Student visa (subclass 500) help in Melbourne
VisaShape helps international students prepare Student visa (subclass 500) applications, from Melbourne and online for students in Australia and overseas. Registered Migration Agent Hasti Lesani advises in English and Persian on choosing a course, the Genuine Student requirement and preparing a complete application.
Who can apply for a Student visa (subclass 500)?
The Student visa lets you study a registered course in Australia for up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment. You apply online, in or outside Australia, and must:
- be enrolled in a full-time CRICOS-registered course and, in most cases, provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when you apply; without the required evidence of enrolment the application is invalid
- be a genuine student whose main reason for the visa is study in Australia
- hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exception applies
- have enough money for your stay, and evidence of your English if required
- meet the health and character requirements, with welfare arrangements if you are under 18
- hold an eligible substantive visa if you apply in Australia
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
The requirement applies to applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024, replacing the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test. You must be a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, with study in Australia as the primary reason for applying.
The form asks about your circumstances, choice of course and provider, and how the course will benefit you, with English answers of up to 150 words each. Statements supported by evidence carry more weight. Home Affairs considers your ties and economic circumstances at home, your study history, the course's value to your future and your immigration history. It also considers military service commitments and political or civil unrest in your home country; if these are a significant incentive to leave, you must give reasons and supporting evidence. Hoping to apply for permanent residence later does not count against you.
What documents and evidence do you need?
Your document list depends on your passport and provider, so use the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool and re-check it just before you apply. Incomplete applications may be refused or delayed, and the fee is not refunded after a refusal.
- A CoE for every course in your package, with all CoE codes in the form.
- If required, evidence you can pay for travel and up to 12 months of course fees and living costs (or of your parents' or partner's annual income), with statements showing how savings built up, not a single-day balance.
- If required, an approved English test result. Tests delivered entirely online or at home are not accepted.
- OSHC details. If you apply from outside Australia, cover must start the day you arrive, not when your course starts.
- English translations of documents in Persian or any other language.
How do you choose the right course and provider?
Your course is part of your visa case. The provider and course must be listed on CRICOS, the official Australian Government register. Home Affairs also considers whether the course fits your education and past or future work, and why you are not studying a similar course at home if one is available.
VisaShape's admission consultation helps you shortlist accredited universities and colleges and follow your application through.
Can your family come, and what if you are under 18?
You can include your partner and your unmarried dependent children under 18. Declare every family member, even those not travelling. Anyone left out cannot later join you as a subsequent entrant, unless they became your family after your visa was granted. A de facto partner needs at least 12 months in the relationship before you apply, unless it is registered in a participating Australian state or territory.
Students under 18 need welfare arrangements, such as a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) or a nominated guardian. A parent, custodian or relative aged 21 or older may be able to apply for the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) to care for the student. Both applications should be made at the same time, and guardians on that visa cannot work.
How can VisaShape help with your Student visa?
Home Affairs only lets certain people give you immigration assistance, and registered migration agents are one of them. VisaShape can:
- assess your eligibility and set out your options in writing
- guide your choice of course and provider
- explain the Genuine Student questions and supporting evidence
- review your documents against the current checklist
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Student visa in Australia on a visitor visa?
No. Applying in Australia requires an eligible substantive visa, and Visitor (subclass 600), eVisitor, Electronic Travel Authority and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas do not qualify.
How many hours can I work on a Student visa?
Home Affairs states up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session and unlimited hours when it is not; master's by research and doctoral students have no work limit. You cannot work before your course starts; check your conditions in VEVO.
Can I stay in Australia after I graduate?
A Student visa cannot be extended; to keep studying, you apply for a new one. If you have held a Student visa in the last 6 months and have a recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to live, study and work here afterwards. Age limits and other criteria apply.
Do my Persian documents need to be translated or certified?
Documents not in English must be translated. Translators in Australia must be NAATI-accredited; translators outside Australia must add their full name, address, phone number and language qualifications and experience, in English. Documents do not need to be certified.
How much does a Student visa cost and how long does it take?
Fees and processing times change, so check the current figures with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator and processing time guide. Lodge well before your course starts.
Ready to take the next step?
Complete our free visa assessment form or book a consultation with Hasti Lesani, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2518905.
Related services
Skilled migration (189/190/491)
Skills assessment, SkillSelect EOI, points test and state nomination for the 189, 190 and 491 visas, plus the 191 pathway.
Employer sponsored (482/186/494)
Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications for the Skills in Demand 482, ENS 186 and regional 494, plus labour agreements and DAMA.
Persian-speaking migration agent
Consultations in Persian (Farsi) with a Registered Migration Agent in Melbourne, in person or online, wherever you live.
Sources
Visa rules, fees and processing times change. Always check the current information on the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Student visa (subclass 500), Department of Home Affairs
- Genuine Student requirement, Department of Home Affairs
- Student Guardian visa (subclass 590), Department of Home Affairs
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Department of Home Affairs
- CRICOS, Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
This page provides general information only. It is not immigration advice for your individual circumstances, and no visa outcome can ever be promised. This is the practice of Hasti Lesani, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2518905.
Last reviewed 17 September 2026