Student visa news

Latest Student Visa News

This page brings together important updates relating to:

• Student visa (subclass 500)
• Genuine Student (GS) requirement
• Student visa fees
• Processing times
• Offshore processing priorities
• Financial requirements
• English requirements
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• Education providers
• CRICOS courses
• International education policy
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Post-study work options
• Student visa conditions
• Course changes
• Visa application requirements
• Government announcements affecting international students

Always check the date of an announcement and confirm the current requirements before making an application.

Student Visa Application Charge Increased From 1 July 2026

The Australian Government increased the Student visa application charge from AUD $2,000 to AUD $2,500 from 1 July 2026.

Some applicants may qualify for concessions under the applicable arrangements, including certain passport holders from ASEAN member countries and Pacific countries. The applicable charge should be confirmed before lodging the visa application.

What this means for students: The visa application fee is separate from tuition fees, OSHC, living expenses, medical examinations and other costs associated with studying in Australia.

Student Visa Processing Priorities

Student visa applications lodged outside Australia are processed according to government policy priorities.

For applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025, offshore Student visa processing priorities are governed by Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115).

The current system uses:

• Priority 1
• Priority 2
• Priority 3

The priority level is determined when the application is lodged and does not determine whether the visa will be granted or refused.

Priority can be affected by the education provider's position against its applicable New Overseas Student Commencement allocation and threshold.

The Department currently indicates that Priority 1 applications are generally processed ahead of Priority 2 applications, and Priority 2 ahead of Priority 3. However, these are processing priorities rather than guarantees of a decision date.

Current Student Visa Processing Time

The Department of Home Affairs currently reports a 21-day median processing time for the Student visa category for July 2026.

This is a median across the Student visa category and should not be treated as a guaranteed processing time for an individual application.

Processing can take longer depending on:

• Application completeness
• Additional document requests
• Health checks
• Character checks
• Identity requirements
• National security checks
• Application complexity
• Processing volumes
• Changes to government priorities

Home Affairs recommends lodging applications well before the course commencement date and providing all required supporting documents.

Genuine Student Requirement

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement remains an important part of the Student visa assessment.

The GS requirement replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant framework for Student visa applications lodged from 23 March 2024.

Applicants should demonstrate that studying in Australia is the primary reason for applying for the Student visa and explain their circumstances, proposed course, education provider and future benefits of the study.

Having future aspirations to obtain another Australian visa does not automatically make an applicant non-genuine.

The Department considers the applicant's overall circumstances and supporting evidence.

What Students Should Know About GS

Applicants should ensure that:

• Their course choice makes sense for their background
• Their education history is accurately explained
• Employment history is consistent
• Financial information is genuine
• Previous Australian study is disclosed
• Previous visa history is accurately provided
• Supporting documents match the information in the application
• Future career plans are realistic
• The proposed course is properly researched

Generic or copied responses should be avoided.

Financial Capacity Requirements

Students may need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and accompanying family members where required by the applicable Student visa rules.

Financial planning may need to account for:

• Student living costs
• Partner living costs
• Dependent children
• Schooling costs
• Tuition fees
• Travel expenses

The applicable financial requirements can change, so students should check the current Department of Home Affairs requirements when preparing their application.

International Education Settings for 2027

The Australian Government confirmed the 2027 National Planning Level (NPL) for the international education sector in July 2026.

The NPL is part of Australia's approach to managing the international education system and is distinct from an individual Student visa approval requirement.

Students should understand that education policy settings, provider allocations and visa processing priorities can affect the timing and circumstances of new enrolments and visa applications.

Changes to Private VET and ELICOS Providers

In May 2026, the Australian Government announced a temporary suspension on new CRICOS registrations for private VET and ELICOS providers and courses.

The measure is intended to support the integrity and quality of Australia's international education system.

Students should carefully check whether their chosen education provider and course are currently available and appropriately registered before making significant financial commitments.

Student Visa Integrity Measures

Australian authorities continue to strengthen the integrity of the international student and Student visa system.

This includes action where courses or education arrangements are considered to be facilitating non-genuine student behaviour.

In September 2026, the Government used new course-cancellation powers to prevent new enrolments in a graduate diploma that authorities considered was being used by non-genuine international students to switch courses and prolong their stay in Australia.

