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Australia Student Visa Guide for International Students

A complete guide to the Australian subclass 500 Student visa, understanding the visa, the Confirmation of Enrolment and CRICOS courses, the genuine student

Reviewed by the GetInfoUs research teamLast reviewed: 2026-06Editorial policy

Flat illustration of an international student arriving in Australia.

Understanding the Subclass 500 Student Visa

The Student visa (subclass 500) is the visa that allows you to live in Australia and study a registered course on a full-time basis. It covers everything from English-language and vocational courses to undergraduate and postgraduate university degrees, and a single visa can usually cover your whole study program. It is managed online by the Department of Home Affairs, and it is one of the most popular pathways for younger people who want to live in Australia, gain a respected qualification, and potentially build toward longer-term migration. The visa is granted for the duration of your course and lets you bring eligible family members, work within set limits, and, after you graduate, move on to a Temporary Graduate visa. Knowing that the subclass 500 is tied to a registered course and a confirmed enrolment is the starting point for a successful application.

Confirmation of Enrolment and CRICOS Courses

Your application is built around enrolment in a course registered on CRICOS, the official register of courses for overseas students. Once you are accepted and have met the institution’s conditions, the provider issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), an electronic document confirming your course, its level, and its start and end dates. You need a CoE for each course you intend to study, and you enter its details when you apply. Because the visa requires study at a CRICOS-registered provider, you should confirm that your chosen course and institution are properly registered before paying fees or applying. The CoE is central evidence that you have a genuine place, so make sure its details are accurate. Securing your enrolment and CoE is always the first concrete step, and the rest of the application is assembled around it.

The Genuine Student Requirement

Australia expects applicants to be coming primarily to study, and you must satisfy what is known as the genuine student requirement. This means demonstrating, through your statements and your overall circumstances, that your main purpose is to obtain a quality education and that you intend to comply with your visa conditions. Decision-makers look at factors such as your immigration history, your ties and circumstances, the value of the course to your future, and the consistency of your study plans. This does not mean you can never have longer-term hopes of staying in Australia, but your application must show that genuine study is your real and present intention. Weak, inconsistent, or contradictory explanations are a common reason for refusal, so it is worth preparing a clear, honest account of why you have chosen this course, this provider, and Australia.

Financial Capacity and Health Cover

You must show that you can genuinely afford to study and live in Australia. This means evidence of sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, your living costs, and travel, and in many cases the costs of any accompanying family members and school costs for children. The required living-cost figure is set by the Department and updated periodically, so you should check the current amount. You must also hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa, which is a mandatory health-insurance arrangement for international students that helps cover medical and hospital costs. Arranging adequate OSHC and assembling clear, well-documented financial evidence, bank statements, loan approvals, or evidence of a sponsor, are essential parts of the application, and gaps or inconsistencies here are a frequent cause of delay or refusal.

Working While You Study

A subclass 500 visa lets you work, but within limits that are tied to your study. Student visa holders are generally permitted to work a capped number of hours during periods when their course is in session, and may often work without that limit during scheduled course breaks; postgraduate research students can sometimes work without the fortnightly cap. The exact rules and the current cap should always be checked, as they have changed over time. You usually cannot begin working until your course has started. Working is a valuable way to support yourself and gain Australian experience, but breaching your work conditions is serious and can put your visa at risk. Your dependants’ ability to work, if they accompany you, is governed by separate rules that depend on your level of study, so confirm what everyone in your family is allowed to do.

After Graduation: the Temporary Graduate Visa

A major attraction of studying in Australia is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which lets eligible graduates stay and work after completing their studies. The length of stay depends on your level of qualification and field of study, and it gives you the chance to gain Australian work experience that is highly valuable. That experience, together with your Australian qualification, can raise your points score and help make a later skilled or employer-sponsored permanent visa achievable. In this way, the student journey can become the first deliberate stage of a longer migration plan rather than an end in itself. Eligibility rules, timing, and requirements for the 485 should be checked carefully and well before your Student visa expires, and you should keep records of your enrolment, results, and time in Australia to support future applications.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?+

A CoE is an electronic document issued by your education provider confirming your enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course, including its level and start and end dates. You need a CoE for each course and enter its details when you apply. It is central evidence that you have a genuine place to study.

What is the genuine student requirement?+

It is the expectation that you are coming to Australia primarily to study and intend to comply with your visa conditions. Decision-makers consider your circumstances, immigration history, and the value of the course. A clear, honest, and consistent explanation of your study plans is important, as weak accounts are a common reason for refusal.

Do I need health insurance?+

Yes. You must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa. This mandatory health insurance for international students helps cover medical and hospital costs, and arranging adequate cover is an essential part of a successful application.

Can I work on a Student visa in Australia?+

Yes, within limits tied to your study. You can generally work a capped number of hours while your course is in session and often without that limit during scheduled breaks. The exact cap should be checked as it has changed over time, and you usually cannot start working until your course begins.

What can I do after I graduate?+

Eligible graduates can apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to stay and work, with the length depending on your qualification and field. The Australian work experience and qualification can raise your points score and help make a later skilled or employer-sponsored permanent visa achievable.