Student (Subclass 500) — Study Verified 2026-04-19Student Visa (Subclass 500)
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows Indian students to live in Australia and undertake a full-time eligible course of study — school, VET, undergraduate, postgraduate, or research — for up to 6 years.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Australia visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Variable by course level and applicant profile
Stay Duration
Up to 6 years
Starting Fee
AUD 2,000
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Your whole Australia Student Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong Australia file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹34,999–₹49,999 fee covers for a Australia file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Australia visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1All Indian applicants MUST apply online via ImmiAccount — there is no paper form, no VFS lodgement. VFS Global is only the biometrics collection agent in India.
- 2Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay. Renew BEFORE applying if expiry is within 6 months.
- 3Australia does NOT place a visa sticker in your passport. Your visa is digitally linked to your passport — verify via VEVO after grant.
- 4You must be OUTSIDE Australia when you apply AND when the visa is decided (for most visitor and temporary visas).
- 5Be a 'genuine visitor' — you must intend to return to your home country. Australia's Department of Home Affairs scrutinises this closely for Indian applicants.
- 6Health requirement: you may need a medical examination (chest X-ray, general health check) at a Bupa Medical Visa Services panel physician. Bupa is the only authorised provider in India.
- 7Character requirement: police clearance certificate (PCC) from the passport office may be required if you've spent 12+ months in any country in the last 10 years.
- 8'No Further Stay' condition 8503 is commonly attached to visitor visas — if attached, you cannot apply for another visa while in Australia. Check your grant letter carefully.
- 9Visitor visa holders: be aware of recent laws restricting 'visa hopping' to the Student visa program — you generally cannot switch to Student visa while in Australia on a Visitor visa.
- 10From 1 July 2022, Student visas are subject to condition 8208 (Critical Technology) — certain study/research areas require additional scrutiny.
- 11From 14 November 2025, applications are assessed under Ministerial Direction 115 (replacing Direction 111) — the 'Genuine Student' (GS) test replaces the old 'Genuine Temporary Entrant' (GTE) test.
- 12Condition 8202 requires you to maintain enrolment, satisfactory attendance, and satisfactory course progress — breaches can lead to visa cancellation.
- 13Primary school children (years 1–4) will generally only be granted a Student visa for a maximum 3-year period.
Who Can Apply
- Indian citizens aged 6+ accepted into a CRICOS-registered full-time course (school, ELICOS, VET, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, research)
- Applicants with a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course in their package
- Dependent family members (partner + children under 18) of a primary student applicant
- Subsequent entrants — family members joining a student visa holder already in Australia
Not eligible under this visa:
- Applicants without a valid CoE when the Department decides the visa
- Applicants who do not meet the 'genuine student' requirement (GS) under Ministerial Direction 115
- Applicants under 18 without approved welfare arrangements
- Anyone with significant unpaid debts to the Australian Government
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Australia / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa (subclass 500) — main applicant | AUD 2,000 |
| Family member 18+ (charge 2) | AUD 1,500 (approx.) |
| Family member under 18 (charge 3) | AUD 370 (approx.) |
| Subsequent entrant (family joining later) | AUD 2,000 (approx.) |
| OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) | ₹30,000–60,000/year |
| Biometrics | ₹1,850 |
| Health check (Bupa Medical) | ₹4,500–6,000 |
All charges are set in AUD by the Department of Home Affairs and paid online via ImmiAccount. The INR amount depends on your credit card's exchange rate on payment day. Additional costs: OSHC health insurance (mandatory), biometrics, health check, police clearance (if requested), document translations (NAATI), English language test (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL), and in some cases GTE/GS statement preparation. A lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens — Indian applicants pay the full rate.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What Australia actually requires — and what it does not.
Australia assesses genuine temporary intent — the bookings matter less than the reason you are coming back.
0 of 4 are compulsory for Australia
Flight reservation
A confirmed ticket is not required for the visitor stream. An indicative itinerary matching your approved leave is sufficient.
Where people slip: Applying with open-ended dates. "Genuine temporary entrant" is the test, and open dates argue against you.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Show where you are staying for the main part of the trip, or give the host's details if you are visiting family.
