Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Whether you’re applying from inside of Australia, or outside, you can start your application online, here. 

Don’t forget to attach all of your documents before completing your application because without it, you could be refused or delayed. Don’t worry, the application form in ImmiAccount will say which documents you need to attach.

If you are in Australia, remember you will need a valid Substantive visa. If you don't currently have this, don't forget to apply:

• within 28 days of holding a Student visa, a Special Purpose visa, or a dependent Diplomatic (temporary) visa
• within 28 days of being notified by the Tribunal that your visa cancellation has been set aside.

As a reminder, you can’t apply for a Student visa if you hold one of the following visas:

• Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (subclass 426)
• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or consular) stream
• Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) – primary visa holder only. A family member of a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) can apply for a Student visa in Australia
• Transit visa (subclass 771)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Sponsored Family stream or in the Approved Destination Status stream.

The final step when applying for your visa will be to pay the application fee. To do this, you’ll have 2 options:

• pay for you and your family members to make sure your applications are valid
  or
• provide proof of exemption

If you have any further questions about how to pay, click here.

Please note, if your visa cancellation was set aside by the Tribunal you won’t be able apply online.  Instead, you’ll need to submit an ImmiAccount technical support form.

Don’t forget, a valid application must be made within the given timeframe, if your application is late, it unfortunately won’t be accepted.

If you keep seeing an error message, you can check how to resolve it, here.

1. A Student visa can’t be granted to your child if they are aged 18 years or over at the time your visa is finished. Instead, they will need to apply for their own visa.
2. If entrants are siblings (two or more children with no parent), they will need to each make a separate application for a Student visa and will also need to pay the fee to join their parent.

If you’re contacted for more information, you will need to respond promptly to avoid any delays with your application. We would also recommend checking your ImmiAccounts to make sure you don’t miss any messages from the Department.

If you can, we would hold off booking any of your travel arrangements until your visa has been confirmed. 

You can see any updates regarding your application in your ImmiAccount. You can see if you have been  asked for more information in your ImmiAccount.

You might be asked to provide your photograph and fingerprints (also known as biometric information). After you’ve submitted your application, you should be told straight away if you need to provide this (either in your ImmiAccount or via post).

If you are asked to provide biometric information, you will be given 14 days to provide them so it’s worth arranging an appointment quickly using the instructions in the request letter, sent to you by post.

You’ll need to have provided your fingerprints, for example, before travelling to Australia.

You can see if you need a health check before you submit your application by logging into your ImmiAccount.

You just need to see the medical referral letter with your Health Assessment Portal (HAP) ID and further directions in ImmiAccount. 

Don’t worry, you don’t need to inform anyone if you plan to travel outside of Australia while your application is being processed. This is because it’s completely fine to be outside Australia when your application is confirmed.

But, if you leave Australia, make sure your visa allows you to return. If you have a Bridging visa A, it will end if you leave Australia.

The AGDHA will write to you to tell you whether your application has been successful or not. If you accepted for the visa, you will get:

• your visa grant number
• the date your visa expires
• your visa conditions

It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the letter that confirms the acceptance of your visa with you when in Australia.

If your visa application is unsuccessful, the reason why will be explained to you within the letter. It will also let you know if you have a right to challenge the outcome. If your application is rejected, the fee won’t be able to be refunded.

Stay lawful in Australia 

As long as you hold a valid visa while your application is being processed, you are staying lawful.

If you were in Australia when you applied for this visa, you should have been given a Bridging visa A (BVA).

If your current visa expires before your application has been confirmed, the BVA will start. This means you can stay in Australia while your new visa application is being processed. But, don’t forget, you won’t be able to travel on the BVA as there is no right of return on this visa; it will cancel upon departure.

Remember, it’s important you don’t cancel your current visa, otherwise, you will:

• be staying in Australia unlawfully
• not be eligible for a Bridging visa A