Your student visa, organised.

What is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?

A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is the official electronic enrolment record your Australian education provider issues through PRISMS after you accept your offer and complete the provider's enrolment steps. For most Student visa (subclass 500) applicants, it is the main evidence of your intended study.

A CoE should align with a CRICOS-registered provider and course. It is used to show the course you intend to study, the provider, the course dates, and the relevant CRICOS details.

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Why it matters

Home Affairs treats evidence of intended study as part of a Student visa application. On the current Student visa page, Home Affairs says you must be enrolled in a course of study in Australia and hold a valid CoE when they decide your visa. Unless you fall within one of the limited special categories below, you should still provide a CoE for all intended courses at lodgement so the application is complete and consistent from the start.

A CoE is important because it helps establish:

• your enrolled provider and course
• your course start and end dates
• the CoE code(s) you must enter in ImmiAccount
• the tuition amounts shown by the provider
• the course package structure if you are studying more than one course

Important: A CoE is the standard rule, but it is not universal with no exceptions. Home Affairs accepts different evidence for some specific applicant categories.

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Accepted alternatives in special categories

Home Affairs currently accepts alternative enrolment evidence instead of a standard CoE only for certain categories, including:

• DFAT-sponsored students: provide the required letter of support
• Department of Defence-sponsored students: provide the required letter of support
• Secondary exchange students: provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form
• Postgraduate research students who need to remain in Australia for thesis marking: provide the required letter from the education provider

If you are not in one of those categories, assume you need a CoE.

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What to check on the CoE before you lodge

Check that the CoE matches your actual study plan and passport details. In particular, confirm:

• provider name and CRICOS provider code
• course name and CRICOS course code
• course start and end dates
• CoE code
• tuition fee information recorded by the provider
• that the course is your correct sector and intake

If anything is wrong, ask the provider to correct it before you lodge.

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Packaged courses

If you intend to study a package of courses, you generally need a separate CoE for each intended course. Examples include ELICOS followed by a degree, or a pathway course followed by the principal course.

For packaged-course applications:

• include all CoE codes for the courses you intend to study
• make sure the package shows a logical progression with dates that line up properly
• remember the principal course is the final course in the package; Home Affairs uses that principal course in parts of the assessment and the Document Checklist Tool asks you to select the provider for that principal course

If one CoE is missing from a package, it can create validity or visa-period problems.

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If your CoE changes after lodgement

If your provider defers you, changes your course, cancels the CoE, or issues a replacement while your application is still pending, get the updated CoE from the provider and upload it to ImmiAccount as soon as possible. Do not assume Home Affairs will infer the change from provider records alone.

This is especially important if:

• you change providers
• your intake is deferred
• one course in a package changes
• the original CoE is cancelled or completed before a decision is made

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Practical steps

1. Apply to a CRICOS-registered provider and receive an offer.
2. Complete the provider's acceptance and payment steps.
3. Obtain the CoE issued through PRISMS.
4. Check the provider, course, CRICOS details, dates, and CoE code carefully.
5. If you are packaging courses, collect every required CoE.
6. Enter the CoE details accurately in ImmiAccount and attach the document(s).

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Good practice

• Keep a PDF copy of every CoE you receive.
• Make sure your OSHC period and your intended travel plans match your course dates.
• If you are in a special category, upload the correct alternative evidence rather than a generic provider letter.
• Re-check the official Home Affairs Student visa page and Document Checklist Tool before lodging, because documentary settings can change.

What Is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?

A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is the official electronic enrolment record your Australian education provider issues through PRISMS after you accept your offer and complete the provider's enrolment steps. For most Student visa (subclass 500) applicants, it is the main evidence of your intended study.

A CoE should align with a CRICOS-registered provider and course. It is used to show the course you intend to study, the provider, the course dates, and the relevant CRICOS details.

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Why It Matters

Home Affairs treats evidence of intended study as part of a valid Student visa application. Unless you fall within one of the limited special categories below, you should provide a CoE for all intended courses when you apply.

A CoE is important because it helps establish:

• your enrolled provider and course
• your course start and end dates
• the CoE code or codes you must enter in ImmiAccount
• the tuition fee information recorded by the provider
• the package structure if you are studying more than one course

Important: A CoE is the standard rule, but it is not universal with no exceptions. Home Affairs accepts different enrolment evidence for some specific applicant categories.

