Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500): Requirements and Application 2026
What is subclass 500?
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows international students to study full-time at any CRICOS-registered institution in Australia. It is the main visa for anyone completing a bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, diploma or high-school programme.
English requirements
The Department of Home Affairs sets minimum English proficiency for visa purposes:
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 46 |
| PTE Academic | 42 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 162 |
Important: Your university’s admission requirements will almost always be higher than the visa minimum. Most Australian universities require IELTS 6.5 or above for undergraduate entry and 6.5–7.0 for postgraduate.
Financial evidence requirements (2025)
You must demonstrate sufficient funds for:
- Living costs: A$29,710/year (main applicant), A$10,345 (spouse), A$4,449 (per child)
- Tuition: At least 12 months of tuition fees
- Return airfares: Proof of access to funds for the return journey
Acceptable evidence: personal bank statements (last 3–6 months), scholarship letters, parents’/sponsor’s financial documents with evidence of relationship.
The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) assessment
The GTE requirement is evaluated at visa application and at times during your stay in Australia. Officers look for evidence that you:
- Have a genuine intention to study
- Will comply with visa conditions
- Have reasons to return home (family ties, property, employment prospects)
Common mistakes that raise GTE concerns: very short courses that seem disproportionate to your career goals, multiple prior visa refusals, or limited ties to your home country.
Processing times
The Department of Home Affairs publishes a rolling median processing time on its website. For most applicants from countries with high approval rates, median processing is 4–10 weeks. However:
- Applicants from certain nationalities requiring additional security checks may wait 16+ weeks
- Incomplete applications significantly delay processing
Recommendation: Apply at least 12 weeks before your course start date, and 20 weeks if you are from a country where processing times are longer.
Bringing your family
Your spouse/partner and dependent children can accompany you on dependent subclass 500 visas. Since late 2023, work conditions for dependants have been tightened:
- Spouses of bachelor’s/master’s students: up to 48 hours/fortnight work
- Spouses of PhD students: unlimited work rights
- Children: can attend Australian school
Sources: Department of Home Affairs (2025), DIBP Subclass 500 factsheet, university admission requirement pages.