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Australia Student Visa
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Simplifying Your Australia Student Visa Journey

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Are you looking for student visa help to study in your dream university/college? Stepping Stones Career Solutions can be your ultimate guide for getting a student visa for Australia. We are one of the leading student visa consultants based in Melbourne, Australia. We provide student visa assistance for different full-time courses including Higher Education, VET Courses, ELICOS, and PG research degrees in a recognized education institution.

Australian Student Visa Overview

International students who want to study in Australia need a student visa. It is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) that allows international students to study in an educational institution in another country. Australian Student Visa Subclass 500 is the most common student visa in Australia, which grants permission to study full-time at an Australian university, college, or other approved institution.

Student Visa Fee

As of 1st July 2024, the Australian student visa fee (Subclass 500) is AUD 1,600. Previously, it was AUD 710. This new change aims to manage record immigration levels and address pressures on the education and housing system.

Age Limit for Student Visa Australia

To get an Australian student visa​, there is no maximum age limit. You must be at least 6 years old if you’re a school student and at least 13 years old if you’re applying for secondary school.

Student Visa Extension Australia

You’re not allowed to renew your Australia student visa Subclass 500. However, you can apply for a fresh Australian student visa, if your visa expires before completing your course.

Make welfare arrangements

If you are applying for an Australian student visa Subclass 500 and are under 18 years old, it is essential to have appropriate welfare arrangements organized for your stay in Australia. However, if you turn 18 by the time you arrive in Australia, you must inform authorities, as some of these requirements may not apply to you.

Australian Student Visa Processing Time

The student visa processing time for Subclass 500 varies based on the education sector and individual factors. As of December 2024, the Department of Home Affairs provides the following estimates:

Higher Education Sector

  • 50% of applications are processed within 34 days.
  • 90% processed within 5 months.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector

  • 50% processed within 6 months.
  • 90% within 7 months.

Postgraduate Research Sector​

  • 50% processed within 27 days.
  • 90% within 4 months.

It is an average time. The actual visa processing durations can vary due to various factors such as application completeness, peak periods, and individual case complexities.

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Australian Student Visa Requirements​

It is highly recommended that you understand and fulfill all the eligibility criteria for applying for a student visa in Australia. Read this detailed information about the student visa eligibility:-

Age Limit

To apply for this visa as a school student, you must be at least 6 years old and not involved in a secondary school student exchange program.

You must also be:

  • Less than 17 years old when you begin year 9
  • Less than 18 years old when you begin year 10
  • Less than 19 years old when you begin year 11
  • Less than 20 years old when you begin year 12

Enrol in the Course and provide evidence

To ensure your Australian Student visa application is valid and can be processed, it is essential to include Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a course of study.

You must be enrolled in a full-time course listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

  • Applying from outside Australia: You are required to provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course you intend to study.

  • Applying from within Australia: You must include a CoE for all planned courses.

If you fail to provide a CoE at the time of submission, your Student visa application will be deemed invalid.

English Language Proficiency

When applying for your visa, you may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency.

English Language Tests

You need a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 for each of 4 parts, 65 or higher for PTE and 79 to 96 for TOFIL. The English language test must have been taken within the two years before either:

  • The date your visa application is submitted (if you fall under the Regular Evidence level), or
  • The date your visa application is assessed (if no test results were provided at the time of submission, applicable to Streamlined Evidence level applicants).

Tests Taken at Home or Online

The Department does not accept scores from at-home or online tests, such as:

  • TOEFL iBT – Home Edition
  • OET@Home
  • PTE Academic Online
  • IELTS Online (General and Academic)
  • IELTS Indicator

Candidates who can’t get a minimum score in IELTS or any language test can go with ELICOS (English language course). The English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) program is designed for international students who wish to improve their English language proficiency for academic, professional, or personal purposes.

Exemptions for English Language Evidence

You do not need to provide proof of an English language test score if any of the following apply:

1) You hold a passport and are a citizen of:

  • The United Kingdom
  • The United States
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • The Republic of Ireland

2) You are:

  • Sponsored by Foreign Affairs or Defence as a student
  • A Secondary Exchange student under the AASES program

3) Your principal course of study is:

  • A registered school course
  • A standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
  • Registered and delivered in a language other than English

4) You have completed at least five years of study in English in one of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • The United Kingdom
  • The United States
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • The Republic of Ireland

5) In the two years before applying for your Student visa:

  • You completed a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia in English while holding a Student visa.
  • You finished a significant portion of a course meeting the Australian Qualifications Framework Certificate IV or higher while holding a Student visa.

