500 VISA

• You must be enrolled in an education or training provider in Australia.
• You must meet the English, financial, character, and health requirements.
• You must have a genuine intention to study in Australia.

There are some basic requirements that the applicant needs to meet, such as:

1. You must be at a certain age (aged 6 or older);

2. You must have enrolled in a course of study (evidence must be provided);

3. You must have an adequate arrangement of welfare (if aged under 18 years);

4. You must meet the English requirements;

5. You must have a health insurance;

6. You must hold a substantive visa (if applying onshore);

7. You must have the financial capacity (evidence must be provided);

8. You must be a genuine temporary entrant (writing a GTE letter);

9. You must meet the health and character requirements;

10. You must sign a statement (Australian Values).

The processing time for this visa may vary depending on the type of your study, but it can take up to 8 months to be processed.

$620 for the main applicant. An additional charge may apply for each dependent if you wish to bring your family with you.

• You can study in Australia.
• You can travel anywhere inside Australia.
• You can come in and out of Australia multiple times.
• You can work in Australia (up to 40 hours fortnightly, every 2-week period once your course starts).

1. Can I include my family in this visa?
   • Yes, you can include your family members in your application. You can only bring your partner and/or child who has not married yet and aged under 18. If your family members are not included on your application, they can later join you in Australia by applying as subsequent entrants.
   • You will not be able to extend for this visa. If you wish to continue your study, you will need to apply for a new Student visa. You will need to apply for a different visa if you wish to stay longer for a different purpose.
2. Can I apply for this visa offshore?
   • Yes, you can apply for this visa offshore and onshore. The same applies to when you receive the decision of your Student visa application.
3. Can I get an English exemption when I apply?
   • Yes, you can get an exemption to provide English proficiency evidence if you:
     • Are a citizen and hold a passport of these countries: UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland, or
       
     • Are an applicant who is sponsored by the Foreign Affairs or Defence or part of the Secondary Exchange student (AASES), or
       
     • Are enrolled in a principal course of study that is a registered school course, a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), a course registered to be delivered in a language other than English, or a registered post-graduate research course, or
       
     • Have completed at least 5 years’ study in English in one or more of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland, or
       
     • In the 2 years before applying for the student visa, you completed, in Australia and in the English language, either the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework at the Certificate IV or higher level, while you held a student visa.
4. What kind of health insurance should I get for this visa?
   • You will need to have an Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC) by any health insurance provider. Your health insurance must cover you since the day you arrive in Australia throughout your entire period of stay.