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Accepted Alternatives in Special Categories

Home Affairs currently accepts alternative enrolment evidence instead of a standard CoE only for certain categories, including:

• DFAT-sponsored students: provide the required letter of support
• Department of Defence-sponsored students: provide the required letter of support
• Secondary exchange students: provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form
• Postgraduate research students who need to remain in Australia for thesis marking: provide the required letter from the education provider

If you are not in one of those categories, assume you need a CoE.

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What To Check on the CoE Before You Lodge

Check that the CoE matches your actual study plan and passport details. In particular, confirm:

• provider name and CRICOS provider code
• course name and CRICOS course code
• course start and end dates
• CoE code
• tuition fee information recorded by the provider
• that the course is your correct sector and intake

If anything is wrong, ask the provider to correct it before you lodge.

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Packaged Courses

If you intend to study a package of courses, you generally need a separate CoE for each intended course. Examples include ELICOS followed by a degree, or a pathway course followed by the principal course.

For packaged-course applications:

• include all CoE codes for the courses you intend to study
• make sure the package shows a logical progression with dates that line up properly
• remember the principal course is the final course in the package; Home Affairs uses that principal course in parts of the assessment and the Document Checklist Tool asks you to select the provider for that principal course

If one CoE is missing from a package, it can create validity or visa-period problems.

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If Your CoE Changes After Lodgement

If your provider defers you, changes your course, cancels the CoE, or issues a replacement while your application is still pending, get the updated CoE from the provider and upload it to ImmiAccount as soon as possible. Do not assume Home Affairs will infer the change from provider records alone.

This is especially important if:

• you change providers
• your intake is deferred
• one course in a package changes
• the original CoE is cancelled or completed before a decision is made

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Practical Steps

1. Apply to a CRICOS-registered provider and receive an offer.
2. Complete the provider's acceptance and payment steps.
3. Obtain the CoE issued through PRISMS.
4. Check the provider, course, CRICOS details, dates, and CoE code carefully.
5. If you are packaging courses, collect every required CoE.
6. Enter the CoE details accurately in ImmiAccount and attach the document or documents.

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Good Practice

• Keep a PDF copy of every CoE you receive.
• Make sure your OSHC period and your intended travel plans match your course dates.
• If you are in a special category, upload the correct alternative evidence rather than a generic provider letter.
• Re-check the official Home Affairs Student visa page and Document Checklist Tool before lodging, because documentary settings can change.

What Home Affairs Is Looking For

For a Student visa (subclass 500), bank statements are one common way to prove a money deposit with a financial institution under the financial-capacity rules in LIN 19/198. Home Affairs must be satisfied that you have genuine access to enough funds to cover tuition, living costs, and travel for the first 12 months in Australia, or for the full period of study if it is shorter than 12 months.

Bank statements are not the only accepted form of financial evidence. The legislation also allows evidence of a qualifying loan with a financial institution, government loan, or scholarship or financial support. But if you are relying on cash savings, your statements need to show that the funds are real, traceable, and available to you.

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Why It Matters

Critical: If the Document Checklist Tool or the document list inside ImmiAccount says financial-capacity evidence must be attached, Home Affairs says it must be attached before you submit the application, or the application may be refused.

Even if financial evidence is not requested upfront, Home Affairs can still ask for it later during processing. Preparing clear bank evidence from the start reduces the risk of delays. For subsequent entrants applying separately to join a student later, financial-capacity evidence is generally required with that application.

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Required Amounts (2025-26)

Your evidence should cover the parts of the financial-capacity calculation that apply to your case:

Component	Amount (AUD)
Living expenses - student	AUD 29,710 per year
Living expenses - partner/spouse	AUD 10,394 per year
Living expenses - each dependent child	AUD 4,449 per year
Tuition fees	First 12 months of course fees as listed on your CoE, minus any amount already paid
Return travel - most locations	AUD 2,000 if applying from outside Australia
Return travel - East or Southern Africa	AUD 2,500
Return travel - West Africa	AUD 3,000
Return travel - applying in Australia	AUD 1,000
School costs for each school-age dependant	AUD 13,502 per year, or pro rata if staying less than 12 months

If your course or a dependant's stay is less than 12 months, the legislation uses a pro rata calculation. If a school-age dependant's government-school fees are formally waived in one of the limited doctoral, Foreign Affairs, Defence, or Commonwealth-sponsored situations, that school-cost amount can be nil.

