Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Subclass 500: Student Visa

Subclass 500 Student visa is a temporary visa which allows overseas students to undertake approved course of study or training and to work for up to 40 hours per fortnight in Australia.

Approved course of study or training include qualifications at different study levels such as primary school, secondary school, vocational, higher education and postgraduate research.

Stay Period

Stay period varies depending on course length and course type:
  • For primary school aged students, usually up to 3 years and a new visa application has to be made to continue studying;
  • For primary and secondary school study package, up to 5 years provided the primary school component of the package does not exceed 3 years;
  • For postgraduate research students, additional 6 months will be granted to allow additional time for thesis marking.

Apply from...

All applicants may be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, to apply and to be granted this visa.

Each applicant in Australia when applying for this visa must hold a substantive visa that is NOT:
  • a Subclass 426 Domestic Worker (Temporary) - Domestic or Consular visa; or
  • a Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream; or
  • a Subclass 995 Diplomatic (Temporary) visa granted to primary visa holder. A family member of the primary visa holder who holds the same visa can still apply for a Student visa in Australia; or
  • a Subclass 771 Transit visa; or
  • a Subclass 600 Visitor visa in the Sponsored Family stream or Approved Destination Status stream.

with no condition(s) attached to the visa that prevent the applicant from applying this visa in Australia.

If any applicant DOES NOT hold a substantive visa and the last substantive visa held was any of the following visa:
  • a Student visa;
  • a Subclass 995 Diplomatic (Temporary) visa granted to secondary visa holder,
the Subclass 500 Student visa application has to be made within 28 days after the substantive visa outlined aboved expired, provided the applicant has not previously been granted a visa based on an application made when the applicant did not hold a substantive visa.

Subclass 500 visa holder can...

apply for a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, if eligible, to extend the visa holder's stay in Australia after graduating from degree, diploma or trade qualification.
To make a valid application for Subclass 500 visa and/or be granted this visa, the following sets of general criteria must be met:
Age Requirement for Primary and Secondary School Students
For applicant who is a primary and secondary school student (excluding student participating in a secondary school student exchange program in Australia), the applicant must be at least 6 years old at the time of application.

Secondary school student applicants must also be:
  • less than 17 years old when commencing Year 9 studies in Australia;
  • less than 18 years old when commencing Year 10 studies in Australia;
  • less than 19 years old when commencing Year 11 studies in Australia;
  • less than 20 years old when commencing Year 12 studies in Australia.
Welfare Arrangements for Primary Applicant below 18 Years Old
If the primary applicant will be under 18 years of age at any time while in Australia, the visa application must be accompanied by evidence of intended arrangements for the applicant’s accommodation, support and general welfare.
Full-time Enrolment in Approved Course of Study or Training
The primary applicant must have enrolled in approved course of study or training registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The enrolment must be full-time.
English Language Requirement
Unless exemption applies, the primary applicant must satisfy the English language requirement for Subclass 500 Student visa. Evidence of meeting the English language requirement might be required at the time of visa application or before visa can be granted.

The primary applicants are EXEMPTED from this English language requirement if any of the following applies:
  • the primary applicant is a citizen of, and holds a valid passport issued by:
    • the United Kingdom;
    • the United States of America;
    • Canada;
    • New Zealand;
    • the Republic of Ireland;
  • the primary applicant will be undertaking a principle course of study that is:
    • registered to be delivered in a language other than English;
    • a registered English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS);
    • a registered school course;
    • a registered post-graduate research course;
  • the primary applicant is a:
    • foreign affairs student; or
    • defense student; or
    • secondary exchange student;
  • in the 2 years before applying for a Subclass 500 Student visa, the primary applicant has successfully completed:
    • Senior Secondary Certificate of Education that was conducted in Australia and in English; or
    • a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) at the Certificate IV level or higher that was conducted in Australia and in English, while holding a student visa;
  • the primary applicant has successfully completed a minimum of 5 years of study in English undertaken in one or more of the following countries:
    • Australia;
    • the United Kingdom;
    • the United States of America;
    • Canada;
    • New Zealand;
    • the Republic of Ireland;
    • South Africa;
Have adequate arrangements for health insurance
Unless an exception applies, before this visa can be granted, all applicants must have adequate arrangements for health insurance that meet the requirements for visa purposes throughout the period of intended stay in Australia.
Genuine Temporary Entrant
All applicants must demonstrate genuine intends to stay in Australia temporarily and this will be assessed based on:
  • the applicants’ situation in home country;
  • the applicants’ financial situation;
  • the applicants’ immigration history;
  • the applicants’ previous compliance with visa conditions;
  • whether the applicants intend to comply with the conditions to which the Subclass 500 Student visa would be subject;
  • the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant – if the applicant is a minor below 18 years old;
  • any other relevant matter.
Have adequate financial capacity
The primary applicant must has access to adequate financial capacity to cover course fees, living costs, travel costs and schooling costs (for applicant with school-age dependant) for the first 12 months in Australia.
Schooling Arrangement for School-age Dependent
If secondary applicant of Subclass 500 Student visa is a school-age dependent, who has turned 5 years old but has not turned 18 years old, of the primary applicant, schooling arrangement must had been made if the period of stay in Australia will be more than 3 months.
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