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| Field | 🇦🇺AustraliaAustralia Student Visa (Subclass 500): 2026 Guide |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia (AU) |
| Route | Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500): 2026 Guide |
| Route family | Study |
| Route type | study |
| Summary | Current guide to the subclass 500 Student visa, including CRICOS enrolment, Genuine Student requirement, financial capacity, OSHC and work limits. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-16 |
| Official/supporting source count | 4 |
| Route guide | Open full guide → |
| Program availability | ActiveSource 1Source 2Source 3 |
| Best-fit work models | StudentSource 1Source 2Source 3 |
| Income requirement | As an alternative way to evidence financial capacity, parents' or partner's annual personal income may be used: at least AUD 87,856 for an applicant without accompanying family, or AUD 102,500 if family members are included. These are alternatives to evidence of sufficient funds, not a separate universal earnings test.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Savings requirement | Evidence must cover travel, 12 months of course fees (or pro rata), and 12-month living costs of AUD 29,710 for the student, AUD 10,394 for an accompanying partner and AUD 4,449 per accompanying child, plus applicable school fees (currently at least AUD 13,502 per school-age child per year). Actual costs can be higher; specified amounts and any family inclusion are subject to current rules.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Investment requirement | Not applicableAs of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Government fees | Home Affairs lists the main applicant charge from AUD 2,500, subject to stated concessions; charges for eligible family applicants and other costs are additional. Check the estimator at lodgement.As of 2026-10-09Source 1Source 2 |
| Processing time | Home Affairs directs applicants to the current processing-time guide. Processing varies by circumstances and application volume; no fixed period is guaranteed.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Validity | Temporary stay is generally granted for the period of the eligible enrolment, up to six years; course type and duration determine the actual visa period.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Renewal | There is no automatic extension. To continue studying or remain for another purpose, the applicant must make a new visa application and meet the requirements then in force; from 2 October 2026 most student applications must be lodged outside Australia unless an exception applies.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Family inclusion | Rules changed on 2 October 2026: most new Student visa applicants cannot include a partner or dependent child, and student-family subsequent entrant applications are no longer available. Only applicants meeting an exemption may include family; applications lodged before the change are assessed under the prior rules.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Spouse work rights | Only if a partner is eligible to be included under an exemption and granted a student-family visa: work is generally capped at 48 hours per fortnight while the student's course is in session. Family of a master's-by-research or doctoral student may work without that cap; check the individual grant conditions.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Local-work rules | A student visa holder may generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. Students enrolled in a master's by research or doctoral degree have no work-hour limit; all work remains subject to visa conditions.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Application location | From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia. An onshore application is possible only for applicants holding an eligible visa and meeting an applicable exemption; check current rules before lodging.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Permanent-residence pathway | Subclass 500 is a temporary study visa and does not itself grant permanent residence. A former student must separately qualify and apply for another eligible visa; any pathway depends on that visa's rules.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
| Citizenship pathway | Subclass 500 does not itself provide a direct citizenship pathway. Citizenship would require separately obtaining permanent residence and satisfying Australian citizenship requirements.As of 2026-10-09Source 1 |
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