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Exactly What to Provide

If you are relying on bank deposits, stronger evidence usually includes:

• Recent official bank statements showing your name, bank name, account number, and transaction history
• Full transaction history, not just a one-day balance letter
• Statements for a recent multi-month period so Home Affairs can assess the pattern of funds, not only the end balance
• Certified English translations if the statements are not in English
• Evidence explaining any large recent deposits or unusual transfers

The legislation does not prescribe an exact number of months of bank statements, but in practice recent transaction history is much more persuasive than a single balance certificate.

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What the Funds Need to Show

Your evidence should show that the required funds are:

• available to you, not merely promised in vague terms
• credible and traceable, with a clear source where possible
• sufficient for the full required amount that applies to your case
• accessible when needed for study and living costs

A case officer may look closely at where the money came from and whether you can genuinely use it for your studies.

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Strong vs Weak Evidence

Stronger bank statement evidence:

• a stable balance built up over time
• salary, business income, savings, or other identifiable sources visible in the account history
• supporting documents for major deposits, such as a sale contract, inheritance records, or bonus letter
• a clear match between your funding calculation and the funds shown in the account

Weaker bank statement evidence:

• a one-page balance certificate with no transaction history
• a very large lump-sum deposit shortly before lodgement with no explanation
• funds moving through multiple accounts with no clear source trail
• statements that do not identify the account holder properly
• non-English statements with no certified translation

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Common Problems to Avoid

1. Unexplained lump-sum deposits

A large recent deposit can trigger source-of-funds concerns. If part of your balance comes from a property sale, inheritance, matured investment, gift, or bonus, include documents showing where that money came from.

2. Balance-only letters

A bank balance letter can help as a supplement, but on its own it is usually weaker than full statements showing transaction history.

3. Inaccessible funds

If the money is tied up in an account or product that you cannot actually use for tuition or living costs when needed, it may carry less weight. If you are relying on a term deposit or similar product, include evidence showing when and how it can be accessed.

4. Forgetting dependants

If a partner or children are included, your calculation must include the extra living-cost amounts, travel costs, and any applicable school costs.

5. Relying on future work in Australia

The financial-capacity requirement is about funds available for the required period. Do not assume planned work in Australia will make up a current shortfall.

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If Someone Else Is Funding You

If a parent, spouse, de facto partner, or another sponsor is supporting you, bank statements should usually be accompanied by evidence that explains the arrangement, such as:

• the sponsor's bank statements
• evidence of the sponsor's income or financial position
• evidence of your relationship to the sponsor, where relevant
• a letter or declaration confirming the financial support
• supporting documents for business funds, if the money comes from a business

The exact documents depend on how the support is structured. Do not confuse this with the separate annual income alternative, which has stricter rules about who can qualify and what evidence is accepted.

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The Annual Income Alternative

Instead of showing deposits or savings, some applicants can rely on official proof that a parent, spouse, or de facto partner had sufficient personal annual income in the 12 months immediately before application.

Situation	Required Annual Income
Student only, no secondary applicant	AUD 87,856
Student with a secondary applicant	AUD 102,500

Important limits for this pathway:

• the evidence must be official government documentation of personal income issued within the 12 months before application
• this pathway is for the income of a parent, spouse, or de facto partner only
• bank statements and ordinary employer letters are not the correct evidence for this alternative

If you are relying on bank statements instead of this annual-income pathway, do not assume an official tax assessment is legally required in every case.

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Practical Steps

1. Work out the total amount you need to show: tuition + living costs + travel + any dependant additions.
2. Gather official statements for the account or accounts holding those funds.
3. Check that the statements clearly identify the account holder and show recent transaction history.
4. Collect supporting evidence for any recent major deposits or business-derived funds.
5. If a sponsor is involved, add relationship and support evidence.
6. Translate non-English documents before lodgement.
7. Upload the full package in ImmiAccount if financial evidence is requested.

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Practical Tips

• A short cover note explaining your calculation can help make the evidence easier to follow.
• If you use multiple accounts, make the source and ownership of each account easy to understand.
• Download fresh statements close to lodgement so the evidence is current.
• Re-check the official Home Affairs Student visa pages and Document Checklist Tool shortly before lodging, because documentary settings can change.

What this requirement is

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the approved English language tests for the Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

IELTS assesses Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. For Student visa purposes, the relevant score is the overall / average band score.

