How to Apply for Subclass 500: Student Visa for Australia
Subclass 500 is an Australian student Visa that enables international students pursuing studies under the commonwealth register of Institutions and Careers for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to stay in Australia during their study period.
With an Australian Student visa, you can:
- Participate in an eligible course of study
- Bring your family and dependents with you
- Apply online anywhere around the globe
- Work for unlimited hours in any sector
This article will help you understand what a subclass 500 Visa is, How to apply for subclass 500, the visa conditions and requirements, the fee, and the process timeline for a subclass 500 Visa.
Eligibility Criteria for Subclass 500 Visa:
Along with the Visa conditions, the Department of Home Affairs has enlisted some of the eligibility conditions for the Australian student Visa as follows: You must fulfill the following conditions:
-
- Your age must be above 6 Years.
- Confirm enrollment (CoE) at a course registered on CRICOS
- Be enrolled in a study course in Australia.
- Have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for you and your family members, or have a valid exemption
- Provide a Welfare Agreement, if you are under 18 years of age
- You must hold an eligible substantive visa if already in Australia.
- Meet requirements related to your health and character
- Have enough finances during your stay in Australia
- You must hold proof of English Language Proficiency. Here is the table indicating English language proficiency requirements in Australia:
| English Language Test | Minimum Score Required | English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS) minimum score required after 10 weeks | The score required after 20 weeks of ELOCOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson Test of English-Academics | 42 | 36 | 30 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | At Least 5.5 in each scale with overall score of 6.0 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced | 147 | 154 | 147 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) | 32 | 35 | 32 |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | B in each component | N/A | N/A |
How to Apply for a Subclass 500 Visa?
To apply for student visa subclass 500, you need to ensure that you have all the required documents, including your passport, educational documents, and English language proficiency certificate.
You can use the Document Checklist Tool to ensure that you have all the available documents.
Here are a few other things to consider while applying for a Student Visa:
- If you are outside of Australia, Apply at least six weeks before beginning your course.
- Apply more than six weeks before beginning your course if you are already in Australia to overcome any complications in time.
- You must apply for a Visa online in or outside of Australia.
- Create an immi account, fill out the visa application form and pay the visa fee.
That being said, applying for a Visa is a technical and sensitive procedure! It’s good to get help from professional consultants to ensure that your Visa Application is smooth and accurate.
What is the Fee for Student Visa in Australia:
The fee for a student visa in Australia varies for different age categories.
- You will be charged AUD 630 + AUD 470 if you are above 18 years of age.
- The charges will be AUD 155 if you are under 18.
Process Timeline for Subclass 500 Visa:
The process timeline for student visas in Australia varies for different streams. The process timeline also depends upon the course you have chosen. You must provide the visa fee and your application. Otherwise, your application will not be processed.
Also, the time duration for the visa process is different for each individual. Here is an overview of the process timeline for different streams:
| Stream | 25% of applications process timeline | 50% of applications process timeline | 75% of applications process timeline | 90% of applications process timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense/Foreign Affairs | 6 Days | 9 Days | 12 Days | 24 Days |
| Postgraduate Research Sector | 13 Days | 39 Days | 63 Days | 5 Months |
| Non-award Sector | Less than 1 Day | 1 Day | 4 Days | 13 Days |
| School Sector | 18 Days | 35 Days | 61 Days | 4 Months |
| Independent ELICOS Sector | 9 Days | 25 Days | 27 Days | 42 Days |
| Vocational Education and Training Area | 18 Days | 45 Days | 73 Days | 9 Months |
| Higher Education Sector | 10 Days | 18 Days | 40 Days | 54 Days |
FAQ’s
1. What are the new rules for Australian student visas in 2022?
Australia has changed its visa rules after July 2020 for International Students:
- Students can avail of the post-study-work Visa (Subclass-468) after graduation.
- Online classes taken during COVID-19 will be considered part of the study entry requirements.