6) You are enrolled in a registered postgraduate research course.

By ensuring your application complies with these requirements, you can avoid delays and ensure a smoother visa processing experience.

Health Insurance

You and your family must have valid health insurance throughout your entire stay in Australia. The required duration of coverage depends on your Student Visa grant period. Unless an exemption applies, you and your family members must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from a recognized Australian health insurance provider.

For Applicants Outside Australia

When applying for a student visa, your OSHC policy must begin on the date you and your family arrive in Australia, not the start date of your course. If you plan to travel to Australia before your course begins, ensure your OSHC start date aligns with your arrival date. Typically, this should be at least one week to a month before your course commences.

You are required to:

  • Avoid entering Australia before your OSHC policy starts.
  • Maintain continuous OSHC coverage until you depart Australia.

Entry to Australia may be denied if you cannot provide evidence of valid health insurance upon arrival.

Stepping Stones Career Solutions can make this process easy for you. We provide the best student visa Australia help​ to those who are looking for admission to Australia’s prestigious universities or institutions.

For Applicants Already in Australia

If you are already in Australia, you must have OSHC. If your current visa requires health insurance, your coverage must be continuous, with no gap between your previous policy and your new OSHC. To learn more about health insurance. Click here (linking on OSHC Page)

How to apply for an Australian Student ​Visa Subclass 500?

Applying from outside Australia

  • To apply for an Australian student visa Subclass 500​, you are suggested to follow certain steps. Here is a quick guide to help students understand the student visa requirements and process:-
  • Step 1: Choose the desired course and get enrolled
  • Step 2: Check visa requirements
  • Step 3: Collect all your valid and necessary documents
  • Step 4: Submit your visa application
  • Step 5: Biometric and health check
  • Step 6: Wait for the visa outcome
  • Step 7: Receive your visa
  • Stepping Stones Career Solutions can make this process easy for you. We provide the best student visa Australia help​ to those who are looking for admission to Australia’s prestigious universities or institutions.

Applying from within Australia:

  • You can apply for Subclass 500 visa whether you are inside or outside Australia. However, if you are applying while in Australia, you must hold a valid substantive visa, except for the following visa types:
  • Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) under the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
  • Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (subclass 426)
  • Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
  • Visitor visa (subclass 600)
  • Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) (ETA)
  • Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602)
  • eVisitor visa (subclass 651)
  • Transit visa (subclass 771)
  • Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988)
  • Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) – applicable only to the primary visa holder. Family members holding this visa can apply for a Student visa while in Australia.
  • If you do not hold an eligible substantive visa, you can still apply within 28 days of:
  • Having held a Student visa, Special Purpose visa, or dependent Diplomatic (Temporary) visa.
  • Receiving notification from the Tribunal that your visa cancellation has been overturned.
  • This ensures that your application complies with the eligibility requirements for submission in Australia.

Enough Money to stay in Australia

  • To stay in Australia, you must have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses. Keep in mind that the declared amount is the minimum needed for your visa, but actual living costs across Australia can vary significantly and may be higher. It’s essential to research the living expenses in the area where you plan to reside.

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Criterion for Student Visa (subclass 500)

  • It is highly important to understand the GTE criterion for those candidates who are applying for the Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500). It assesses the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily in Australia for studies. Here are some key factors include:
  • Native country circumstances
  • Prospective situation in Australia
  • Immigration history
  • Course relevance to future plans

To learn more about GTE assessment criteria, you can visit the official immigration site.

FAQs

From July 2023, students must demonstrate increased financial capacity, ensuring they can support themselves during their studies. Check the latest updates from the Department of Home Affairs.
You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session and unlimited hours during official breaks.
You must show at least AUD 24,505 per year for living costs, plus tuition fees, travel expenses, and any dependent costs.
Your sponsor can be a parent, legal guardian, relative, or an official sponsor (e.g., government or organization). They must provide proof of financial capacity.
The base application fee for the Subclass 500 visa is AUD 630, but additional costs for dependents, biometrics, and health checks may apply.

We are your trusted partner in migration and visa consultation. With years of experience, we guide overseas students and professionals through course selection, applications, and visa processes, ensuring expert support every step of the way.

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