For Student visa applications lodged on or after 7 August 2025:

• IELTS Academic is an approved test
• IELTS General Training is also an approved test

For tests taken before 7 August 2025, the earlier approved-test rules still apply.

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Why it matters

English language evidence is a core Student visa requirement unless you fall within an exemption category. If Home Affairs asks for English evidence and you do not meet the required standard, the visa cannot be granted.

Home Affairs may also ask for English evidence during processing even if it was not uploaded at lodgement.

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Minimum IELTS scores

These are visa minimums only. Your education provider may require higher scores for admission.

If your IELTS test was taken on or before 6 August 2025:

Situation	Minimum overall band
Main course only	6.0
Package includes at least 10 weeks of ELICOS / Foundation / eligible Pathway	5.5
Package includes at least 20 weeks of ELICOS	5.0

If your IELTS test was taken on or after 7 August 2025:

Situation	Minimum average band score
Main course only	6.0
Package includes at least 10 weeks of ELICOS / Foundation / eligible Pathway	5.5
Package includes at least 20 weeks of ELICOS	5.0

For applications lodged on or after 7 August 2025, the 2025 instrument treats IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training separately, but the required scores are the same for both.

If you want to rely on the lower packaged-course threshold, make sure your application genuinely includes the relevant ELICOS, standard foundation, extended foundation, or eligible pathway arrangement.

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Test validity

The timing rule is narrower than many applicants expect:

• If you provide the IELTS evidence when you lodge the visa application, the test must have been taken within the 2 years immediately before lodgement.
• If you do not provide the IELTS evidence at lodgement and Home Affairs asks for it later, the test must have been taken within the 2 years immediately before the visa decision.

That means a score can still become unusable if it expires during processing before you provide it. The safest approach is to use a recent result and upload it early if available.

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What to provide

Upload your official IELTS result / Test Report Form (TRF). It should clearly show:

• your full legal name matching your passport
• your test date
• your overall / average band score
• your four component scores: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
• the test type
• the TRF or result reference number

A clear official result document is stronger than a screenshot or informal score summary.

Important: Your name on the IELTS result should match your passport details. If there is any mismatch, include evidence explaining the difference.

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Exemptions

You generally do not need to provide an English test result if one of the recognised Student visa exemptions applies, including if you:

• hold a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America
• are enrolled only in a standalone ELICOS course
• are enrolled only in a course delivered in a language other than English
• are enrolled only in a registered school course
• are enrolled only in a registered post-graduate research course
• are a Foreign Affairs student, Defence student, or Secondary exchange student
• completed at least 5 years of study in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, the UK, or the USA
• completed certain specified Australian study in English within the 2 years before applying

If you rely on an exemption, upload the evidence that proves it, such as your passport or course documents.

Note: Home Affairs says applicants with a British National Overseas (BNO) passport may still be asked to provide English test evidence with the application.

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Practical guidance

1. Check whether you actually need a test result or whether an exemption applies.
2. Confirm both the visa minimum and your education provider's admission requirement.
3. If using a packaged-course score reduction, make sure the packaging is properly reflected in your enrolment documents.
4. Upload the official IELTS result in ImmiAccount under the English-language evidence area.
5. Keep the result accessible during processing in case Home Affairs asks for it again.

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Practical tips

• Do not confuse visa rules with university entry rules. Meeting the Student visa minimum does not necessarily mean your provider will admit you.
• Check timing carefully. The 2-year rule can be measured to lodgement or, if evidence is provided later, to the decision date.
• General Training is a visa option only for the newer rules. Many education providers will still require IELTS Academic for admission.
• Pathway reductions are specific. Not every preparatory course qualifies as an eligible pathway program.
• Use recent evidence where possible. Older results create avoidable risk if processing is delayed.

What is OSHC?

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the form of adequate health insurance that Student visa (subclass 500) holders normally need to hold for themselves and any accompanying family members while they are in Australia. It helps cover doctor visits, some hospital treatment, ambulance services, and limited medicines.

Visa condition 8501 requires Student visa holders to maintain adequate health insurance. For most subclass 500 applicants, that means OSHC unless a recognised exception applies.