Where people slip: Listing a family address with no evidence of who lives there.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not required for a visitor visa. Sometimes requested for older applicants, or where a health condition is declared.
Where people slip: Skipping it entirely at 65 or over. If a medical examination is triggered, cover strengthens the file.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A plan tied to a real reason — a wedding, a graduation, a sporting season. Specific reasons pass; general tourism is examined harder.
Where people slip: An itinerary longer than the leave your employer approved in writing.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your Australia file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Study Documents (most critical)
4 items- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for every course in your packageRequired
Issued by your CRICOS-registered education provider after you accept the offer and pay the deposit. Required at time of application AND at time of decision — if cancelled, your visa may be refused.
- English language proficiency evidenceRequired
IELTS (typically 5.5–6.5 depending on course), PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, or OET. Some exemptions apply (e.g., study in English, citizen of exempt country, certain diplomas).
- Statement of Purpose (SOP) — Genuine Student (GS) statementRequired
Mandatory under Ministerial Direction 115 (from 14 Nov 2025). Explains course choice, career plans, ties to India, and intent to return. This replaced the old 'Genuine Temporary Entrant' (GTE) test.
- Academic transcripts + qualification certificatesRequired
All previous education — 10th, 12th, diploma, degree, PG, etc. English translations if needed.
Financial Documents
4 items- Evidence of funds for tuition + living costs + travelRequired
As per Department requirements — currently AUD 29,710 per year living costs (from 10 May 2024) + annual tuition + AUD 2,500 travel. Bank statements, FD, education loan sanction letter, sponsor affidavit all accepted.
- Education loan sanction letter (if applicable)
From a recognised Indian bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Union, Canara, PNB, Credila, Avanse, etc.). Include disbursement schedule.
- Sponsor documents (parent/relative funding the study)
Sponsor's affidavit, ITRs (3 years), bank statements (6 months), salary slips, property papers, business financials.
- Applicant's ITRs (if employed)
Health Insurance (OSHC)
1 item- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)Required
Purchase BEFORE lodging visa. Covers the entire course duration plus buffer. Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib, ahm are the main providers.
Core Personal Documents
5 items- Valid passportRequired
Valid for entire course duration. Renew if expiring soon.
- Passport-style photographRequired
- Birth certificateRequired
For all applicants including family members.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
If including partner as dependent.
- Children's birth certificates (if applicable)
Health & Character
4 items- Health examination at Bupa Medical Visa ServicesRequired
Chest X-ray + medical. Bupa is the sole authorised provider in India. Book HAP ID from ImmiAccount first.
- Police clearance certificate (PCC)
If requested — usually for applicants who've spent 12+ months in another country in the last 10 years.
- Biometrics at VFS Global IndiaRequired
Fingerprints + facial photo after the Department instructs.
- Australian Values StatementRequired
Signed declaration in ImmiAccount — you agree to respect Australian values and laws.
For Minors (Under 18)
3 items- Welfare arrangementsRequired
Either: (a) accompanied by a parent on Student Guardian visa (subclass 590), (b) live with an eligible relative approved by the Department, or (c) the education provider's approved welfare arrangements (CAAW letter).
- Parental consent (Form 1229)Required
Signed by non-travelling parent(s).
- Birth certificateRequired
For Students Including Family
3 items- Partner / dependent child details
Declare ALL family members at the time of lodgement — even if they're not travelling with you. Failure to declare blocks them from joining you later.
- Relationship evidence (for partner)
Marriage certificate, joint bank account, photographs, communication records, shared accommodation.
- Annual school fees evidence (if child is school-age)
Dependent children in Australia need to attend school — factor public/private school fees into your funds evidence.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
10 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Get your CoE from an Australian institution
Apply to a CRICOS-registered university/college, receive offer letter, pay initial deposit (usually 1 semester), and obtain Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for each course in your package.
- 02
Purchase OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)
Mandatory before visa lodgement. Buy online from Bupa/Medibank/Allianz/nib/ahm for the full course duration + buffer.
