate as of 15 August 2026, but you should verify the following before lodging:

• The current base application charge on the Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500) page
• The Visa Pricing Estimator for your specific family composition
• Current processing times on the Home Affairs website
• Your education provider’s current enrolment capacity and CoE availability
• English language requirements for your specific course and institution
• Financial capacity requirements, which are updated regularly

All visa content in this guide is general information. It is not migration or legal advice. If you have complex circumstances, you should consider consulting a registered migration agent.

Sources and currency

This guide draws on the Department of Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500) official page and the Study Australia (Australian Government) student visa resource, both accessed and verified as of 15 August 2026. The AUD 2,500 base charge, MD115 priority processing framework, NPL settings, and University of Melbourne IELTS OSR acceptance are reflected as published on those official sources. Fee figures, processing times and policy settings change, so always confirm against the live official pages before making decisions.