Student Visa 500 to study in Australia in 2025

Australian Visa 500 (Student visa - Subclass 500) is a student visa that allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of a full-time course (up to 5 years) at an educational institution recognized by the Australian Government.

When owning an Australian Student Visa - Subclass 500, international students will enjoy attractive benefits such as:
Study full-time at an educational institution in Australia and live throughout the visa term.
Australian Visa 500 allows international students aged 18 and over to work up to 48 hours/ 2 weeks in any field and unlimited during holidays.
Freely travel in and out of Australia during the visa term.

For those applying for a Student Visa (Subclass 500), please ensure that you meet the following requirements:

• Must be aged 6 years or over

• Possess a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a full-time course at an Australian educational institution and meet the entry requirements for the course.

• Maintain approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia

• Meet the accommodation and guardianship requirements for students under 18 years of age.

• Meet the health requirements & complete the fingerprinting process

• Have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Australia (including tuition fees, living expenses and travel expenses).

The required documents for a student visa application to Australia include:

• Provide documents verifying your study and work experience in Vietnam including High School Transcript, Graduation Certificate, University Transcript, Proof of Employment (all must be translated into English).

• Confirmation of Enrolment (COE): a certificate verifying your enrolment in a specific course, the COE will be sent to you once you have accepted the offer and paid the deposit.

• Proof of financial means to cover the entire duration of your study in Australia including parents' annual income of at least AUD87,856/year or AUD102,500 if bringing a family member, living expenses of approximately AUD29,710/person AUD/year, estimated tuition fees of approximately AUD22,560 - $53,600 AUD/year, return airfare of approximately AUD2,000/year

• English language certificate (if applicable).

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

• Health requirements and provide a medical certificate confirming that you meet the health requirements.
  Provide supporting documentation demonstrating that you have met the guardianship and accommodation requirements for applicants under 18 years of age

The visa issuance time for each study abroad application will be different. To apply for a Visa 500 when studying in Australia, you need to complete the following basic steps:

Step 1: Determine where to submit your visa application, the intended time to submit your visa 500 application:
You need to meet the health requirements and possess a valid passport to apply for a student visa.
Students in Australia: Apply before the visa expires.
Students in other countries: Applying for a Visa 500 to study in Australia as soon as possible will have an advantage. The speed of application processing depends on many factors, contact IDP for specific advice

Step 2: Prepare required documents
Complete all documents, personal transcripts, foreign language certificates, extracurricular activity certificates, and documents listed by the Australian Government above.
If you still have any questions about preparing your application, contact an IDP consultant for free advice and support in preparing all documents.

Step 3: Apply for a Subclass 500 Visa
International students must apply for a visa through the online application portal (applicable to students in Australia and international students in other countries). Complete the Australian Subclass 500 visa application form online from your ImmiAccount. Upload scanned copies of your application and required documents as instructed.

Step 4: Track the application progress through ImmiAccount. You should log in regularly to monitor and respond promptly if there are any requests from the Australian Department of Immigration.

Step 5: Receive visa results from the Australian Department of Immigration.

The processing time may vary depending on the field you are applying for. According to the latest updates from the Australian Department of Immigration, the processing time will be as follows:

• High School, Preparatory Program (Schools Sector): 15 days to 5 months

• College and University Programs (Higher Education Sector): about 8 days to 35 days.

• Postgraduate Research Sector: about 13 days to 15 months.

• Vocational Education and Training Sector: from 9 days to 63 days.

Please note that your Visa Subclass 500 application may take longer to process if the information is incorrect, documents are incomplete or have errors, or if the consulate needs more time to verify the authenticity of the information.

The cost of applying for an Australian Visa 500 is AUD 1,600 per application. If you have dependents or family members accompanying you, you will also have to pay an additional fee for each family member when applying for the visa.

Note: the Australian visa fees above are updated as of July 2024.

To be granted an Australian student visa - Subclass 500, you will need to provide valid English language certificates. These certificates will demonstrate your English language skills in an academic environment, as well as your communication skills during your studies in Australia, typically the IELTS test. IELTS is the world's most popular English language proficiency test for study, work and migration purposes, with over three million tests taken in the past year.

The minimum IELTS score required for an Australian 500 visa is 6.0 but you should achieve a higher score to enter top universities. In addition, IELTS score requirements will vary between courses. For example, courses such as Business, IT and Engineering usually require an IELTS score of 6.5. Courses such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Education may require an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher.

To know exactly how much IELTS or PTE is required for the Australian 500 visa for the field of study you want to pursue, you can contact IDP for the most detailed advice.

9.1. What should I do if my study plan changes?

If your study plan changes, typically:
You want to change your major or course
You want to complete your study program earlier
You want to postpone your study abroad

To make a final decision on such changes, your Visa must meet the requirements of the Australian Department of Immigration.
You are not allowed to change your course or school on your own while holding a student visa in Australia. It is recommended to contact IDP and your consultant for proper guidance on the process.

9.2. Can I travel once I have a Subclass 500 Visa

Yes. You can travel outside Australia an unlimited number of times once you have a valid Visa from the Australian Government.

9.3. Can I extend my Australian Student Visa 500?

The Subclass 500 Visa allows international students to work up to 40 hours every two weeks. You will be allowed to start your part-time work after your course has started. However, if you already have a student visa and have completed specific qualifications in Australia in the past 6 months, you will be eligible for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).
With new updates from the Australian Government, from 1/7/2023, international students can work up to 48 hours/2 weeks, up from the previous 40 hours/2 weeks.
Compared to other countries, the process and documents for applying for an Australian student visa are quite open and clear. However, the application process for an Australian student visa can be different for each level of study and there are quite a few steps.

9.4. Can a 500 visa sponsor relatives?

International students who are granted a 500 visa are allowed to bring relatives to study abroad with them when they take long-term courses in Australia. And of course, your relatives also need to satisfy the accompanying person conditions under the 500 visa.

9.5. Tips for staying in Australia when the 500 student visa expires

To stay in Australia longer, you cannot extend this visa. To continue studying in Australia, you need to apply for a new student visa. If you want to stay in Australia longer without studying, you will need to apply for a new visa.
See more: Visa 485: Temporary Graduate Visa

Increase your chances of getting an Australian 500 visa when applying at IDP!

With the help of a team of highly qualified Australian study abroad consultants at IDP, you will always have access to accurate information about visa application procedures, fully updated documents with the latest application forms, and Australian visa interview instructions to help ensure timely visa progress for your study abroad journey.
In addition, IDP is ready to introduce Australian study abroad scholarships to students who attend the IDP study abroad fair, and those who apply at IDP. You will be guided by experts on how to hunt for scholarships, practice interviews, complete Australian student visa applications and be equipped with knowledge before going abroad to study.
Contact IDP to start consulting on studying abroad in Australia today!

With the help of IDP's highly qualified team of Australian student visa consultants, you will always have access to accurate information about visa application procedures, be fully updated with the latest application forms, and be guided through the Australian visa interview process to ensure your visa is approved in time for your study abroad journey.

In addition, IDP is happy to introduce Australian student scholarships to students who attend IDP's student fairs and those who apply for a visa through IDP. You will be guided by experts on how to apply for scholarships, practice interviews, complete your Australian student visa application, and equip yourself with knowledge before going abroad to study.

Contact IDP to start your Australian student visa consultation today!