- 03
Prepare Genuine Student (GS) statement + supporting docs
Write a clear Statement of Purpose explaining course choice, career plan, how the course aligns with your India-based career, and strong ties to India. Replaces the old GTE under Ministerial Direction 115 (effective 14 Nov 2025).
- 04
Create an ImmiAccount
Visit online.immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and create your account. This is Australia's only official application portal.
- 05
Start the online application + request HAP ID
Select 'Student visa (subclass 500)'. Complete the form sections. Request a Health Assessment Pass (HAP) ID for Bupa Medical.
- 06
Complete health exam at Bupa Medical Visa Services
Chest X-ray + medical. Bupa sends results directly to the Department — no paper copy needed.
- 07
Upload all documents + pay VAC
Upload CoE, English test, transcripts, SOP/GS statement, funds evidence, OSHC certificate, passport, photo. Pay AUD 2,000 VAC via international credit/debit card.
- 08
Give biometrics at VFS Global India
Book the nearest VFS centre (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jalandhar) — fingerprints + facial photo.
- 09
Respond promptly to any requests for more information
Log into ImmiAccount regularly. The Department may ask for additional documents, English test, or a Genuine Student interview. Respond within deadline.
- 10
Visa decision — digital grant
Decision comes by email. Your visa is digitally linked to your passport — verify via VEVO. NO sticker in passport.
What works
10 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Apply at least 12 weeks before your course start date — Student visa processing times have become longer since the introduction of Ministerial Direction 115 (14 November 2025).
- Your CoE MUST be valid both at the time you apply and when the visa is decided — don't defer or cancel after lodgement without first checking with a registered migration agent.
- The Genuine Student (GS) statement is the single most important document — invest serious effort. Address: course choice rationale, career plan, value of Australian qualification, ties to India, and post-study intent.
- Include ALL family members on your application even if they aren't travelling with you — undeclared family cannot join you later as subsequent entrants.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Failing the 'genuine student' (GS) requirement under Ministerial Direction 115 — vague career plan, poor course-choice rationale, mismatch with past study/work
- 2Insufficient funds — living cost benchmark not met, or funds not held for required period
- 3CoE cancelled or course lapsed before decision
Download official forms
Each link opens the official Australia page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
ImmiAccount — Online Application Portal
Australia's official online visa application portal. ALL Australian visas for Indian applicants must be lodged here — no paper forms, no VFS lodgement. Create your ImmiAccount, select the visa subclass, pay online, and upload documents.
Department of Home Affairs — Official Website
Authoritative source for all Australian visa information. Includes Visa Finder tool, Visa Pricing Estimator, Visa Processing Time Guide, and health requirement details.
Visa Finder Tool
If you're unsure which visa is right for you — answer a few questions and the tool recommends matching visa subclasses.
VEVO — Visa Entitlement Verification Online
After visa grant, use VEVO to check your visa conditions, stay period, and entry rights. Australia grants digital visas only — no sticker in passport.
VFS application centres
Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 questions to see your likelihood of approval. Embassies look for the same core factors across visa types — financial strength, clear purpose, genuine intent to return.
How clear is your purpose of visit?
How long is your planned stay?
Travel history to developed countries?
Any previous visa refusals?
Employment / income source?
3-month average bank balance?
Income Tax Returns history?
Travel bookings status?
Ties to India (reasons you'll return)?
Travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
From 10 May 2024, the living cost benchmark is AUD 29,710 per year for the primary applicant (plus AUD 10,394 for partner, AUD 4,449 per child), PLUS 12 months of tuition, PLUS AUD 2,500 travel. So for a Masters at AUD 35,000/year tuition, you'd show roughly AUD 67,000 (~₹37 lakhs) for year 1 alone. Education loan sanction letters are fully accepted.
Yes — up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is IN SESSION (from 1 July 2023). Unlimited hours during official scheduled course breaks. Masters by research and PhD students (and their family) have no work limit. You cannot start working until your course has commenced.
From 14 November 2025, the GS test replaces the old 'Genuine Temporary Entrant' (GTE) test under Ministerial Direction 115. You must convince the Department that you're a genuine student — clear course choice rationale, career goals aligned with the course, ties to India, and intent to return after studies. A written GS statement is mandatory.
