Visa subclass 500 · Student · temporary
Subclass 500 Student visa: 2026 eligibility, points and processing
The 500 Student visa is the only Australian student visa subclass. It covers all course levels from ELICOS through to PhD, has work rights of 48 hours/fortnight during study and unrestricted hours during scheduled breaks, and lasts for the duration of the course (typically course length + 2–3 months grace).
★Key takeaways
- ✓Subclass 500 Student visa is a temporary visa for student applicants.
- ✓No points test – eligibility is sponsorship + skills assessment + work experience based.
- ✓Processing: 2 months median (source: Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times, January 2026).
- ✓Primary VAC1: $1,600.
- ✓Path to PR: No direct PR.
At a glance
Stream
temporary, open for new applications
Age limit
No age limit but financial and English requirements scale with course type.
Work rights
48 hours/fortnight during study periods; unlimited during scheduled course breaks. Master’s by research and PhD: unlimited.
Path to PR
No direct PR. Most students transition via Temporary Graduate 485 → skilled migration (189 / 190 / 491) or employer-sponsored (482 → 186).
Eligibility
Eligibility checklist
Every box below must tick before lodgement. Missing any one of them either makes the visa impossible or pushes the applicant into a different subclass.
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered Australian education provider
- Genuine Student (GS) criterion: replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement on 23 March 2024
- Sufficient financial capacity: 12-month course cost + 12 months of living expenses (currently $29,710/year for the primary applicant from 10 May 2024)
- English proficiency at the level required for the course (provider-specified; usually IELTS 5.5–7.0)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the visa
- Meet health and character requirements
Processing time
How long does it take?
Published by Home Affairs as 25th, 50th and 90th percentile times. Individual processing can be faster or slower depending on documentation, country of passport and decision-ready status.
| 25% of applications | 50% (median) | 90% of applications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 2 months | 6 months |
Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times, January 2026. See current processing times across all subclasses.
Cost
Visa Application Charge
| Applicant | VAC1 (lodgement) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant | $1,600 |
| Partner (secondary) | $1,190 |
| Child (secondary) | $390 |
VAC1 from 1 July 2024 (increased from $710 to $1,600 with effect 1 July 2024). Plus OSHC ($600–$1,200/year), course fees and English testing.
In depth
What you actually need to know
The 500 is the only student visa subclass, in place since 1 July 2016 when it replaced the seven legacy student subclasses (570–576). It is granted for the length of the course (with a 2–3 month grace period beyond the course end date) and allows the holder to bring secondary applicants (partner and children).
The Genuine Student (GS) criterion replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024. GS requires the applicant to demonstrate the course is appropriate to their study and career trajectory, with structured questions in the application about previous study, current employment, family ties, and plans after the course. The change has tightened approval rates for some lower-tier provider applicants in 2024–26.
Work rights changed substantially in 2023–24. The 40 hours/fortnight cap that applied from 2008 was lifted entirely during the post-COVID labour shortage and reset to 48 hours/fortnight from 1 July 2023. Master’s by research and PhD students continue to have unrestricted work rights. Working over the cap is a serious breach and can lead to visa cancellation.
Financial capacity is now $29,710/year of living expenses for the primary applicant (from 10 May 2024), plus 12 months of course fees, plus living expenses for dependents ($10,394 for a partner and $4,449 per child). The Department checks bank statements, scholarship letters or sponsor declarations.
Visa conditions to know
- 8202: maintain satisfactory course progress and attendance
- 8501: maintain OSHC for the duration of the visa
- 8104 / 8105: work-hour limits as applicable to course type
Occupations covered
n/a (student visa).
Pathway to permanent residence
No direct PR. Most students transition via Temporary Graduate 485 → skilled migration (189 / 190 / 491) or employer-sponsored (482 → 186).
Common questions
Subclass 500 Student visa – common questions
How many hours can I work on a 500?
48 hours/fortnight during scheduled study periods. Unrestricted during scheduled course breaks (semester breaks, summer break). Master’s by research and PhD students have unrestricted work rights at all times. Working over the cap is a visa breach.
What happened to GTE?
GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) was replaced by GS (Genuine Student) on 23 March 2024. GS is more structured and asks specific questions about previous study, current ties to home country, employment history and post-study plans. The principle is similar but the test is tighter.
Can I bring my partner on a 500?
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner can be added as a secondary applicant. They get the same 48 hours/fortnight work rights as the primary (unless you are doing a Master’s by research or PhD, in which case both you and your partner have unrestricted work rights).
Does a 500 lead to PR?
Not directly. The standard pathway is 500 → 485 (Temporary Graduate) → skilled migration (189 / 190 / 491) or employer-sponsored (482 → 186). Most students who plan to migrate permanently do a 2-year Master’s in a relevant skilled occupation to qualify for both the 485 and a competitive points score.
Source
Primary source for this page
Information on this page is summarised from the Department of Home Affairs visa listing for subclass 500. Always confirm details against the primary source before lodging.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500 →
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