Student visa
(Subclass 500)
ON 23 MARCH 2024 A NEW LEGISLATION HAS BEEN RELEASED - THIS SECTION WILL BE UPDATED SHORTLY. READ OUR BLOG FOR A PREVIEW.
The info below may not be accurate after the changes.
Duration of stay - Up to five years in line with your enrolment
Location at time of lodgement: you can be inside or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted. When applying as a family, applicants can be in different locations.
Main visa criteria
You must be a genuine student
You must intend to stay only temporarily in Australia
What you need to
provide with your visa
application
Identity documents (such as your passport)
Certificates of enrolment for the chosen course of study
OSHC (overseas student health cover) for the entire period of your visa
Genuine student evidence
You might need to provide evidence you have adequate level of English
You might need to provide evidence you have enough funds to cover your stay
What can I study in
Australia?
There is a wide range of courses you can choose from:
ELICOS (English classes), VET (professional courses), HIGHER Education.
Your studies must be full time (usually 20 hours/week) and the course you have chosen must be registered with the CRICOS register. Only CRICOS registered courses are open to overseas students and allow you to obtain a student visa http://cricos.education.gov.au/
How can I show I am a
genuine student?
There are a number of factors to show you are a genuine student.
Guidelines of Immigration’s criteria are set our in “Direction 69”. The main criteria a case officer takes into consideration are:
Country of passport (countries are assigned a “risk level”)
Education provider (providers as well are assigned a “risk level”)
Applicant’s compliance with previous visas
Applicant’s background and the reasons for studying. Specifically, the case officer will try to find out whether the course chosen has any relevance with the applicant’s background and with their prospective career. Why studies are undertaken in Australia and not in other countries such as the applicant’s home country. What are the benefits to the applicant’s career, earning prospective and overall situation that made them choose to study in Australia? In other words, do you have a very good reason to study and if so, do you have good reasons to study in Australia and not somewhere else?
The above circumstances determine the case officer’s judgement on the applicant’s genuineness and can make the difference between a visa grant or a refusal. Remember that immigration keeps records of every single visa application hence it’s extremely important to stick to the reality, provide true information and documents and be mindful that every single information provided is important.
Do I need to buy OSHC
health insurance even if
entitled to Medicare?
Yes, OSHC is a mandatory requirement regardless of other health covers
Can I pay OSHC
monthly/weekly?
No, at the moment of the visa application you must hold a cover valid for the entire duration of your visa, otherwise the visa may be granted for a shorter period
Can I change my course
of study once the visa
has been granted?
It is possible to change your course of study after the visa approval. There are however some restrictions and each case must be considered on its own. To avoid issues that can also lead to visa cancellation it’s good practice to obtain professional assistance before undertaking any change.
Can I work?
Student visa holders can work no more than 48 hours a fortnight while studying. They have no work restrictions when their course of study or training is not in session (ie., holidays).
Dependants of student visa holders can only work up to 48 hours/ fortnightly.
Student visa
(Subclass 500)
Subsequent
entrant
This visa is for you if your partner is on a student visa and you wish to join their visa.
Duration of stay – you will be granted a visa with the same validity of your partner’s period.
Location at time of lodgement: you can be inside or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted.
You don’t need to be in the same location as your partner when you apply.
Main visa criteria
You must intend to stay only temporarily in Australia
You must be married or in a de facto relationship with your partner
You and your partner must have enough funds to stay in Australia for at least 12 months
What you need to provide
with your
visa application
Identity documents
OSHC for the entire period of your visa
Form 919
Evidence of funds
Evidence of married or de facto relationship
F.A.Q.
What is a
de facto relationship?
A de facto relationship is a relationship between two people (same or opposite sex) that are not married to each other. When applying for a student visa, the main criteria to satisfy the de facto requirements are:
Having lived together for at least 12 months
Sharing a financial commitment (share expenses, bills, etc)
Being socially recognised as a couple
Sharing the household duties
Can I apply as a
dependent on my
partner’s student visa
if I have not got
12 months worth
of evidence?
It is possible, as long as the relationship is demonstrated to be genuine and has been registered.
My partner has not
declared our
relationship on
their previous
student visa application.
Can I still apply as a
dependent?
No, you should not make an application as a dependent if your partner has not declared your (existing) relationship with their student visa application. A clause in the student visa regulations will determine a visa refusal for these cases. We advise you seek professional advice if this happened as these issues may still be fixed.