Student visa (subclass 500)

For school students other than secondary-exchange students: be at least 6 at application. At commencement of Years 9/10/11/12, be respectively under 17/18/19/20. This is a school-sector rule, not a general university age limit.

Where required, provide an accepted English test result or genuine evidence of a specified exemption. Citizenship/passport, course, sponsorship and qualifying study history affect the rule; a BNO passport is not automatically exempt. Check current test/date/score rules.

Provide a genuine CoE for all intended courses at application, unless an accepted special category uses its specified evidence: DFAT/Defence support letter, secondary-exchange AASES, or provider letter for postgraduate thesis marking. An offer letter alone is not the general substitute.

Show actual financial capacity and the evidence required by the official case checklist, including applicable travel, living, tuition and dependant school costs. Accepted parent/spouse income or special sponsored/exchange evidence is case-specific; a profile budget is not proof of funds.

Under 18 applicants need genuine parental/guardian consent or sole-custody proof. If under 18 in Australia, provide the actual approved welfare pathway: provider CAAW, eligible guardian/Form 157N, exchange AASES or DFAT/Defence approval. Keep coverage continuous until 18 and enter only after welfare starts. Turning 18 before arrival uses the specified signed Form 157N1–8 exception; parental consent remains required.

Maintain OSHC for the required stay unless a verified special arrangement exempts you. Possible Sweden/Norway/Belgium exemptions require actual eligibility evidence; reciprocal Medicare access alone does not waive OSHC. Check real policy dates and coverage.

For applications from 2 October 2026, family eligibility must satisfy the exact statutory class: eligible nationality/DFAT/Defence, doctoral study, fully foreign-government-funded courses, or specified existing-family transitions. A child born in Australia on/after that date may qualify in a further application while in Australia if the primary parent held a primary Student visa on 2 October, or applied before then and was granted one on/after that date. Primary and family applicants must lodge together from the same location; this is not general permission to join an already-granted visa. Earlier applications retain prior rules.

From 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders and students seeking another Student visa cannot apply in Australia unless a specified exception applies. When an offshore application is required, the applicant must also be outside Australia at grant. Check the exact visa class and statutory exception; an automatic onshore renewal is not available.

For applications lodged from 23 March 2024, study must be the primary reason for the visa. Evidence must support the actual circumstances and course choice. Possible future permanent residence intentions do not count against GS; the older GTE test applies only to earlier applications.