Student Visa Subclass 500 Perth WA
The Student Visa Subclass 500 allows eligible international students to study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course in Australia. It can also provide work rights, allow eligible family members to accompany you, and let you remain in Australia for the period covered by your visa and enrolment. If you are planning to study at Curtin University, the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, TAFE or another CRICOS-registered education provider, PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd can help you understand what your application needs before you lodge. Based in Cannington, Perth WA, we assist students locally as well as applicants applying from overseas through online consultations.
Student Visa 500 Requirements
To qualify for a Student Visa Subclass 500, you generally need a valid enrolment, satisfy the Genuine Student requirement and meet any applicable English, financial, health, character and insurance requirements.
Key requirements can include:
- A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
- Enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course
- Genuine Student requirement
- English language evidence where required
- Evidence of financial capacity where required
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Health requirements
- Character requirements
- Welfare arrangements for applicants under 18 where applicable
Confirmation of Enrolment
Your CoE confirms that you are enrolled in an eligible Australian course. In most cases, you need the appropriate CoE before lodging your Student Visa 500 application.
Genuine Student Requirement
The Genuine Student requirement replaced the former GTE requirement for applications lodged from 23 March 2024. Applicants are asked targeted questions about their current circumstances, previous study, course choice, education provider and how the proposed study will benefit them.
Generic answers are unlikely to present your circumstances as clearly as responses supported by genuine evidence and a logical study plan.
Financial Capacity
You may need to demonstrate access to enough funds for tuition fees, living expenses, travel and eligible family members.
The source material you provided lists a 2026 benchmark of AUD 29,710 for the primary applicant, plus additional amounts for a partner and dependent children, while noting that these figures are reviewed periodically.
English, OSHC, Health and Character
English evidence may be required depending on your circumstances. You must also have suitable OSHC for the required period and meet applicable health and character requirements.
Not sure whether you meet the Student Visa 500 requirements? PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd can assess your circumstances before you lodge.
Student Visa 500 Document Checklist
A well-prepared Student Visa 500 document checklist helps reduce the risk of missing important evidence.
Depending on your circumstances, documents can include:
- Passport and identity documents
- Confirmation of Enrolment
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- English language test evidence
- Genuine Student supporting evidence
- Financial documents
- OSHC evidence
- Employment history where relevant
- Partner or dependant documents
- Health and character documents
- Previous Australian visa and study records
The exact checklist is not identical for every applicant. Your nationality, course, previous immigration history and personal circumstances can affect the evidence required.
PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd can review your documents before lodgement and identify gaps that may need to be addressed.
Student Visa 500 Cost
From 1 July 2026, the base visa application charge for most Student Visa Subclass 500 applicants is AUD 2,500. The source material also identifies a lower AUD 2,050 charge for eligible ELICOS and non-award applications.
Your overall Student Visa 500 cost can also include:
- Additional applicant charges for a partner or children
- OSHC premiums
- IELTS, PTE or other English test fees
- Medical examination costs
- Police certificates where required
- Translation or certification costs
- Professional migration agent fees
Government charges can change, so current pricing should always be confirmed before lodgement.
Want to understand the likely cost of your application? Contact PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd for a Student Visa 500 assessment before you lodge.
Student Visa Subclass 500 Processing Time
There is no single processing time that applies to every Student Visa 500 application.
Processing can depend on:
- your education sector
- whether the application is complete
- supporting evidence
- health or character checks
- requests for further information
- Home Affairs processing priorities
- your individual circumstances
Submitting a complete application from the beginning can reduce avoidable delays, although no migration agent can guarantee how quickly Home Affairs will make a decision.
Planning your course commencement in Perth WA? We can help you prepare a decision-ready application before lodgement.
How to Apply for Student Visa 500
Choose a CRICOS-registered education provider and obtain your enrolment.
Your CoE contains important information about your course and study period.
Health cover should meet the requirements for your intended stay.
Your answers should reflect your actual background, course choice and future plans.
This can include financial, academic, English, employment and family documents.
Complete the online application and pay the applicable visa charge.
You may be asked for medicals, biometrics or further information.
Work Rights on Student Visa 500
Most Student Visa Subclass 500 holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, subject to their individual visa conditions.
Different arrangements can apply to certain research students, and work conditions should always be checked through VEVO.
Working outside your permitted visa conditions can create serious immigration consequences, so students should understand their work rights before accepting additional hours.
Student Visa Dependants and Subsequent Entrants
Yes, eligible Student Visa 500 applicants may be able to include a spouse, de facto partner or dependent children.
Family members may be included with the primary application or, in eligible circumstances, apply later as subsequent entrants.
