What is the subclass 500 Student visa?

What is the subclass 500 Student visa?

The subclass 500 Student visa is the main Australian visa for people who want to come to Australia to study an eligible course.

It is a temporary visa. The visa period usually depends on the type and length of your course, and it can allow you to study, travel and work limited hours while your course is in session.

For many international students, the 500 visa is also the starting point for a longer Australian pathway, but it should always be treated as a genuine study visa first.

What can you do with a Student visa?

With a subclass 500 visa, eligible students can participate in an approved course of study in Australia.

• Study in Australia at an eligible institution.
• Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid.
• Work up to the permitted number of hours while the course is in session.
• Include eligible family members in some circumstances.
• Build Australian study history that may support future visa planning, depending on the course and future eligibility.

How long can you stay?

Home Affairs states that the subclass 500 Student visa can allow study for up to 6 years and in line with enrolment.

The exact visa length depends on your course, enrolment, package of courses and personal circumstances.

Primary school children starting enrolment in years 1 to 4 are generally only granted a Student visa for a maximum period of 3 years.

How much does the Student visa cost?

The Student visa subclass 500 currently shows a starting cost of AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, with concessions applying in limited circumstances.

From 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for Student visas increased. A lower visa cost may apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, eligible ASEAN citizens, and applicants in the ELICOS and Non-Award sectors who lodge a valid Student visa application.

Applicants should always use the official Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging because the final cost can depend on family members, location and other circumstances.

Work rights on a Student visa

Student visa holders can usually work up to 48 hours per fortnight when their course is in session.

Students studying a masters by research or doctoral degree, and their family members, may have no work limit.

Work rights can be affected by visa conditions, course status and future rule changes, so students should check their visa grant letter and VEVO before working.

Basic eligibility areas to check

Every case is different, but Student visa applicants should generally check the following areas before applying.

• Confirmation of Enrolment, also called a CoE, for a CRICOS-registered course.
• Genuine Student requirement.
• English language evidence if required.
• Financial capacity evidence.
• Overseas Student Health Cover, commonly called OSHC.
• Health and character requirements.
• Welfare arrangements if the applicant is under 18.
• Eligible visa status if applying from inside Australia.

What is a CoE?

A Confirmation of Enrolment is issued by an Australian education provider after you are accepted into a course and meet the provider’s enrolment requirements.

For most Student visa applications, the CoE is one of the core documents because it confirms the course, provider, start date and duration.

Students should make sure the course and provider match their genuine study plan, career goals and future pathway planning.

What is the Genuine Student requirement?

The Genuine Student requirement is used to assess whether the applicant genuinely intends to study in Australia.

Applicants should be ready to explain why they chose the course, why they chose Australia, how the course connects to their background and how it supports their future goals.

A weak or unclear study plan can create problems, especially if the course does not connect logically to previous study, employment or career direction.

Why course selection matters

Choosing a course only because it sounds easy or cheap can create long-term issues.

Before enrolling, students should consider:

• Whether the course matches their academic and career background.
• Whether the provider is reputable and CRICOS-registered.
• Whether the course supports genuine career development.
• Whether the study location matters for future regional options.
• Whether the course could support future 485, skilled migration or employer pathways.

A Student visa does not guarantee PR, but smart course planning can make future options clearer.

Can a Student visa lead to PR?

The subclass 500 visa is not a permanent residency visa. It is a temporary study visa.

However, some students may later become eligible for other pathways, depending on their qualification, occupation, skills assessment, English level, work experience, location and visa rules.

Possible future pathways may include:

• Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa.
• Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa.
• Subclass 190 state nominated visa.
• Subclass 491 regional skilled pathway.
• Subclass 482 employer sponsored work visa.
• Subclass 186 employer sponsored PR.

The right pathway depends on the student’s actual profile after study.

Documents to prepare

The exact documents depend on the applicant, country, provider and course, but common documents may include:

• Passport.
• Confirmation of Enrolment.
• Genuine Student statement or responses.
• English test result if required.
• Financial evidence.
• OSHC evidence.
• Previous academic documents.
• Employment documents if relevant.
• Relationship documents if including family.
• Health and character documents if requested.

Common mistakes applicants make

Avoid these common Student visa mistakes:

• Choosing a course without a clear study reason.
• Not checking whether the course is CRICOS-registered.
• Submitting weak financial evidence.
• Ignoring English requirements.
• Not arranging OSHC correctly.
• Assuming a Student visa guarantees PR.
• Working more than visa conditions allow.
• Applying with inconsistent documents or unclear history.
• Waiting too late to plan the next visa before expiry.

Eazy Path takeaway

The subclass 500 Student visa is for genuine study in Australia. It can help you build qualifications, experience and future options, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed PR pathway.

Before applying, check your course, provider, finances, English evidence, OSHC, visa conditions and long-term pathway.

Use Eazy Path to compare study-to-PR options, track visa timelines and plan your next step with more clarity.