Subclass 500 in 2026 — what changed
The student visa (subclass 500) is the standard pathway for international students who want to undertake a registered course of study in Australia for more than three months. It covers everything from English language courses (ELICOS) and vocational education (VET) through to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study.
Two structural changes have reshaped the subclass 500 since 2023, and both still apply in 2026:
- The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test on 23 March 2024. The criterion is similar in spirit but the assessment is now built into the visa application form rather than a separate statement.
- Financial capacity benchmark rose to AUD 29,710 per year from 10 May 2024 — a substantial increase from the previous AUD 24,505.
You should always verify the current figures on the Department of Home Affairs Student visa (subclass 500) page before lodgement; the rules change with little notice.
Who is eligible for a subclass 500 visa
To be granted a subclass 500 visa you generally need to:
- Hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS);
- Satisfy the Genuine Student (GS) requirement;
- Meet the English language requirements for the course you intend to study;
- Have evidence of sufficient funds to cover course fees, living expenses, travel and dependents (where applicable);
- Hold approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa;
- Meet health, character and security checks; and
- Be at least 6 years of age (with stricter conditions for school-age students).
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement
The GS requirement asks the case officer to assess whether the applicant is genuinely seeking to study in Australia. It replaced the longer GTE statement with a structured set of questions inside the application form, focusing on:
- The applicant's current situation — ties to their home country, employment and family circumstances;
- Why they have chosen the specific course and education provider;
- How the course relates to their academic background and career goals;
- What they intend to do after their studies;
- Any other relevant information the applicant wants to put forward.
Answers should be specific, evidenced and consistent with the rest of the application. Generic or copy-paste answers are a leading cause of refusal. We help applicants prepare clear, factually accurate answers — not template responses — that align with the supporting documents you provide.
The GS test is not about ruling out students who might later become permanent residents. It is about confirming that, at the point of application, the applicant is a genuine student who understands the course, has the means to complete it, and intends to comply with their visa conditions.
Financial capacity & evidence of funds
You must show that you can pay for course fees, living costs, travel, and the costs of any dependents who travel with you. The benchmarks for the 12-month period from 10 May 2024 are:
| Person | 12-month financial capacity |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant | AUD 29,710 |
| Spouse / partner | AUD 10,394 |
| Each dependent child | AUD 4,449 |
| Annual school fees per dependent child (school age) | AUD 13,502 |
| Personal annual income evidence (alternative pathway) | AUD 72,465 for primary, or AUD 84,543 for primary + family |
Evidence can take the form of personal savings, an education loan, a sponsor's funds, or evidence of personal annual income. Funds generally need to be held for at least three months before lodgement and the source must be transparent and lawful.
OSHC, English and health checks
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
OSHC is mandatory for every student visa holder. Your policy must start on or before your arrival date and end on or after the day your visa ends. The five OSHC providers approved by the Australian Government are Allianz Care, Bupa, Medibank, NIB and ahm. We can compare quotes against your course start and end dates so you only pay for the cover you need.
English language requirement
Most education providers will set their own English entry requirement that satisfies the visa criterion through your CoE. Acceptable tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and OET. The minimum score depends on your course and any pre-sessional English you will undertake before the main course.
Health, character and biometrics
You will likely be asked to complete an immigration medical examination through Bupa Medical Visa Services or another panel doctor in your country. Character requirements include providing police clearance certificates from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Visa fee, processing time & lodgement
The base application charge for a subclass 500 visa from 1 July 2024 is AUD 1,600. Additional charges apply for partners and dependent children. The fee is non-refundable, so a clean lodgement is important.
Processing times depend on the education sector, the country of the applicant, and the assessment level applied to the cohort. The Department of Home Affairs publishes 50% and 90% percentile times that update each month. We do not promise specific timeframes — we set realistic expectations based on the most recent data at the time you lodge.
Work rights and visa conditions
Subclass 500 visa holders generally receive the following key conditions on grant:
- Condition 8105 — Work limitation. From 1 July 2023 you may work up to 48 hours per fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Aged-care workers in approved roles before 8 May 2023 may have temporary additional rights.
- Condition 8202 — Course progress and attendance. You must remain enrolled, maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress. Breaching this condition is a leading reason visas are cancelled.
- Condition 8501 — Health insurance. Maintain OSHC for your entire stay.
- Condition 8533 — Notify provider of address. You must tell your education provider where you live within 7 days of arriving in Australia and update them of any address change within 7 days.
Common reasons applications are refused
Based on our case files (anonymised) and published Department guidance, these are the issues we see most often:
- Generic Genuine Student answers that don't reference the applicant's actual background, course or goals.
- Funds evidence that doesn't match the source — for example, a large unexplained deposit days before lodgement.
- Course progression that doesn't make sense — for example, applying for a vocational course in an unrelated field after completing a higher-level qualification.
- Health and character issues that weren't disclosed in earlier visa applications.
- OSHC start date that doesn't cover the visa period exactly.
Working with a registered migration agent
You don't need to use a migration agent to lodge a subclass 500 application — many students lodge themselves. Where a registered MARA agent adds value is in:
- An honest eligibility assessment before you pay any course fees;
- Strategic advice on your choice of course, level and provider — so the application logic holds together;
- Preparing your Genuine Student answers and evidence package to meet the legislative criteria;
- Communicating with the Department on your behalf if a request for further information is issued.
Our agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARN: 1808157) and is bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. We give written quotes before any fee is charged, take only cases we believe have a realistic prospect of success, and keep you informed at every step.