Under the student visa Australia updates in 2026, you must show AUD 29,710/year in living costs, pay a $2,500 visa application fee, and score at least 6.0 on the IELTS. You can work up to 48 hours every two weeks during classes, and graduates up to age 35 can stay back to work for 2 to 3 years.

Below, we walk through the Subclass 500 visa itself, how to apply, your work rights, and the Subclass 485 post-study work permit that follows. Keep reading for the full details.

Student Visa Australia 2026: Quick Answers

What Changed for the Australia Student Visa in 2026?

The Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500) lets you live in the country for the length of your course, work part-time, and, in most cases, bring your partner or children. Here is what each requirement looks like in 2026.

Updated Visa Application Fee

The base application fee for the Subclass 500 visa is AUD $2,500. This non-refundable charge must be paid via ImmiAccount when you lodge your application.

Visa duration and course length

Your visa runs for the length of your enrolled course, typically between 2 and 5 years, depending on your program. It is a temporary visa tied directly to your study, not a standalone residency permit.

Working rights on the Subclass 500 visa

You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight once your course begins, and full-time during official school holidays. Part-time work during term helps many students offset living costs while staying on top of coursework. Students who are doing a Master's by Research and a PhD have no limitation on work hours.

You can also travel outside Australia and return as many times as you like while your visa stays valid, so a study break back home does not put your status at risk.

Financial proof and living costs

You need to show you can cover three things: tuition for your first 12 months, living expenses of roughly AUD 29,710 a year, and travel costs to and from Australia. Acceptable proof includes bank statements, an education loan letter, or a sponsor's financial documents.

Read more: Funding your study abroad journey.

English language requirement

Most applicants need an IELTS score that the Department of Home Affairs has approved, taken within two years of applying. If you completed prior study in English or fall under an exemption category, you may not need a fresh test. Either way, confirm your requirement before you apply, since assessment can happen at any stage of processing.

Read more: Universities that don’t require IELTS

Health cover (OSHC) requirement

You and any family members on your application need Overseas Student Health Cover for your entire stay. Compare OSHC providers early so your coverage dates line up cleanly with your visa grant period.

Estimated 2026 Premium Rates (Annual)

• Single Student: AUD $500 - $800 / year

• Couples (Student + Partner): AUD $3,000 - $5,300 / year

• Families (Student + Dependants): AUD $3,800 - $9,800+ / year

Approved OSHC Providers

Policies must be purchased from one of the government-approved health funds:

• ahm OSHC (frequently lowest rate for singles)

• Allianz Care Australia (frequently best value for families)

• Bupa OSHC

• Medibank Essentials

• nib OSHC

Family and dependants

You can include your partner or an unmarried dependent child under 18 on your application. Declare them even if they are not travelling with you initially. If you leave them off and need to add them later, you will have to apply for a new visa and explain the earlier omission.

What is the process to secure a study visa in Australia?

To secure a study visa in Australia in 2026 means preparing three things well ahead of your intake: your Genuine Student statement, your financial documents, and your course acceptance letter.

Genuine Student (GS) requirement

The old Genuine Temporary Entrant test has been replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. You will need to explain your course choice, how it connects to your background, and how it supports your career plans. 

Keep this specific to you rather than generic, since assessors weigh it heavily. Rather than submitting a single broad essay, you must answer target questions in your ImmiAccount application (up to 150 words each) covering your current circumstances, reason for choosing Australia and your specific education provider, and how the course directly accelerates your future career.

Verifiable Financial documents

You must provide clear, verifiable proof of sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses. In 2026, the Department of Home Affairs requires you to show access to at least AUD 29,710 per year for living costs alone (plus AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child, if applicable) to study in Australia. 

Acceptable evidence includes sanction letters for education loans from recognised banks, official bank statements showing savings deposits, or proof of a government scholarship. Your financial sources must demonstrate genuine access. It means the funds are fully available for your educational expenses and are supported by tax returns or salary proof from your sponsors.

