Australia Student visa subclass 500
Research summary only; not legal advice. Verify consequential decisions with the Department of Home Affairs, VEVO, current legislation, and a qualified adviser where appropriate.
Scope and currency
- Jurisdiction: Australia
- Applicable dates: Financial-capacity compilation in force from 2024-05-10; application-tips article dated 2025-05-21; reviewed fee statement effective 2026-07-01
- Last source check: 2026-07-15
- Audience: Prospective and current subclass 500 students
Summary
The Student visa (subclass 500) covers multiple Australian education sectors. Directly reviewed Australian Government guidance describes provider enrolment, a Confirmation of Enrolment, application evidence, financial capacity, health cover, visa conditions, and conditional work rights. The central Home Affairs landing page was blocked from automated review, so operational claims are cross-checked against accessible Study Australia guidance and an in-force financial-capacity instrument. ^[raw/articles/australia-home-affairs-student-visa-subclass-500.md] ^[raw/articles/australia-study-australia-student-visa-subclass-500.md]
Evidence
Study scope and application evidence
Study Australia says applicants generally enrol with an Australian provider and obtain a Confirmation of Enrolment before applying. Its application guidance identifies a CoE, sufficient-funds evidence, Genuine Student evidence, English-language results where applicable, and Overseas Student Health Cover as common requirements, while directing applicants to the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool for an applicant-specific list. ^[raw/articles/australia-study-australia-student-visa-subclass-500.md]
Financial capacity
The Federal Register identified the reviewed financial-capacity instrument as in force and current on 2026-07-15. For covered primary applicants, the compilation specifies annual living costs of AUD10,394 for a spouse or de facto partner, AUD13,502 in annual school costs for a school-age dependant, subject to qualifications and pro-rating.
The instrument also describes an income-evidence route of at least AUD102,500 with one, using official government income documentation. Specified evidence forms include financial-institution deposits or loans, government loans, scholarships, and financial support.
Work rights and visa conditions
Study Australia reported a general maximum of 48 work hours per fortnight while study is in session. It described an exception for students who have started a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree, but the individual visa conditions and Home Affairs or VEVO record control.
The same source summarized conditions including maintaining enrolment, course progress and attendance, adequate health insurance, address notification, and avoiding overstay. It displayed fees from AUD$2,500 from 1 July 2026 and described a maximum stay of five years, both subject to the specific case and later changes.
Interpretation
- The financial-capacity instrument is the strongest source in this set for its defined subject, but it does not establish every subclass 500 criterion.
- Study Australia is official education guidance; Home Affairs, VEVO, and legislation remain controlling for immigration decisions and individual conditions.
- The inability to directly review the Home Affairs landing, Genuine Student, and checklist pages lowers confidence in a complete operational synthesis, even though the accessible sources support the claims above.
Limitations and open questions
- Direct automated access to key Home Affairs pages returned HTTP 403 on 2026-07-15.
- The Genuine Student assessment factors, passport/provider-specific checklist, English requirements, exceptions, and all visa conditions need direct Home Affairs or statutory verification.
- Financial amounts, fees, work limits, and processing information must be rechecked for the application or compliance date.