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Approved OSHC providers

Australia has a small number of approved OSHC providers. Current brands include:

Provider	Website
ahm OSHC	ahm.com.au/oshc
Allianz Care Australia	allianzcare.com.au
Bupa Australia	bupa.com.au/health-insurance/oshc
CBHS International Health	cbhsinternationalhealth.com.au
Medibank	medibank.com.au/overseas-health-insurance/oshc
nib OSHC	nib.com.au/overseas-students

Your education provider may arrange OSHC for you as part of enrolment, but you remain responsible for checking that the policy is correct and covers the right people for the right dates.

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Timing rules that matter

Home Affairs says you should obtain OSHC for yourself and any dependants for the duration of your stay in Australia, generally from at least 1 week before your course starts.

Practical points:

• If you plan to arrive in Australia before the policy starts, move the start date earlier so you are insured when you enter.
• If you apply in Australia, make sure there is no gap between your existing required cover and the new policy.
• If your course, visa, or travel plans are extended, extend the OSHC before the current policy expires.
• If you change provider, make sure the transfer is continuous and obtain any continuity or transfer documentation the new insurer asks for.

The visa grant period can take your OSHC end date into account, so buy enough cover to span the expected visa period, not just the teaching weeks.

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What to enter in the visa application

Home Affairs currently asks for different details depending on who arranged the cover.

If you or your migration agent arranged the OSHC:

• provider name
• policy number
• policy start date
• policy end date

If your education provider arranged the OSHC:

• provider name
• policy start date
• policy end date

Family members: if your partner or dependent children are included in the application and will be in Australia with you, the cover must include them too. A single-person OSHC policy is not enough for accompanying family members.

If OSHC information that Home Affairs requires is missing, the application is at risk of refusal. Do not assume the Department will ask you to correct it later.

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What OSHC usually covers

Core OSHC generally includes:

• visits to a doctor
• some in-hospital treatment
• ambulance services
• limited pharmaceuticals

Coverage is not unlimited. You can still have waiting periods, exclusions, and out-of-pocket costs depending on the treatment and provider rules.

What OSHC often does not cover fully

Common gaps or limits include:

• dental, optical, physiotherapy, and other extras unless separately added
• treatment outside Australia
• some pre-existing conditions during waiting periods
• pregnancy-related services during waiting periods
• non-medically necessary cosmetic treatment

If you expect regular dental, optical, or similar care, check whether you need separate extras cover.

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Exceptions

Home Affairs recognises limited situations where a Student visa applicant may not need OSHC because they are covered by another accepted arrangement, including:

• Norwegian students covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme
• Swedish students covered by Kammarkollegiet
• Belgian students covered under Australia's reciprocal health care arrangements

Do not rely on an exception unless you clearly meet it and can prove it.

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Practical tips

• Buy the policy before lodgement so you can enter the required details accurately in ImmiAccount.
• Check that the start date, end date, and covered people match your actual plans.
• Keep the certificate or confirmation letter as a PDF for your records and upload it if requested.
• Read the provider's policy summary or product information, especially for waiting periods and exclusions.
• If you later defer, extend, or change courses, re-check the OSHC dates immediately so the cover stays continuous.

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Official reference points

Check the current Home Affairs and Australian Government health insurance guidance before lodging:

• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-health-insurance
• privatehealth.gov.au/health_insurance/overseas/overseas_student_health_cover.htm

What This Requirement Is

For a Student visa (subclass 500), you should attach a clear copy of your current passport as part of your identity evidence. In practice, this usually means the biodata page showing your photo, full name, date of birth, passport number, nationality, and the passport issue and expiry dates.

Home Affairs' Student visa Document Checklist Tool says to attach a copy of your passport as identity evidence. The visa is then digitally linked to the passport details on your application.

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What to Provide

• A clear copy of the biodata page of your current passport
• Any supporting identity document requested or useful in your case, such as a birth certificate or national identity card, where you have one
• Change-of-name evidence if the name on your passport does not match other documents in the application
• Additional passport details if you hold another nationality or another current passport that is relevant to the identity questions in the application

A clean colour scan is best. Make sure the image is legible and the passport number, issue date, and expiry date can be read clearly.

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Validity: what is required and what is only recommended

You should use a current, valid passport for the application and make sure it remains valid at least until visa grant and travel.

However, the common statement that your passport must have at least 6 months remaining for the whole stay should be treated carefully. Home Affairs material commonly presents 6 months' validity as a strong recommendation, not as a standalone published subclass 500 grant criterion by itself.

