This article explains in detail the eligibility requirements for the Australian Subclass 500 student visa, including Australian course requirements, English language requirements, financial requirements, the visa application process and methods, the visa application fee, the visa validity period, the work rights and obligations of Subclass 500 visa holders, the document checklist, and an overview of spouse and dependent child accompanying applications — providing you with the most accurate policy information to support your visa application.
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Eligibility Requirements
1. Be at least 6 years old
2. Have received a Letter of Offer or Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for full-time study from an Australian education provider
3. Have purchased Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
4. If the applicant is under 18, a parent or a relative aged over 21 must be nominated as the guardian during your studies in Australia, and the guardian must reside in Australia throughout your studies. After nominating a guardian, the school must be notified for approval to obtain a “Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter”. The minimum period of the welfare arrangement covers all study time in Australia before the applicant turns 18.
5. Course requirements: the course studied must be registered with a Commonwealth-registered body and be a course for international students (CRICOS), and each course of study must have a CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment).
6. English language requirements for the Australian student visa application:
| Type of English Test | Minimum Score | Minimum Score with a 10-Week English Course | Minimum Score with a 20-Week English Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Paper-based TOEFL (no longer accepted from 28 May 2018) | 527 | 500 | 450 |
| TOEFL iBT | 46 | 35 | 32 |
| CAE | 162 | 154 | 147 |
| PTE | 42 | 36 | 30 |
| OET (from 6 June 2018, scores must be at least a B in four components) | A or B | Not applicable | Not applicable |
From 28 May 2018, paper-based TOEFL scores are no longer accepted for Subclass 500 visa applications. However, transitional arrangements apply in the following two situations:
1. The applicant sat the paper-based TOEFL before 14 October 2017 with scores that meet the visa requirements and remain valid:
(1) If the scores are provided when the visa application is lodged, they must be within 2 years before lodgement;
(2) If the scores are not provided at lodgement, they must be within 2 years before the visa decision is made.
2. The applicant sat the paper-based TOEFL on or after 14 October 2017 but before 28 May 2018 with scores that meet the visa requirements and remain valid:
(1) If the scores are provided when the visa application is lodged, they must be within 2 years before lodgement;
(2) If the scores are not provided at lodgement, they must be within 2 years before the visa decision is made.
If the case officer requests it, the applicant must provide additional evidence of English proficiency. In addition, from 6 June 2018, applicants providing OET scores must achieve at least a B in four components.
7. Financial requirements:
The applicant must have sufficient funds to cover the first 12 months in Australia, including travel costs, living costs, tuition fees, course-related fees, the living costs of accompanying family members and the education costs of minor children.
(1) Costs for the first 12 months in Australia:
| First 12 months in Australia for the student or guardian: spouse or de facto partner: children: Australian course fees | The course fees for the whole study period divided by the number of years, minus tuition already paid; or work out the monthly tuition, multiply it by 12, then subtract tuition already paid. |
| For doctoral students, or recipients of an Australian Commonwealth Government scholarship, school fees may also be waived if their children attend an Australian government school that waives school fees. | |
| AUD2,000 |
(2) Applicant’s annual income requirement
If the applicant funds their own studies, the annual income must be at least AUD 60,000; if bringing family members to Australia, the annual income must be at least AUD 70,000.
If the applicant’s parents fund the studies, the combined income of both parents needs to meet the above requirement.
8. Genuine purpose of study, with no intention to migrate
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Work Rights
1. Work no more than 40 hours per fortnight, which may be split as 15 hours in the first week and 25 hours in the second; the strict limit of no more than 20 hours per week no longer needs to be applied.
2. Income from work is subject to tax.
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Application Method and Process
1. Apply online
2. Post the application documents to the Australian visa centre
After lodging the application, pay the fee, wait for the Department of Home Affairs to request further documents, complete the health examination, and await the visa outcome.
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Visa Validity Period
This depends on the course duration and the level of the course applied for. Each Australian student visa has a maximum validity of 5 years, as set out below:
| Visa Validity Period | |
| More than 10 months, finishing at the end of the Australian academic year (November-December) | The visa is valid from the date of grant until 15 March of the year after studies are completed |
| More than 10 months, finishing between January and October | The visa is valid from the date of grant until 2 months after studies are completed |
| Course duration of less than 10 months | The visa is valid from the date of grant until 1 month after studies are completed |
| Special case 1:
A primary school student applying for an Australian primary school before enrolling in secondary school |
Valid for a maximum of 2 years; the table above does not apply. |
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Visa Application Fee
From July 2018, the main applicant pays AUD 575, each secondary applicant aged 18 or over pays AUD 430, and each secondary applicant under 18 pays AUD 140.
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Document Checklist
1. Applicant’s 2-inch passport photo
2. Scan of the applicant’s current passport (if the passport contains renewal information or visas for other countries, please scan and submit these as well)
3. Scan of both sides of the applicant’s ID card (if the applicant is under 18, please provide the parents’ ID cards)
4. Notarised birth certificate of the applicant
5. Notarised Chinese police clearance certificate of the applicant (if the applicant has lived in Australia for 12 months or more, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check is also required)
6. Whether the applicant has a former name; if so, provide notarised documentation of the former name
7. Whether the applicant is married; if so, provide a notarised marriage certificate
8. Scan of the applicant’s English test score report
9. Notarised certificate of the applicant’s highest qualification and academic transcript
10. Scan of the applicant’s family household register (hukou)
11. Enrolment evidence from the Australian school for this application (offer and CoE)
12. Whether the applicant has previously applied for or studied other courses in Australia; if so, provide the previous offer and CoE
13. GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant statement)
14. Scan of the applicant’s financial capacity documents (bank deposit certificate, deposit slip, loan certificate)
15. Income evidence and related supporting documents of the applicant or parents
16. Applicant’s employment evidence and tax records (if any)
17. Applicant’s résumé
18. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa – Spouse and Dependent Child Accompanying Applications
When a student applies for the Subclass 500 visa, they may apply for their spouse to accompany them at the same time as lodging the Subclass 500 application, or lodge the spouse’s accompanying application after their own Subclass 500 visa is granted. Three things must be demonstrated: first, that the marital relationship is genuine; second, that there are sufficient funds to support life in Australia; and third, that there are sufficient incentives to return home and no intention to migrate.
Document Checklist for a Subclass 500 Accompanying Application
1. The spouse’s résumé, employment evidence and tax records
2. The spouse’s proof of savings, and any property, vehicles and financial investment products held in their name
3. Notarised marriage certificate
4. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
5. Notarised birth certificates of children
6. Children’s passports