A family-member application can require:
- evidence of the relationship
- identity documents
- financial evidence
- health and character evidence
- information about the primary Student visa holder
The relationship and family circumstances should be documented carefully.
Need to bring your partner or child to Australia? PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd can assess whether a subsequent entrant application may be available.
Student Visa Extension
You do not simply “extend” an existing Student Visa 500.
If your current visa will expire before you complete your studies, you will generally need to consider lodging a new Student Visa Subclass 500 application.
This may happen because:
- your course has been extended
- you need additional time to complete units
- you are moving into another eligible course
- your enrolment arrangements have changed
- your existing visa expires before the new study period finishes
Do not wait until the last moment to check your visa expiry date and new CoE.
Course Change, Provider Change and CoE Issues
Changing your course or education provider can have consequences for your enrolment and Student visa obligations.
Before making a change, consider:
- your current visa conditions
- how long you have studied with your existing provider
- provider transfer requirements
- course progression
- whether a new CoE is required
- Genuine Student implications
- your existing visa expiry date
A cancelled CoE should not be ignored. The effect on your Student visa depends on the reason for cancellation and your individual circumstances.
If your CoE has been cancelled or you want to change providers, get advice before taking the next step.
Student Visa Refusal Reasons
A Student Visa Subclass 500 can be refused if Home Affairs is not satisfied that you meet the applicable visa criteria.
Common problem areas can include:
- weak or inconsistent Genuine Student responses
- insufficient financial evidence
- unexplained source of funds
- missing documents
- inconsistent information
- English language requirement issues
- concerns about course choice or academic progression
- previous visa or immigration history
- health or character issues
- false or misleading information
A refusal is based on the particular facts and evidence in an application, so another person’s case should not be used as a template for yours.
What to Do After a Student Visa Refusal
If your Student visa is refused, read the refusal letter carefully before lodging another application or making any major decision.
Depending on your circumstances, possible next steps may include:
- identifying exactly why the application was refused
- reviewing your current visa status
- considering whether a new visa application is available
- addressing gaps in the original evidence
- considering an Administrative Review Tribunal application where review rights exist
- checking the applicable review deadline
Not every refusal carries the same review rights.
PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services Pty Ltd can review your refusal decision and explain the options that may be available in your circumstances.
Get Professional Advice
Need Help With a Student Visa Subclass 500 in Perth WA?
Why PATHFINDER
Why Choose Us for Student Visa Assistance?
Student visa applications are not only about uploading documents. The course, Genuine Student responses, financial evidence and immigration history need to present a clear and consistent application.
PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services assists with:
- Student Visa Subclass 500 applications
- Genuine Student responses and supporting evidence
- Student visa extensions and new applications
- partner and dependant applications
- document preparation
- course and provider changes
- CoE issues
- Student visa refusals
- ART matters where review rights are available
We provide both online and in-person consultations.
SERVICE AREAS
Student Visa Assistance Across Perth WA
PATHFINDER Visa & Immigration Services is based at 64-66 Kent St, Cannington WA 6107 and provides professional Student Visa Subclass 500 assistance to international students across Perth WA.
We assist with Student Visa 500 applications, Genuine Student requirements, document preparation, dependants, extensions, CoE issues and visa refusal matters. Consultations are available in person, by phone or online.
- Perth WA
- Cannington
- Bentley
- Belmont
- Gosnells
- Maddington
- Lynwood
- Canning Vale
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FAQs
Quick Answers to Questions
A Student Visa Subclass 500 generally lasts for the duration of your course and can be granted for up to 6 years in some circumstances. For most tertiary students, the stay will generally not exceed 5 years, although packaged courses can extend this to 6 years.
Yes. Eligible partners and dependent children can be included in a Student Visa Subclass 500 application or may potentially apply later as subsequent entrants, subject to the relevant requirements.
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You may need to show enough funds to cover travel, tuition fees, living costs and eligible family members. The exact amount depends on your circumstances and should be checked against the current Home Affairs requirements before lodgement.
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The Genuine Student requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
Most Student Visa 500 holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, subject to their individual visa conditions.
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From 1 July 2026, the base Student Visa Subclass 500 application charge for most applicants is AUD 2,500. Additional costs can include family-member charges, OSHC, medicals, English tests and payment surcharges; Home Affairs advises checking the current pricing table because visa charges can change.
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You do not normally extend the existing Student Visa 500. If you need more time to complete eligible studies, you generally need to lodge a new Student Visa Subclass 500 application.
A cancelled CoE can affect your enrolment and may also affect your Student visa status. The next step depends on why the CoE was cancelled, your current visa conditions and your individual circumstances.
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