Practical guidance:

• if your passport will expire very soon, renewing before lodgement is usually sensible
• if your passport will expire during a long course, renewal before or during processing may avoid travel and administrative problems
• do not assume a soon-to-expire passport automatically makes the application invalid or refused by itself

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Why It Matters

Your passport is your primary identity document for the application. If your name, date of birth, nationality, or passport details do not match your other evidence, Home Affairs may ask for clarification or further documents.

This requirement also matters after lodgement because the visa or application record is linked to your passport details. If those details change, you need to update Home Affairs so the new passport can be linked correctly.

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If You Renew Your Passport

If you get a new passport while the application is being processed or after the visa is granted, update the passport details in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs says this is the quickest way to link the new passport to your visa or application, and the department states that the link is usually updated within 72 hours in ImmiAccount.

Do not assume Home Affairs will pick up the change automatically from airline, provider, or border records.

If you need to travel before the update is reflected, carrying both the old and new passports is prudent.

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Practical Steps

1. Check that your current passport is valid and that the biodata page is clear and undamaged.
2. Scan the biodata page clearly and upload it with your identity documents.
3. If your name differs across documents, add the relevant change-of-name evidence.
4. If you hold another nationality or passport, answer the application questions fully and attach the relevant passport copy if needed.
5. If you renew your passport after lodgement, update the details through ImmiAccount promptly.

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Practical Tips

• Do not crop the scan too tightly. The biodata page should be fully visible and easy to read.
• Check name consistency carefully. Even minor differences should be explained with supporting evidence where needed.
• Treat the 6-month rule as a recommendation, not an absolute legal rule for this visa by itself.
• Renew early if practical when your passport is close to expiry and your course or travel plans run well beyond that date.
• Keep a copy of old passports if they help explain prior identities, visas, or name history.

What this is

ImmiAccount is the Department of Home Affairs' online portal at online.immi.gov.au. It is the account applicants use to start, submit, and manage a Student visa (subclass 500) application online.

ImmiAccount is also where you attach documents, receive department messages, respond to requests for more information, and check the status of an application after lodgement.

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Why it matters

You need access to ImmiAccount before you can complete the online subclass 500 application. Home Affairs also uses it after lodgement to send messages and requests, so you should keep access to the account and its email address throughout processing.

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How to create your ImmiAccount

1. Go to online.immi.gov.au
2. Select Create ImmiAccount
3. Create an Individual account if you are applying yourself
4. Enter your email address and set your password and security details
5. Complete any email verification steps Home Affairs sends
6. Sign in and keep your login details secure
7. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) when prompted so you can keep accessing the account

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If someone is helping you

If a registered migration agent or legal practitioner is lodging for you, they may manage the application through their own professional account instead of your personal Individual account. Confirm with them how you will receive messages and copies of documents.

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Good practice

• Use a personal email address you will keep for the full visa process.
• Keep your passport details, course details, and supporting documents ready before you start the form.
• Check both ImmiAccount and your email regularly after lodgement.
• Keep your password, MFA method, and recovery details current so you do not lose access.
• Do not email documents to Home Affairs unless they specifically tell you to; documents are usually attached in ImmiAccount.

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After lodgement

After you submit, ImmiAccount will show a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Save it carefully. The TRN is commonly used to identify your application in later correspondence and when tracking progress.

What Are Visa Conditions?

When your Student visa (subclass 500) is granted, it comes with visa conditions that Home Affairs attaches for your entire stay in Australia. Home Affairs treats these as legally binding rather than as suggestions, and states that breaching a condition can result in visa cancellation, removal from Australia, and potential bans on future Australian visa applications.

Important: Your exact conditions are listed in your visa grant notification in ImmiAccount and can be verified at any time using VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). Not every Student visa carries the same set of conditions — always check your specific grant.

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How to Check Your Conditions

1. Log into ImmiAccount and open your visa grant notification — it lists every condition by number
2. Use VEVO at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions to view your conditions online at any time
3. Print or save a copy for easy reference — Home Affairs holds visa holders to their conditions regardless of whether they remember them
4. Pay special attention to conditions 8208 and 8534 — these are not applied to every Student visa, but carry major consequences if they apply to you

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The Core Conditions

Condition 8105 — Work Limitation

Home Affairs lists condition 8105 as generally preventing work in Australia before the course commences.