Yes. Your partner and dependent children under 18 can be included in your application. You must declare ALL family members even if they won't travel with you — otherwise they cannot join you as subsequent entrants later. School-age children must attend school (public or private fees apply).
You can apply for a NEW Student visa from within Australia if you need to continue studying — you don't 'extend' the existing visa. If your current visa expires before graduation, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) for a short gap, or a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after completing a qualifying course.
If you've completed a qualifying Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree (normally 2+ years), you can apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to stay and work in Australia for 2–6 years depending on qualification level. This is a common pathway toward permanent residence. Refer to a MARA-registered migration agent for 485 and PR pathways.
Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory private health insurance for international students in Australia. Approved providers: Bupa, Medibank (ahm), Allianz Care, nib, and a few others. Prices vary — compare coverage and premiums. Must be purchased BEFORE visa lodgement for your entire course duration.
If your education provider defaults (closes/loses registration), you must get a CoE from a new provider — refer to the Tuition Protection Service (TPS). If YOU fail or defer, notify your provider and the Department via ImmiAccount. Breaching condition 8202 (course progress) can lead to cancellation. Always respond within the deadline.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your Australia Student Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
5 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+What does Australia want to see about my funds as a student?
That the money for tuition and living costs exists, is available to you, and came from somewhere explainable. Depending on the country that is a blocked account, a fixed deposit, a sanctioned education loan or a sponsor's income — and the sponsor's relationship to you has to be documented. The most common failure is not a small amount, it is an unexplained one: a large transfer landing shortly before the application, with no trail behind it, reads worse than a smaller balance with history.
+Do I still have to prove I will come back?
Yes, on most study routes — and it surprises people, because the whole point is a multi-year stay. The officer is asking whether the study plan is genuine and whether you intend to comply with the visa, not whether you will never emigrate lawfully later. What answers it is coherence: the course matching your academic history, the cost matching your funding, and a plan that makes sense for someone who intends to finish it.
+How long does a Australia Student Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. Australia currently states Variable by course level and applicant profile — use the Visa Processing Time Guide Tool on homeaffairs.gov.au. Lodge at least 12 weeks before course start. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the Australia visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The Australia government fee (currently AUD 2,000) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my Australia Student Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (Australia currently states Variable by course level and applicant profile — use the Visa Processing Time Guide Tool on homeaffairs.gov.au. Lodge at least 12 weeks before course start.). Government and visa-centre fees (AUD 2,000 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A Australia Student Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same Australia rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other Australia Visa Types
Tourist Visa (Subclass 600 — Tourist Stream)
Australian visitor visa for Indian citizens travelling to Australia for tourism, sightseeing, or visiting friends and relatives. Typically 3, 6 or 12 months stay.
View guideBusiness Visa (Subclass 600 — Business Visitor Stream)
Australian business visitor visa for Indian professionals attending meetings, conferences, negotiations, or exploratory business visits. Paid employment is NOT permitted.
View guideSponsored Family Visa (Subclass 600 — Sponsored Family Stream)
Australian visitor visa for Indian citizens visiting close relatives who are Australian citizens/PR holders and who sponsor the application. An Assurance of Support may be required.
View guideElectronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)
The ETA (subclass 601) is Australia's quick online visa for tourism/business visits, but it is NOT available to Indian passport holders. Indian citizens must apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead.
View guideeVisitor (Subclass 651)
eVisitor (subclass 651) is a free online visa for short visits to Australia, but it is exclusively for European passport holders. Indian citizens are NOT eligible — apply for subclass 600 instead.
View guideWork and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
Informational guide. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) allows young Indians aged 18–30 to work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months, but India has a ballot-based quota. SureshotVisa does not process work visas.
View guideWorking Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
Informational guide. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is NOT available to Indian passport holders. Indian citizens should refer to the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) via the annual ballot.
View guideStudent Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)
The Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) allows an Indian parent, custodian, or close relative aged 21+ to come to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder under 18 (or in exceptional cases, 18+).
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Australia website and Embassy of Australia. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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