Subclass 500 is for eligible study in Australia. Application-location and family-member restrictions took effect on 2 October 2026; check exemptions before making study or relocation plans.
Route overview
Student visa (subclass 500)
Typical timeline / duration: Up to 6 years, depending on the course and enrolment.
Important notes
Apply online; must be enrolled in course and hold Confirmation of Enrolment when decided; meet Genuine Student requirement, English and health/character requirements, and welfare arrangements if under 18.
Must have adequate health insurance (OSHC) and meet financial capacity/evidence requirements where requested.
For applications lodged from 2 October 2026, most applicants must apply and be granted the visa outside Australia. In-country applicants need an eligible visa and an applicable exemption; family inclusion is also restricted.
In force from 2 October 2026: most temporary visa holders, including Skills in Demand and Working Holiday Maker holders, cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia. Current Student holders also generally need an exemption to apply again in-country.
In-country exemptions for eligible Student holders include DFAT/Defence sponsorship, doctoral or school study, provider default, up to 12 extra months to finish the main course with the same provider, and qualifying progression after completing the main course. The factsheet sets the precise course conditions.
Most new or further applications cannot include partners or children. Exemptions cover doctoral students, eligible Pacific/ASEAN nationals, fully funded foreign-government scholarship recipients, and DFAT/Defence-sponsored students. Chinese nationality alone is not an exemption. Certain existing families can remain included when eligible to reapply in Australia.
Family members cannot join later as subsequent entrants; there is no exemption. Existing visas are not cancelled by these application changes. Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 retain the previous rules, including family inclusion.
During course sessions, the usual work limit is 48 hours per fortnight; research master's and doctoral students have no work-hour limit. The grant conditions control individual rights.
The standard primary application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026. Concessions, including eligible ELICOS/non-award applicants, differ; calculate the actual charge rather than applying a universal percentage.
Still under development as of the 7 October 2026 government update: a Student Transfer stream for provider changes and further Temporary Graduate family restrictions. These are not treated here as commenced rules.
Preparation checklist
Confirm whether your filing date falls before or from 2 October 2026 and retain the receipt.
Check your present visa and the exact exemption before attempting an in-country application.
Establish each family member's eligibility and location at filing; plan without later dependent entry.
Collect the CoE, Genuine Student explanation, financial and English evidence using the Document Checklist Tool.
Calculate the charge for your course category and arrange OSHC, medical and character documents.