The short answer
International students who want to study full time on a registered course in Australia apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) with the Department of Home Affairs. You need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your education provider, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), evidence that meets the financial and English requirements, and you must meet the Genuine Student requirement.
Key terms in plain English
- CoE: the document your provider issues once you accept an offer and meet its conditions. It confirms your place on a registered course.
- CRICOS: the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. Your provider and your course should both be on it.
- OSHC: health cover you must hold for the length of your stay on the visa.
- ImmiAccount: the online account you use to apply.
- Genuine Student requirement: the test Home Affairs uses to assess whether you genuinely intend to study in Australia.
The route, step by step
- Choose a course. Check on CRICOS that both the course and the provider are registered for overseas students.
- Apply, accept your offer and pay the deposit if the provider asks for one.
- Receive your CoE. Check the details against your passport.
- Arrange OSHC for the full visa period and keep the confirmation.
- Prepare your evidence. Financial capacity, English language results if required, identity documents and anything else on the official checklist.
- Write your Genuine Student answers honestly and in your own words. Home Affairs wants to understand your circumstances, why you chose this course and provider, and what you plan to do next.
- Apply through ImmiAccount. Attend a health examination or biometrics appointment if Home Affairs asks for one.
- Wait for the outcome before booking non-refundable travel.
Documents checklist
- To do: Valid passport
- To do: CoE from your education provider
- To do: OSHC confirmation for the whole visa period
- To do: Evidence of financial capacity, as the official page describes
- To do: English language results, if required for your course
- To do: Genuine Student answers, drafted in your own words
- To do: Police certificates and health examinations, if requested
Common mistakes
- Copying a template for the Genuine Student questions. Generic answers look generic. Specific, honest answers about your plans read better.
- Buying OSHC for too short a period. It needs to cover your visa period.
- Choosing a course without checking CRICOS. An unregistered course cannot support a Student visa.
- Relying on advice from a few years ago. The Genuine Student requirement replaced an earlier test in 2024, and policy settings for international students have changed several times since.
Things that change
Visa charges, provider allocations, financial capacity rules and work conditions are updated from time to time. If your offer mentions a cap or allocation, ask your provider how it affects you. Check the Home Affairs page for the current position.
Verify before you act
The official page is the only place with the current rules: Student visa (subclass 500) on Home Affairs.