Study in Australia Student Visa 2026

This spoke covers the Australia student visa path. For the full country guide, see Study in Australia.

How Do I Apply for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500)?

The Subclass 500 process runs through these stages:

1. Receive your offer and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) - issued by your CRICOS-registered institution once you accept your offer and pay the initial tuition deposit
2. Purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - mandatory for your full visa duration, arranged through an approved provider before you apply
3. Complete your Genuine Student (GS) statement - since March 2024, this replaced the older GTE essay with four structured questions (roughly 150 words each) about your circumstances, course choice, and career goals
4. Gather financial evidence - bank statements, loan documents, or scholarship evidence covering the AUD 29,710 threshold plus tuition and travel
5. Apply online through ImmiAccount - pay the AUD 2,000 application fee and submit biometrics if required
6. Complete a health examination with an approved panel physician if requested

How Long Does the Australian Student Visa Process Take?

Processing time depends on study level: higher education applications typically take 4–8 weeks, VET applications 4–7 months, and postgraduate research applications 3–5 months. As of 2026, roughly half of all applications are decided within 29 days and 90% within 56 days - though incomplete documentation or a weak Genuine Student statement are the most common causes of delay.

What Are the Financial Requirements for an Australian Student Visa?

Australia sets a fixed annual living-cost threshold, reviewed and indexed regularly:

• Living costs: AUD 29,710/year for the primary applicant
• Additional family members: AUD 10,394 for a spouse/de facto partner, AUD 4,449 per dependent child
• Tuition: the first year's fees, as confirmed on your CoE
• Travel costs: roughly AUD 2,000–3,000 depending on your home country

Acceptable evidence: bank statements showing funds held for at least 3 months, an education loan disbursement or sanction letter, or evidence of parental/sponsor income (currently at least AUD 87,856/year if applying without dependents).

Funds must be genuine and traceable - sudden, unexplained deposits shortly before application are a common trigger for extra scrutiny or refusal.

What Is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?

After graduating, the Subclass 485 visa lets you stay and work in Australia full-time without needing a job offer or employer sponsor. Duration depends on your qualification and where you studied:

• Bachelor's, honours, or Master's graduates: 2 years (up to 5 years for study at a regional campus)
• Doctoral graduates: 4 years

A few things worth knowing before you commit:

• The application fee doubled from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600 in March 2026 - budget for this from day one, not after graduation
• Eligibility now requires being under 35 and meeting an English requirement of IELTS 6.5 (up from previous thresholds)
• Studying at a regional campus can meaningfully extend your post-study window - worth weighing against the pull of a major-city address
• The 485 doesn't guarantee permanent residency on its own, but graduates in Skills in Demand occupations get priority processing toward General Skilled Migration or employer sponsorship pathways