Student visa (subclass 500)

Types of study covered

The student (subclass 500) visa allows you to study the following study types:

• higher education
• Vocational and Education Training (VET)
• pathway courses
• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
• primary and secondary school
• secondary school exchange programs
• postgraduate research
• non-award courses (such as Study Abroad and Exchange semesters), and 
• postgraduate research programs
• international students sponsored by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) or Defence.

You will need to enrol in a course at an Australian education or training provider first and then apply for a student visa after you have been issued a confirmation of enrolment (CoE) from the provider. For more information on applying for courses, visit the how to apply to study page.

Student visa work restrictions

The number of work hours allowed during study terms and semesters is capped at 48 hours per fortnight. If you fail to comply with this visa condition, you may have your student visa cancelled. 

Students who have already started their Master degree by research or Doctoral degree have no work hours limit. 

Check the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO) to see the work conditions that apply to you.   

International students are protected by Australia's workplace laws. Find out more on our Working in Australia page.

Fees and processing time 

In Australia, student visa fees are from AUD$650 per visa application* unless you are exempt. Australian student visa processing times vary from person to person. Visa processing times are available on the Department of Home Affairs website. You can also get tips on how to improve your processing time. 

*Prices are correct at July 2023. 

Student visa conditions 

There are some important visa conditions that you need to take note of, including that you must:

• notify your education or training provider of your residential address within 7 days of arriving in Australia
• meet your course requirements, remain enrolled and maintain satisfactory attendance and course progression – tell your provider if you are sick or have any other issues that may affect your attendance
• stay within the visa limit on working hours while studying
• maintain adequate health insurance for visa holders for the whole of your stay in Australia, and  
• not over-stay your visa period in Australia. 

You can check your visa status and full list of conditions any time at the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO). 

‘Course packaging’ on a Student visa (subclass 500) 

You can apply to study two or more courses on your Student visa (subclass 500) where there is clear progression from one course to another. This is known as course packaging. 

You will need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course you plan to take. The final course that you will undertake as part of your package will be your main (or ‘principal’) course of study.

For your visa application, the Department of Home Affairs will use your main (principal) course of study to work out what evidence of finances and English language skills you will need to provide.

If your visa application includes a package of courses, course gaps must be less than two calendar months. This gap can be longer (three to four months) if the first course finishes at the end of the Australian academic year (November) and the following course starts at the beginning of the next academic year (February). 

Standard visa grant periods apply to packaged courses. To find about more about the most popular pathway (or packaged study) options, visit our Pathways page. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)