Once the course has started, Home Affairs lists the following:

• work of up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, including during exam periods
• for this condition, a fortnight is a 14-day period starting on a Monday
• unlimited work hours during scheduled course breaks and after the course is completed while the visa remains valid

Exception: If you are enrolled in a Master's by Research or Doctoral (PhD) program, you and your partner may work unlimited hours once your course commences — the 48-hour cap does not apply.

Also important: If you applied while holding another substantive visa or bridging visa that already allowed you to work, you may be able to keep working before your Student visa course starts. Check your grant notice and VEVO carefully before relying on this exception.

Warning: Exceeding the 48-hour fortnightly limit is one of the most common reasons for Student visa cancellation. Keep a personal log of your hours every fortnight — do not rely on memory.

Condition 8202 — Course Requirements

Home Affairs lists condition 8202 as requiring the visa holder to:

• remain enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course at all times
• stay enrolled in a full-time registered course
• usually maintain enrolment in a course that leads to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification at the same or higher level than the course for which the visa was granted, unless a specific exception applies
• meet the provider's satisfactory course progress requirements
• meet attendance requirements where the applicable provider and ESOS/National Code rules require attendance monitoring and reporting

Where a course will run beyond the current visa validity, a new Student visa may be needed before the current visa expires — Home Affairs does not automatically extend the visa just because a CoE or course dates change.

Condition 8501 — Health Insurance

Home Affairs lists condition 8501 as requiring:

• valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) held for the entire stay in Australia
• no gap in coverage — Home Affairs treats even a single day's gap as a breach of the visa condition
• OSHC extended to match the new expiry date if the visa is extended
• OSHC cover for any family members included on the visa

Condition 8516 — Maintain Eligibility

Home Affairs lists condition 8516 as requiring the visa holder to continue meeting the primary criteria under which the visa was granted:

• remain enrolled in the course
• maintain adequate health insurance
• have sufficient financial resources available

Condition 8533 — Address Notification

Home Affairs lists condition 8533 as requiring the visa holder to:

• notify the education provider of a residential address in Australia within 7 days of arriving
• notify the provider again within 7 days of any change of address
• if changing education provider, notify the current education provider within 7 days after receiving the new CoE or other accepted enrolment evidence

Home Affairs frames this as a legal obligation rather than an admin formality — providers are required to keep these records and may report non-compliance to Home Affairs.

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Conditions That May or May Not Apply to You

Condition 8208 — Critical Technology Study Restriction

Home Affairs lists condition 8208 as prohibiting critical technology related study unless Home Affairs gives written approval.

This condition is aimed at certain postgraduate research courses, related bridging courses, and thesis or research topics involving critical technology. It does not apply to the course or study activity that was already disclosed in your visa application, but it can matter later if you change into covered research. If condition 8208 is listed on your visa and you are considering a course, thesis, or research-topic change, get written guidance before making the change.

Condition 8534 — No Further Stay

Home Affairs lists condition 8534 as meaning most other substantive visas cannot be granted while the holder is in Australia.

The main listed exceptions are Protection visas, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), and the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). This condition significantly restricts your onshore options, so check VEVO and your grant notice before making any plan to switch visas in Australia.

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Pro Tips

• Save your conditions the day your visa is granted — screenshot or PDF your VEVO conditions page immediately for future reference
• Set calendar reminders for your OSHC expiry date, your course end date, and your visa expiry date — allow at least 6–8 weeks lead time for renewals
• Track your work hours weekly — do not wait until the end of a fortnight to count; it is easy to accidentally exceed 48 hours, especially when working across multiple jobs
• Notify your provider the moment you change address — condition 8533 breaches are simple to avoid but very easy to overlook in the rush of moving
• Communicate early if you are struggling academically — your provider may be able to discuss intervention, reporting, leave, deferral, or suspension options; do not assume a pause in study automatically preserves all visa rights
• Your provider is a reporter — education providers are required under the National Code to report students who are not meeting attendance or progress requirements; compliance issues are rarely invisible to Home Affairs

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What Happens If You Breach a Condition?

1. Home Affairs may cancel your visa — you can be given notice of intention to cancel and asked to respond, but cancellation can happen quickly
2. If your visa is cancelled while you are in Australia, you may be detained and removed
3. A visa cancellation on your record can affect eligibility for future Australian visa applications
4. You generally have review rights before the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), but appeals take time and do not guarantee a favourable outcome

The safest approach is to understand your conditions now, set up reminders, and reach out to your education provider or a registered migration agent early if any issue arises.