This highlights the importance of choosing a genuine and appropriate course and maintaining a consistent study pathway.

Student Visa and Course Selection

Choosing a course should involve more than looking at the course title or potential migration outcomes.

Students should consider:

• Previous qualifications
• Academic background
• Employment history
• Career goals
• Course content
• Course duration
• Education provider
• Tuition fees
• Location
• Entry requirements
• Future employment opportunities
• Potential graduate pathways

A course should be appropriate for the student's circumstances and genuine educational objectives.

Student Visa and Permanent Residency

Studying in Australia does not automatically provide a pathway to permanent residency.

After completing an eligible qualification, some graduates may explore options such as:

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)

Eligibility depends on the visa, occupation, qualification, skills assessment, English, age, work experience, employer or state nomination and other applicable requirements.

A study decision should therefore not be based on an assumption that a particular course automatically leads to PR.

Temporary Graduate Visa Updates

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) remains an important post-study option for eligible international graduates.

Current requirements can include:

• Age requirements
• Eligible Australian qualification
• Recent study in Australia
• English requirements
• Health and character requirements
• Australian study requirements
• Applicable stream requirements

The Temporary Graduate visa rules and charges have also changed in recent years, so applicants should check the current requirements before applying. Study Australia reported further Temporary Graduate visa changes in 2026.

Student Visa Conditions

International students must comply with the conditions attached to their visa.

Depending on the circumstances, conditions can relate to:

• Enrolment
• Course participation
• Academic progress
• Work
• Health insurance
• Address and contact details
• Course changes
• Family members

Students should check their individual visa conditions and understand their responsibilities while in Australia.

What Students Should Do Before Applying

Before lodging a Student visa application, consider the following checklist:

1. Choose the Right Course

Make sure the course is appropriate for your educational and career background.

2. Check the Education Provider

Confirm that the provider and course are appropriately registered for international students.

3. Obtain Your CoE

A Confirmation of Enrolment is generally required for the Student visa application.

4. Prepare Your GS Information

Prepare accurate and personalised responses addressing your circumstances and study plans.

5. Review Financial Requirements

Make sure you understand the current financial evidence requirements applicable to your circumstances.

6. Check English Requirements

Determine whether English evidence is required and what evidence is accepted for your circumstances.

7. Arrange OSHC

Ensure you have appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover.

8. Prepare Supporting Documents

Collect academic, employment, financial, identity and other documents relevant to your application.

9. Check Processing Priority

If applying from outside Australia, check the current Student visa processing priority arrangements applicable to your education provider.

10. Lodge a Complete Application

Provide the required information and supporting evidence when lodging your application.

Why Students Should Follow Student Visa News

Student visa policies can change after you have started researching your study options.

A change in:

• Visa fees
• Processing priorities
• Financial requirements
• English requirements
• Graduate visa rules
• Course registration
• Provider settings
• International education policy

may affect your planning.

Keeping up with official announcements can help you make better-informed decisions.

Important: Check the Date of Every Visa Update

Migration and education information can become outdated quickly.

When reading Student visa news, always check:

Announcement date → Effective date → Visa applicants affected → Current requirements

A government announcement does not necessarily mean that a change applies immediately to every Student visa applicant.

Official Sources for Student Visa Updates

For important visa decisions, students should rely on official Australian Government information, including:

• Department of Home Affairs
• Study Australia
• Department of Education
• CRICOS
• Relevant state or territory education authorities

News articles and social media posts can help explain a policy change, but applicants should confirm the actual requirements through official sources before lodging an application.

Student Visa News and Professional Guidance

The Visa can help students understand how Australian Student visa changes may affect their individual circumstances.

Our services include:

• Student visa assessment
• Genuine Student assessment
• Course pathway assessment
• Financial evidence guidance
• Student visa application support
• Visa refusal guidance
• Graduate visa pathway planning
• Skilled migration pathway assessment
• Employer-sponsored pathway planning

Stay Updated. Plan Your Study Pathway With Confidence.

Australian student visa requirements continue to evolve. Before making a major study or migration decision, check the latest requirements and consider how current policies apply to your individual circumstances.

Need help with your Student visa or study pathway? Get a professional assessment from The Visa.