- Student visa extension will be provided free if a student cannot complete the study within the given timeline.
- Students are granted extra time to submit English language results that got disturbed due to COVID-19.
2. Is subclass 500 a temporary Visa?
Yes. Subclass 500 is a temporary visa usually allowing students to stay in Australia for five years. However, the length of stay is determined by the duration of the degree you are enrolled in.
3. Do I need to declare my family members in the Subclass 500 application even if they don’t accompany me?
Yes. It is compulsory to declare your family members at the time of visa subclass 500 application, even if they don’t accompany you.
This would be helpful when your family members would join you later. You wouldn’t have to apply for a new student visa if you had already declared them in your initial application. But if you had not declared them already, you would have to reapply for your student visa and provide an explanation why you had not declared them initially.
4. Do I need to submit my health insurance with a subclass 500 visa?
Yes! Your family members traveling with you must provide overseas student health cover by a verified Australian health cover insurance provider. If you are confused about where to get your OSHC, Nexco Consultants can help you with the process.
5. Is IELTS compulsory for student visas in Australia?
You must provide proof of your English language proficiency with your student 500 visa application in Australia. However, IELTS is not compulsory for providing proof of English language proficiency.
6. What else can I provide as a replacement to IELTS as evidence for my English language skills for a student visa?
Pearson Test of English language is gaining popularity among people around the globe as a reliable replacement to IELTS.
Nexco Consultants can help you to prepare best for your PTE-Academics.
7. How can I extend my Visa subclass 500?
You must extend your Visa if your current Visa expires during your degree. Contact us to get your visa extension and determine which Visa you need according to your circumstances.
8. How would I handle it if my situation had been changed?
You must inform the Department of home affairs if your circumstances change. Things that are compulsory to report include:
- Change your contact details, including your email, phone number, and home address
- Change in your passport
- Inform if your relationship status changes
- If you have given birth to a child.
9. How can I change my course?
Inform the Department of home affairs immediately if you wish to change your course because this can affect your Visa. Nexco Consultants can guide you on what next steps to take and save your time.
10. What additional arrangements do I need if under 18 years of age?
You must provide a welfare agreement if you are under 18. You should
- Nominate a Guardian: This can be a student. A student guardian can be a parent, a relative above 21 years of age, or a legal custodian. Your guardian must not possess a visa to stay in Australia before turning 18.
- You can also organize a confirmation of appropriate accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) with your education provider. Ask your education provider to issue a CAAW for you and inform the Department of home affairs about your starting and ending date.
- If you are a secondary exchange student, obtain the acceptance advice of a secondary exchange student (AASES) and attach a signed copy of the CAAW along with it.
- You can obtain welfare arrangement approval from the relevant ministry if you are a defense student.
11. How do I know if my Visa has been granted?
The Department of home affairs will notify you in writing if your student Visa 500 has been granted or rejected. If granted, you will be provided with:
- Your visa grant number
- Visa expiration date
- Your visa conditions
You should keep a copy of your granted Visa with you as you travel in Australia.
If your Visa has been rejected, you will be notified in writing. The Department of home affairs will also notify you of the reason your Visa has been rejected.
12. What are the working conditions on subclass 500 visas?
The Department of home affairs has changed its working conditions. Students can now work for unlimited hours in any sector.
13. Can I work full-time under a subclass 500 visa?
Yes! As you can work for unlimited hours in any sector, this automatically means that you can work full-time.
14. How often can I travel on my student visa?
You can travel as much as you want across and outside Australia on your Visa if you are fully vaccinated.
15. What are the Australian student spouse visa requirements?
For your spouse to come to Australia on a spouse visa, you will need:
- Form 919 (Nomination of student dependents)
- Form 157A (Application for a student visa)
- A recommendation letter from your teacher
- Proof that you can support your spouse during their stay in Australia.
- Proof of ties to the family, including marriage certificate and birth certificate.