Overview
The subclass 500 visa allows international students to pursue higher education and stay in Australia for the duration of the course/s they have enrolled in. It is mandatory that the student enrolls in a full-time course that is registered on CRICOS with an Australian education provider before lodging a visa application. It is important to mention that Australia offers post study visa options to international students who have completed at least 2 years of full-time studies in an approved course in Australia. Please contact us to discuss your career and visa options with one of our experienced education counsellors.
The specific requirements for a student visa application and the possibility of getting the student visa generally depend on the following key factors:
A. The student is a Genuine Temporary Entrant i.e., she/he is serious about pursuing higher studies in Australia, has the necessary financial resources to meet the costs associated with it and highly likely to return to their home country after completing the studies
B. The risk level assigned to the student’s nationality and passport by the Department of Home Affairs based on its data of past students from that country and security advice received from other government agencies
Eligibility Criteria
An international student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Enrollas a full-time student in a course listed on CRICOS, offered by an Australian education provider and submit a Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) as evidence of enrollment
- Have genuine intention to complete the chosen course in Australia – please refer to the GTE Criteria
- Meet the required level of English language proficiency unless exempted*
- Have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your intended study in Australia
- Have access to adequate funds to cover your tuition fee, return airfares, OSHC and the cost of living in Australia for yourself as well as for any dependents included in your application
*You do not need to provide an English test score with your visa application if you are:
- Holder of a passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland
- Sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence or part of a Secondary Exchange student program (AASES)
- enrolled in a registered school course, a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), a course registered to be delivered in a language other than English, or a registered post-graduate research course
- able to provide verifiable documentary evidence of having completed at least 5 years’ study in English in one or more of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland, or in the 2 years before applying for the student visa, you completed, in Australia and in the English language, either the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a Certificate IV or higher award under the Australian Qualifications Framework, as an international student
- All other students must provide evidence of English test as per the details given below:
| Test Type | Minimum Overall Score | Minimum Score (With 10 Weeks of ELICOS Classes) | Minimum Score (With 20 Weeks of ELICOS Classes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS – Academic) | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Pearson Test of English – Academic (PTE) | 46 | 35 | 32 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | 162 | 154 | 147 |
| Pearson Test of English – Academic (PTE) | 42 | 36 | 30 |
Key Visa Entitlements
- You can participate in an eligible course of study
- Student visa allows you to include your family members in the application and they can travel to Australia with you
- Applicants can apply for this visa online in Australia (onshore) or outside (offshore)
- Work up to 40 hours per week during the course session and full-time during the holidays – you may be permitted to additional hours in certain sectors
Visa Application Charges
| Primary Applicant | AUD 630 |
| Spouse/Secondary applicant over the age of 18 years | AUD 470 |
| Each additional applicant under the age of 18 years | AUD 310 |
**The Department of Home Affairs generally revises the visa application charges on 01st July of each year.
Processing Timelines
Processing times for applications in this visa subclass can vary significantly depending on the risk assessment level of the applicants’ country of origin and how promptly the applicants can submit the requested documents, including translations, if required. The general processing times for the visa applications in this visa subclass are given below and it does not include the time needed to process the skills assessment and state-nomination applications.
- 75% of the applications are processed in approximately 6 weeks
- 90% of the applications are processed within 6 months
