Your visa application, broken into 8 clear steps.
A plain-English, step‑by‑step guide to the Australian Student visa — from choosing a course to boarding your flight. Built around official Department of Home Affairs requirements, with a live calculator for your funds.
Quick eligibility self‑check
Tick what already applies to you. This is a self‑assessment, not an official decision — but it shows you exactly what still needs work.
- Enrolled (or accepted) in a CRICOS‑registered courseYou have, or are about to receive, a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a registered Australian provider.
- Meet the age requirementYou're at least 6 years old. If you're under 18, you have approved welfare and accommodation arrangements.
- Can satisfy the Genuine Student (GS) requirementYou can explain honestly why studying in Australia is your genuine, primary reason for applying.
- Meet the English language requirementYour test score (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL/Cambridge) meets your course and provider's threshold.
- Can show financial capacityYou can evidence funds for tuition, travel and living costs for yourself (and any family joining you).
- Can arrange OSHC health coverYou're able to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover before you lodge your application.
- Meet health and character requirementsYou're prepared for a possible health exam and, if requested, a police clearance certificate.
Let's check your readiness
Tick the boxes on the left that already apply to you.
8 steps from “accepted” to “approved”
Follow this order — each step unlocks documents you need for the next one. Tap a step to expand it.
Choose a CRICOS‑registered course and provider
Your course must be registered on CRICOS (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Compare universities, TAFEs and colleges on course content, fees, location and entry requirements.
- Check the course's CRICOS code on the official register before applying.
- Review academic and English-language entry requirements for that specific course.
- If you plan to package courses (e.g. English course + degree), keep gaps between courses under 2 months.
Accept your Letter of Offer and pay the deposit
Once accepted, the provider sends a formal Letter of Offer. Sign and return it, and pay any required deposit or first-instalment tuition fee as instructed.
- A Letter of Offer alone is not enough to lodge your visa — you still need a CoE (next step).
- Keep every payment receipt; you may need to show this evidence later.
Receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
After your deposit is paid, the provider issues an electronic CoE through PRISMS. This is the key document that proves your enrolment and lets you lodge your visa application.
- Check your CoE details (name, course, dates) match your passport and offer exactly.
- If you already hold a student visa and get a new CoE, upload it to ImmiAccount promptly — a lower-level course may require a brand-new visa.
Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
OSHC is mandatory health insurance covering the entire length of your visa. Buy it from a government-approved insurer before you lodge your application.
- Cover must start from your arrival date and run for your full visa duration.
- Bringing family? They need to be covered too, with names exactly matching their passports.
Gather your documents and evidence of funds
This is the step most refusals trace back to. Collect identity, financial, English-test and Genuine Student evidence before you start the online form. See the full checklist below.
- Use the calculator further down this page to estimate the funds you'll need to show.
- Bank statements should show 3–6 months of history — avoid last-minute lump-sum deposits.
Create an ImmiAccount and lodge your application
All student visa applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. Register, start a new Student visa (500) application, complete the Genuine Student questions, attach your documents, and pay the visa application charge.
- If applying from outside Australia, apply roughly 12 weeks before your course starts.
- Answer Genuine Student questions specifically and honestly — around 150 words each, supported by real evidence.
- Some visa holders (e.g. Visitor visa) cannot apply for a Student visa while in Australia — check your current visa conditions first.
Complete biometrics, health checks and respond to requests
Depending on your nationality, you may be asked for biometrics (usually within 14 days of being asked) and a health examination with an approved panel physician. This is common for applicants from many South Asian countries, including Pakistan.
- Watch your ImmiAccount and email closely — requests come with strict deadlines.
- Book panel-physician appointments early; slots can fill up.
- Respond to any request for extra documents as fully and quickly as you can.
Receive your visa grant and prepare to travel
If approved, you'll get a grant notification with your visa conditions, grant number and expiry date. Your visa is usually granted for the length of your course, plus a short extra period.
- Save the grant letter — you'll need it for travel and enrolment checks.
