Official sources checked September 25, 2026. Australia’s Student visa (subclass 500) is for eligible people whose primary purpose is an approved course of study. A course offer alone is not enough: applicants need a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), suitable health cover, credible study information and any required financial, English, health and character evidence. Requirements differ with the applicant’s circumstances and where they apply.
Begin with the right course evidence
The education provider normally issues a CoE after enrolment conditions are met. Check that your name, course, provider and dates are accurate. If your plan combines several courses, you may need a CoE for each and must follow the rules for course gaps. A letter of offer is not automatically a substitute for a CoE. The Department of Home Affairs subclass 500 page is the primary reference for eligibility and the online application.
The Genuine Student requirement asks whether study is the real reason for the visa. Applicants respond to questions in English and may need documents supporting their education and circumstances. Rather than copying a generic personal statement, explain why the chosen course makes sense after your earlier education or work and how you will fund it. A change of field is not automatically disqualifying, but an unexplained change can make the application harder to understand.
Money: distinguish the minimum from your real budget
Home Affairs may require evidence that you can cover travel, tuition, living costs and, where relevant, costs for family members or school-age children. Evidence can include eligible deposits, loans or scholarships; some applicants may use an eligible parental or partner income route. The exact threshold and document checklist can change. Do not take an old figure from a forum and assume it applies to a new application.
Practical budget example: If the first year’s course fee is AUD 24,000, simply showing AUD 24,000 does not prove you can also cover travel and living expenses. Build separate lines for unpaid tuition, living costs, airfare and family costs. Amounts already paid and course length affect what you must demonstrate. Your actual housing and transport costs may be higher than a visa minimum. This is a budgeting method, not an official calculation for any particular applicant.
Health cover, English and age-related rules
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) generally needs to cover the whole relevant stay for the applicant and included family members, unless a recognised exception applies. If you arrive before classes begin, check that insurance starts when you enter Australia, not on the first day of teaching. Applicants may need an approved English test result or qualify for an exemption. Health and character requirements also apply; minors need appropriate welfare arrangements.
Home Affairs says online applications can be made from outside or, where eligible, inside Australia. Applying while already in Australia is not a workaround for holding an ineligible visa. Check the current onshore restrictions and visa status before assuming you can switch. The Australian Government’s Study Australia guide summarises the route and current fee information; use the Home Affairs application display to confirm the charge payable for your case.
A submission sequence that reduces avoidable errors
- Confirm your provider, course and CoE details.
- Review the Home Affairs document checklist generated for your passport and provider.
- Prepare specific Genuine Student responses and matching evidence.
- Check funds and the OSHC start and end dates.
- Attach required English, health, character and welfare documents where applicable.
- Submit through the official online process and watch for requests after lodgement.
The visa can allow study and restricted work; it is not an employment visa. Conditions, including work-hour limits while a course is in session, must be checked on the granted visa. A grant is not a promise of a later graduate or permanent-residence pathway. Make course and financial decisions based on the education itself, not on a guaranteed migration outcome.
GlobalVisora is an independent information platform. Check the two Australian Government sources again before paying or lodging an application.