Student (Subclass 500) Visa Information Pack

What is the Subclass 500, who can apply, and what you need to get started

Which sector your course falls under - and why it matters for your work rights, visa length, and post-study options

Maximum age limits for school students and your options if you're over the limit

The single most important part of your application - effective 23 March 2024 under Direction No. 106

How much money you need to show, what counts as evidence, and the specific red flags that trigger financial refusals

Which test you need, what scores are required, and the full list of exemptions

How to package English language courses with your main qualification - and the maximum ELICOS weeks permitted per score level

Medical examinations, the significant cost threshold, and what to do if you have a pre-existing condition

Police certificates, what fails the character test, mandatory domestic violence questions, and the consequences of non-disclosure

Integrity, character, and settlement requirements - with full details on PIC 4020, PIC 4010, PIC 4019, and PIC 4003B

Return requirements - including the permanent exclusion that applies to deported applicants and the 12-month exclusion after removal

The complete list - mandatory for every applicant, and situational documents based on your circumstances

How your nationality and provider risk rating combine to determine what evidence you need - plus the Direction 115 traffic-light model

Exactly what to include in your Genuine Student statement - topic by topic, with the expert insight that separates approvals from refusals

How to document and present your funds so case officers are convinced - not just checking a number

How to book, obtain, and submit your results correctly - including the no-clubbing rule and validity requirements

OSHC requirements, approved providers, coverage duration rules, and why Condition 8501 means you cannot let it lapse

How to include your spouse, partner, and children - and exactly what conditions apply to them on the visa

The three welfare arrangement options for students under 18 - Form 157N, CAAW, and Subclass 590, and what Condition 8532 requires

Choosing CRICOS-registered providers and courses - and the course selection patterns that directly lead to GS refusals

Step-by-step guide to creating your account and navigating the online application structure

Upload requirements, naming conventions, the pre-lodgement checklist, and what you can and cannot do after submission

Current fees, the two-tier Pacific Islander structure, all additional costs, and what to budget for the full process

The 10-step process and current indicative processing timeframes by education sector

Certification, translation, file naming, upload strategy in ImmiAccount, and the quality control checklist

What to expect from acknowledgement through to final decision - and how to monitor your application

How to handle information requests effectively - deadline management, what to include, and how to request an extension

What changes you are legally required to notify DHA about - and how to do it correctly

What a visa grant means in practice, how to verify your conditions, and what options you have if refused

The stay-back period system explained sector by sector - and why finishing in November or December gives you up to 16 extra months

The 48-hour fortnight rule, all 8 mandatory conditions, how DHA monitors compliance, and consequences of breaches

The Temporary Graduate Visa (485) and permanent residency pathways - including the significant 2026 rule changes you must plan for

The Schedule 1 rules that block onshore applications - and the traps that catch even well-prepared students

How the SSVF affects evidence requirements - and the refusal patterns that have increased sharply since the 2024 GS change

The specific patterns that lead to refusal and the strategic approach that consistently separates approvals from rejections

Direct answers to the questions students ask each other - and the nuanced answers that matter

Banking, Tax File Number, transport, mobile, accommodation, and cost of living - everything you need to set yourself up

What support is available, your workplace rights, who to call in a crisis, and the comprehensive disclaimer