- Notify your provider of your Australian residential address within 7 days of arriving.
- Check your visa conditions any time via VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).
Estimate the funds you'll need to show
Based on the Department of Home Affairs' published living‑cost benchmarks. Enter your own tuition figure from your CoE — everything updates instantly.
Figures use the Department of Home Affairs' 2026 indicative living‑cost benchmarks: AUD $29,710/year (single applicant), + AUD $10,394/year (partner), + AUD $4,449/year per child. If your course is under 12 months, living costs are pro‑rated by month. These numbers are reviewed periodically — always verify the current figures on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before relying on them.
Document checklist
Exact requirements depend on your course and country — use the Department's Document Checklist Tool for your specific case. This covers what most applicants need.
Identity
- Valid passport (with enough validity for your stay)
- Passport-style photographs
- Birth certificate (for applicants under 18)
- Parental consent form, if under 18 and travelling without both parents
Course & education
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) — for every course you'll study
- Certified academic transcripts and certificates
- Genuine Student (GS) responses and supporting statement
Financial evidence
- Bank statements (3–6 months of history)
- Education loan approval letter, if used
- Scholarship or sponsorship letter, if applicable
- Sponsor's income evidence and statutory declaration, if sponsored
English proficiency
- IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge results
- Or evidence you're exempt (e.g. prior study in English)
Health & character
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy
- Health examination, if requested by a panel physician
- Police clearance certificate, if requested
Family / dependants
- Marriage or relationship evidence for a partner
- Children's birth certificates
- OSHC and financial evidence covering every family member
Fees and processing times
Indicative figures — always confirm current amounts and wait times on the official Home Affairs site before you pay or plan around them.
| Charge | Who it applies to | Indicative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base application charge | Primary (main) applicant | AUD $2,500 |
| Additional applicant charge | Partner or dependant aged 18+ | Varies — see fee estimator |
| Additional applicant charge | Dependent child under 18 | Varies — see fee estimator |
| Health examination | If requested by the Department | Paid to panel physician |
| NAATI-certified translation | For any non-English documents | Paid to translator |
| Study sector | Typical processing time |
|---|---|
| Schools & higher education (Bachelor/Master by coursework) | ~4–8 weeks (varies) |
| ELICOS (English language courses) | ~4–8 weeks (varies) |
| Vocational education & training (VET) | ~4–7 months (varies) |
| Postgraduate research (Masters/PhD by research) | ~3–5 months (varies) |
Key visa conditions & work rights
Your grant letter lists the exact conditions attached to your visa — these are the ones almost every student visa holder needs to know.
Report your address
Tell your provider your residential address within 7 days of arriving in Australia.
Stay enrolled & attend
Maintain satisfactory attendance and course progress; tell your provider if illness affects this.
Keep OSHC active
Maintain valid health cover for the whole time you hold the visa.
Work limits (term time)
Most student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
Work during breaks
Unlimited work hours are generally allowed during your official course breaks.
Research higher degrees
Masters-by-research and doctoral students can generally work unlimited hours throughout.
Common mistakes that slow applications down
Vague, copy-pasted responses are a leading cause of extra scrutiny. Be specific about your course, your ties, and your plans.
A large deposit made right before applying looks like "funds parking." Show 3–6 months of steady history instead.
Any document not in English needs a NAATI-certified translation attached alongside the original.
Processing times vary a lot by sector. Lodge as early as your CoE allows, and never assume a fast decision.
Switching to a course at a lower AQF level while on a student visa can mean you need to apply for a brand-new visa.
Applying from Pakistan
The process is the same everywhere — apply online via ImmiAccount — but a few things are worth knowing if you're applying from Pakistan.
- A health examination with an approved panel physician is commonly requested for applicants from Pakistan and the wider South Asia region.
- Biometrics are usually collected at a Visa Application Centre — book your appointment as soon as it's requested.
- The Australian High Commission in Islamabad does not process paper applications — everything is lodged and tracked online.