OxbrivyOxbrivy
Get started
← All visa guides
🇦🇺

Australia Student Visa Guide

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

For full-time study at registered Australian institutions. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement (formerly GTE) is the central credibility test.

Application fee
~$1095
Processing
4–8 weeks (varies)
Validity
Up to 5 years (course-dependent)
Work rights
48 hrs/fortnight during semester; unrestricted in breaks. Post-Study Work visa 2–4 years.

Document checklist

  • ✓Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
  • ✓Genuine Student (GS) statementReplaces GTE since 2024.
  • ✓Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)For the duration of stay.
  • ✓English proficiency: IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL iBT 64+ / PTE 50+
  • ✓Financial capacity proofLiving costs AUD 24,505/yr + tuition + travel.
  • ✓Health examination
  • ✓Statement of Purpose / Personal Statement
  • ✓Academic transcripts + qualifications

Step-by-step process

  1. 1

    Receive offer + pay deposit

    Convert offer to CoE.

  2. 2

    Buy OSHC

    Health cover from Bupa, Medibank, etc.

  3. 3

    Draft GS statement

    Genuine intent: course choice, ties to home, post-study plans.

  4. 4

    Apply online (ImmiAccount)

    Upload all documents and pay AUD 1,600 visa fee.

  5. 5

    Biometrics + medicals

    When notified — usually within days.

  6. 6

    Decision

    Visa grant notice via email; no stamp on passport.

Interview tips

  • GS interview can happen — be specific about your course, why Australia (not US/UK), and career plans back home.
  • Have your funding numbers and CoE on hand.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Generic GS statement copied from samples online.
  • Insufficient living-cost evidence (under AUD 24,505/yr).
  • OSHC not purchased before application submission.

📅 When do you need this visa by?

The checklist above is the same for everyone. Your timeline isn’t — a Australia decision takes 4–8 weeks (varies), so the date you have to file by depends entirely on your intake. Tell us the intake and we’ll work backwards, and flag any step that has already passed.

Planning guidance only — not legal or immigration advice, and not a visa guarantee.

Practise your Australia visa interview

Oxbrivy’s AI mock interview scores your answers and tells you what to improve.

Start free →

Official source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500. General guidance only — verify current requirements before applying.