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    Student visa guide

    Australia student visa 2026: cost, requirements and how to apply

    The Student visa (subclass 500) costs $2,250 in fees nobody can skip, up to $2,480 if every situational extra applies.

    By Global Admissions Editorial · Checked against 3 official sources

    How much does a Australia student visa cost in 2026?

    Applying for a student visa in Australia on the Student Visa (subclass 500) costs $2,250 in fees you cannot skip: Subclass 500 application charge ($1,650) and OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) ($600). Situational extras (biometrics + medical (some countries), police certificate and postage / certified copies) add up to $230 more. Separately, you must prove you have the money: Financial capacity threshold raised to AUD 29,710 in May 2024. All amounts are US dollars, last checked August 2026.

    Student visa (subclass 500) cost breakdown

    Every line the Australia application puts on your card, in US dollars, as of August 2026.

    Subclass 500 application charge$1,650
    AUD 2,500, increased 1 July 2026
    OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)$600
    Annual; varies by provider
    Mandatory total$2,250
    What the Student visa (subclass 500) costs before any optional service.
    Situational extras, only if they apply to you
    Biometrics + medical (some countries)$150
    Only some applicants are charged this.
    Police certificate$50
    Only some applicants are charged this.
    Postage / certified copies$30
    Only some applicants are charged this.
    If every extra applied$2,480
    Worst case. Most applicants pay none or one of these.

    Amounts are US dollars. Australia bills in its own currency, so the exact charge moves with the exchange rate. The native figures are in the notes column where the fee schedule publishes them.

    Things to watch

    • Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced GTE in 2024; expect a longer SOP.
    • Financial capacity threshold raised to AUD 29,710 in May 2024.
    • Subsequent-entrant family members each pay the full application charge.

    How much bank balance do you need for a Australia student visa?

    For the Student visa (subclass 500), Australia asks you to show AUD 29,710. The accepted form is Evidence of funds for living costs, course fees and travel, and it covers Twelve months of living costs for the student. A partner coming with you adds AUD 10,394 and each accompanying child AUD 4,449. The first 12 months of course fees and your travel costs are counted separately, on top of this figure. This is money you show, not money you pay, so it never appears in the fee table above. The figure comes from Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500), checked August 2026.

    Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) · checked August 2026

    Australia student visa requirements and documents checklist

    8 documents every applicant provides.

    DocumentWho needs itWhat it involves
    Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)everyoneYou must be enrolled in a course in Australia and hold a valid CoE when the department decides your visa. If you are taking a package of courses you need a CoE for each one, and gaps between courses must be under two calendar months unless they fall across the standard academic year break. source
    Genuine Student requirementeveryoneYou must be a genuine student for entry and be able to show you understand that studying in Australia is the primary reason for your visa. This replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test and is assessed from your written statement and supporting evidence. source
    Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)everyoneYou and any family members on the application must hold and maintain OSHC for the whole of your stay in Australia, unless you fall into one of the exemption categories. source
    Evidence of financial capacityeveryoneShow AUD 29,710 in living costs for 12 months, plus the first 12 months of course fees and your travel costs, with additional amounts for any family members included in the application. source
    English language evidenceeveryoneYou may need to provide a test score when you lodge the application, and the department can also ask for it afterwards. Your main course of study determines which evidence applies; the Document Checklist tool sets out what you need. source
    Health examinationseveryoneYou and any family members must meet the health requirement. You can complete the examinations before you apply, or wait for the referral letter and HAP ID that appear in ImmiAccount after lodgement. source
    Character requirementeveryoneYou and every family member aged 16 or over who applies must meet the character requirement, which can mean police certificates from countries you have lived in. source
    Welfare arrangements if you are under 18everyoneApplicants under 18 must prove appropriate welfare arrangements are in place for their time in Australia. Tell the department if you will have turned 18 by the time you arrive, as some of this may not be needed. source

    How to apply for a Australia student visa

    1. Enroll and obtain your Confirmation of Enrolment

      Accept your offer and have the provider issue a CoE for each course in your package. You must hold a valid CoE at the time the decision is made, not just when you apply.

      source
    2. Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover

      Buy OSHC covering the full period of your intended stay before you lodge, since the policy details go into the application.

      source
    3. Prepare your Genuine Student statement and evidence

      Write the statement explaining why this course in Australia, and assemble the financial capacity evidence and English test results that go with it.

      source
    4. Organize health examinations

      You can complete these before applying to save time. Check which examinations apply to you and book them through the department's health arrangements.

      source
    5. Apply online through ImmiAccount

      Applications are lodged online, in or outside Australia, and cost from AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, with a further charge for each family member. Lower charges apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, eligible ASEAN citizens, and ELICOS and Non-Award applicants.

      source
    6. Give biometrics within 14 days if asked

      If the department requests biometrics you get a letter and a request in ImmiAccount, and only 14 days to attend an appointment. You must provide them before traveling to Australia.

      source

    Australia student visa processing time

    Home Affairs does not publish a single headline figure for the subclass 500. It publishes current times in its visa processing time guide and warns that applications take longer during peak periods, so lodge well before your course start date.

    Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) · checked August 2026

    Australia student visa work rights, dependants and what comes after

    Work rights

    You may work up to 48 hours a fortnight once your course of study or training is in session. Students on a masters by research or a doctoral degree, and their families, have no work limit.

    sourcecompare all countries

    Dependants

    Family members can be included in the application, and each one attracts an additional visa charge. They must also hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay, and your financial evidence must cover them: AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child for 12 months.

    source

    After graduation

    The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) follows study. The Post-Higher Education Work stream usually runs two to three years, the Post-Vocational Education Work stream up to 18 months, and a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream one to two years. Applicants generally must be 35 or under and have held a student visa in the previous six months.

    sourcecompare all countries

    Language requirement

    An English test score may be required when you lodge the application, and the department can request one later even if it was not needed at lodgement. Which evidence applies depends on your main course of study.

    source

    Australia student visa requirements for Indonesian students

    The full Australia visa guide for Indonesian students, with the fee in your currency.

    ASEAN citizens pay a reduced visa application charge

    Home Affairs charges a lower Student visa cost to eligible ASEAN citizens, including Indonesian nationals, alongside eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens and applicants in the ELICOS and Non-Award sector. The standard charge from 1 July 2026 starts at AUD 2,500, so check the Visa Pricing Estimator for the concession rate that applies to you before budgeting.

    source

    Australia student visa requirements for Filipino students

    The full Australia visa guide for Filipino students, with the fee in pesos.

    ASEAN citizens pay a reduced visa application charge

    Home Affairs charges a lower Student visa cost to eligible ASEAN citizens, including Filipino nationals, instead of the AUD 2,500 that has applied to everyone else since 1 July 2026. The concession covers the application charge only. Financial capacity, OSHC and the Genuine Student requirement are unchanged.

    source

    Australia student visa requirements for Vietnamese students

    The full Australia visa guide for Vietnamese students, with the fee in your currency.

    ASEAN citizens pay a reduced visa application charge

    Home Affairs charges a lower Student visa cost to eligible ASEAN citizens, including Vietnamese nationals. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator to confirm your rate, and note that family members added to the application are charged separately.

    source
    United States
    From $535 all-in
    United Kingdom
    From $1,760 all-in
    Canada
    From $175 all-in
    Germany
    From $190 all-in
    France
    From $183 all-in
    New Zealand
    From $501 all-in

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    How much is the Australia student visa fee?
    The Student Visa (subclass 500) application charge is $1,650 (Subclass 500 application charge). Add the other mandatory items (OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) $600) and the all-in mandatory total is $2,250. Optional extras add up to $230 on top.
    How much is OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)?
    $600 for the Student Visa (subclass 500), and it is mandatory. Annual; varies by provider. It is already counted in the $2,250 all-in total.
    How much is the biometrics fee?
    $150 for the Student Visa (subclass 500), and only when it applies to you. It sits on top of the $2,250 mandatory total.
    How much proof of funds do you need for the Student Visa (subclass 500)?
    Financial capacity threshold raised to AUD 29,710 in May 2024. That is money you show, not money you pay. It is separate from the $2,250 in fees.
    How much bank balance is required for a Australia student visa?
    AUD 29,710, held as Evidence of funds for living costs, course fees and travel, covering Twelve months of living costs for the student. A partner coming with you adds AUD 10,394 and each accompanying child AUD 4,449. The first 12 months of course fees and your travel costs are counted separately, on top of this figure. It is money you show rather than money you pay, so it is separate from the visa fees. For a stay shorter than 12 months the amount is calculated pro rata: divide the annual figure by 365 and multiply by the number of days you intend to stay. Course fees you have already paid can be deducted if you provide a receipt or your Confirmation of Enrolment as evidence. Source: Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) (August 2026).
    Can you work on a Australia student visa?
    You may work up to 48 hours a fortnight once your course of study or training is in session. Students on a masters by research or a doctoral degree, and their families, have no work limit. Source: Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) (August 2026).
    How long does a Australia student visa take?
    Home Affairs does not publish a single headline figure for the subclass 500. It publishes current times in its visa processing time guide and warns that applications take longer during peak periods, so lodge well before your course start date. Source: Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) (August 2026).
    Can you bring your family on a Australia student visa?
    Family members can be included in the application, and each one attracts an additional visa charge. They must also hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay, and your financial evidence must cover them: AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child for 12 months. Source: Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) (August 2026).
    What's not included in the Student Visa (subclass 500) fee?
    Tuition, living costs and the money you have to show in your account are separate from the fees on this page. Use our cost-of-study calculator at /tools/cost-calculator for a complete budget.
    When are these fees due?
    Application and biometric fees are paid before submission. Health surcharges (UK IHS, Australian OSHC) are paid as part of the visa application. Some fees (Anmeldung in Germany, OFII in France) are paid after arrival.

    Official sources

    Last verified August 2026.