Course acceptance letter (Confirmation of Enrolment)

Before submitting your visa application, you must secure an official electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your university or college. A basic conditional or unconditional Letter of Offer is not enough; applying without a valid CoE will cause your visa application to be rejected as invalid. 

To get your CoE, you must accept your university's offer letter, satisfy any academic or English language conditions, pay your initial tuition deposit, and arrange your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Once generated via the PRISMS system, your CoE provides the official code needed to link your Subclass 500 visa directly to your study program.

Visa Processing time and the 2026 priority system

Processing usually takes a few weeks to a few months. Since November 2025, offshore applications are also assessed under a traffic-light model based on how close your chosen institution is to its enrolment cap: green zone institutions (under 80% capacity) get the fastest processing, amber (80 to 115%) get standard processing, and red (over 115%) get slower processing. 

One important note for 2026: if you are on a visitor or 485 visa inside Australia, you can no longer switch to a student visa onshore. The application has to be lodged from outside the country.

What to know about post-study work (Subclass 485) in Australia?

The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows international graduates to live and work full-time in Australia after finishing their studies. While a Subclass 500 visa covers your study period, the 485 visa serves as the primary bridge to gain local work experience and transition toward permanent residence. The Subclass 485 visa fee is AUD $5,750. 

Key Eligibility Requirements

• Age Limit: You must be 35 years old or younger on the date you submit your visa application. 

• English Proficiency: You must score an IELTS 6.5 overall (or an equivalent PTE score), with no individual module (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) scoring below 5.5. Your test result must be less than 1 year old when you apply.

• Where & When to Apply: You can apply while you are in Australia or after returning home to India, but your application must be submitted within 6 months of officially finishing your degree.

Post-study work visa streams & stay durations

The post-study work permit in Australia's structure features three main pathways:

Important 2026 Policy Changes

• No Bonus Work Years: Earlier, students in certain critical courses got an extra 2 years of work permit time. That rule is now gone. You will only get the standard 2 to 3 years of post-study work rights after graduating.

• Must Leave Australia to Study Again: You can no longer convert a post-study work visa back into a student visa while staying in Australia. If your work visa ends and you want to take up another course, you must return home to India and lodge a new student visa application from there.

Frequently asked questions on student visa Australia

Is IELTS 6.0 enough for an Australia student visa in 2026? 

Yes, 6.0 overall is the standard requirement for direct entry to the Subclass 500 visa. ELICOS packaged courses accept 5.0, and foundation or pathway programs accept 5.5.

Is the IELTS requirement the same for the Subclass 500 and Subclass 485 visas?

No. Subclass 500 requires IELTS 6.0 overall for direct degree entry, whereas the Subclass 485 post-study work visa requires a higher benchmark of IELTS 6.5 overall (with no module below 5.5) taken within 12 months of applying.

What documents prove the Genuine Student requirement? 

There is no fixed document list. You will typically submit a written statement covering your course choice, academic background, career goals, and ties to your home country, alongside your usual application documents.

Can I switch from a visitor visa to a student visa while in Australia? 

No. As of the 2026 rules, this switch must be made through an offshore application before you travel.

How many hours can I work on a Subclass 500 visa? 

Up to 48 hours per fortnight during term time, unlimited during holidays, and unlimited throughout the course for Master's by Research and PhD candidates.

Does the Subclass 485 visa still offer a 2-year extension for skill shortage courses? 

No. That bonus extension, introduced in 2023, ended as part of the 2025 to 2026 restructure.

Rounding Up

The student visa Australia 2026 changes raise the bar on English scores, financial proof, and processing speed, while reshaping the post-study work permit in Australia into three renamed streams with a lower age limit. None of this makes Australia harder to reach; it just makes early preparation more important. Start your IELTS prep, your financial documentation, and your GS statement well before your intended intake, and apply offshore from the start. 

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