Australia is a country with a diverse and vibrant culture and a perfect destination for both tourists and education. It is a land of opportunities for professional as well as personal growth due to its multicultural and world-class education system. If you hail from another country and want to turn your dream into reality by taking advantage of the Australian education system, you will need a student visa.
However, getting an Australian student visa (subclass 500) can be a complex and time-consuming process. And the Visa 500 for students allows students from different countries of the world to pursue studies at a reputed and highly decorated Australian institution with enhanced career prospects.
In this article, you will come to know various aspects and a detailed overview of the student visa Australia requirements. In addition to that, this article will help you with additional requirements like IELTS requirements for Australia student visa, dependent visa Australia requirements, and other important aspects like the latest updates regarding it, ensuring a smooth application process.
Read Also: How To Get PR In Australia With a Student Visa 500?
What is a Student Visa (Subclass 500)?
Before you dive into the process of Australia study visa requirements, let’s understand the Student Visa 500 in brief. The 500 visa is the primary and most crucial document for international students who wish to study abroad in Australia for the duration of their course, depending on enrollment, typically lasting for 5 years.
Regardless of your pursuing degree, i.e., bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, vocational courses, or language training programs, it is the gateway leading to success. Moreover, the student visa 500 requirements are designed in such a manner that they ensure whether the applicant is genuine or not by ensuring both academic and financial capabilities to succeed in Australia’s education system.
Moreover, new updates have been introduced and implemented in 2025; the process to get a student 500 visa has become stricter as it requires fulfillment of both criteria, i.e., English proficiency and financial evidence.
What are the Student Visa Australia Requirements 2025?
To get a student visa to study in Australia, you must meet several eligibility criteria that are briefly mentioned as Australia study visa requirements. Let’s have a look at them, one by one.
Key Requirements For an Australian Student Visa
1] CoE (Confirmation of Enrollment) Issued By CRICOS
Among all necessary documents, the CoE is the most important and mandatory document for student 500 visa applications. The CoE is issued by the registered institution that confirms your acceptance into a full-time course in any Australian institution named as the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Now, with effect from January 2025, the letter of offer has been replaced by the CoE, and it no longer accepts letters of offer.
2] Genuine Student Criterion
Since March 2024, the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) has been scrapped and replaced with the Genuine Student (GS) criterion that addresses and pain points on the genuineness of the students applying for visas to study temporarily in Australia. It is another important document in the list of Australian study requirement that outlines the statement that highlights academic goals and plans post-completion of the studies.
3] Financial Statements- A Financial Capacity Proof
Third on the list of important student visa Australia requirements documents is the financial statements that can prove that you are capable of bearing the expenses during the course, but not the last. It includes tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and other miscellaneous expenses.
In proof, the Australian immigration team considers bank statements, scholarship letters, and other financial documents as proof of financial capacity. For additional information, like amount-wise, you can visit the immigration website for actual digits as per your status (i.e., single or dependents).
4] Non-Negotiable OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)
Before traveling to Australia, each student holding an Australian student visa must maintain OSHC during their stay to access medical and hospital care. And the student must showcase the same certificate during the application process.
5] Meet Character & Health Standards
A medical exam is required to confirm that the applicant is free from public health risk and to identify any prior medical conditions, and the test must be conducted by a panel of doctors approved by the Australian government.
In addition, the applicant must provide a character certificate authenticated by local police to identify criminal or visa non-compliance history, if any.
Read Also: All You Need to Know About Student Visa Subclass 500
English Requirement For Student Visa Australia
Among all the necessary Australian study requirements, the English requirement for a student visa Australia is the most important one. It ensures how effectively you can communicate in English in an academic environment. As per IELTS requirements for student visa in Australia, the minimum overall band score of 6.0 is needed, but at top universities, it goes higher, i.e., beyond 6.5, and for some courses, they may even seek 7.0+.
In addition to IELTS requirements for Australian student visa, there are alternative tests that are also accepted, such as a minimum score of 60 in TOEFL iBT, a minimum score of 50 in PTE Academic, and a minimum score of 169 in Cambridge English.
IELTS Requirement For Student Visa Australia- Course & Institution Wise
It is a focal point for many applicants that may vary by course and institution, and the Australia IELTS requirement for student visa is necessary for academic as well as social integration.
As per the Australia study visa IELTS requirements, the UG programs require an IELTS overall score of 6.0-6.5, and PG programs require 6.5-7.0, and specialized courses require 7+.
If you fail, then you can opt for English courses or retake the test, as the student visa Australia requirements IELTS accepts One Skill Retake, which allows you to take the section test instead of the entire exam.
However, you can opt for alternatives, such as the Australian Visa TOEFL requirements, whose score is equally valid as per the benchmarks.
Dependent VISA- Essential Requirements
In case you want to include your family members, then a student visa 500 allows you to do so under the dependent visa Australia requirements. For that, you need to follow certain instructions, which include
- Financial proof that proves funds to support a dependent.
- Dependents must be covered under the OSHC policy.
- Relationship proof, such as marriage certificates, and more.
- Mention your dependent during your visa application.
Application Processes: A Smooth Step To Get Your Visa 500
For a smooth visa application, you need to apply and submit your application through the ImmiAccount portal as available on the Department of Home Affairs website with the following details.
- A valid and genuine passport.
- Passport-sized photographs.
- CoE for each course.
- Financial proof.
- English Proficiency Test results.
- GS requirement responses.
- OSHC details.
- Health & other essential documents.
Additionally, to get your 500 visa approved with the above-mentioned student visa Australia requirements, you need to follow the below-mentioned tips.
- Apply much before your course date.
- Ensure documents are accurate to avoid refusal and delays.
- Consult a professional regarding financial and other documents.
- Ensure changes as per policy updates.
- Pay the application fee for your student visa and submit, and also keep tracking.
Recent Updates- Important Information To Look For Before Applying 500 Visa
The student visa 500 requirements have been changed with two recent updates to policies. With the 2024 and early 2025 updates, the student visa Australia requirements have become stricter. Here are some latest updates that make the process more complex.
- The international student enrollments have been limited to 270,000 annually to manage migration levels and ensure sustainable growth in the Australian education sector.
- Since 2024, the Visitor or Temporary Graduate Visas cannot apply for a student visa, hence restricting onshore applications with a CoE.
- In late 2024, Ministerial Direction 107 was replaced with Ministerial Direction 111, creating a two-tier processing system for offshore applications.
- Another crucial recent development is an increase in visa fees for certain institutes or universities in Australia, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and more, to discourage frequent course-switching.
Read Also: Student Visa Subclass 500 And its Important FAQs
Final Words- Ease Your Student 500 Visa Approval with Professional
Wishing to study in Australia, you need to go through this rigorous yet verifying process to secure a student visa 500 with the essential student visa Australia requirements. In addition, you can turn your dream into reality by taking guidance from a registered migration agent in Perth or an experienced migration agent, making the process simpler and easier.
FAQ
How much bank balance is required for an Australia student visa?
To secure an Australian student visa, international students must show they have enough funds to cover tuition, living costs, and other expenses. As of May 10, 2024, the minimum financial requirement for a primary applicant is AUD 29,710, as per the Immigration and Citizenship website. This amount must be clearly shown in a recent and valid bank statement.
What are the student visa 500 attendance requirements in Australia?
To maintain your Student Visa Subclass 500 in Australia, you must attend at least 80% of scheduled classes, calculated per term. Falling below 70% attendance may lead to serious consequences, including possible visa cancellation. Meeting this requirement is essential for compliance with visa conditions and continued study in Australia.
