Get Subclass 500 Australia Visa | Panache Immigration

English language evidence exemptions

“You do not need to provide evidence of an English test score together with your visa application if one of the subsequent applies:

• you are a citizen and hold a passport from UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland
• you are an applicant who is a Foreign Affairs or, Defence sponsored student or a Secondary Exchange student (AASES)
• you 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
• you 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
• 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.

Have adequate health insurance

You and your family members must have and maintain adequate health insurance for the entire of your stay in Australia. To find out the length of coverage you will require, see student visa grant periods. You and your family members must be covered by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian health insurance provider, unless an ‘Exception’ applies.

Applicants outside Australia

Your cover must start from the day you and your family arrive in Australia, not the day your course starts. If you have been granted a visa and want to travel to Australia before your course begins, the OSHC start date must be the same as the date you arrive, not the date your course starts. Generally this is a minimum of 1 week to 1 month before your course starts. You must:

• ensure you don’t enter Australia before your OSHC begins, and
• maintain your OSHC until you leave Australia.

You may be refused entry to Australia if you cannot prove you have health insurance in place when you arrive.

Applicants in Australia

Applicants must have OSHC. If your previous visa required you to possess health insurance, cover must be continuous with no gap between your previous health cover and your OSHC.

Exceptions

You do not need to have OSHC if you are:

• a Norwegian student covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme
• a Swedish student covered by Kammarkollegiet
• a Belgian student covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia

How to get Overseas Student Health Cover

To get OSHC:

• find an approved provider
• pay for your policy

Your education provider or agent might arrange OSHC for you. If your education provider arranges your OSHC coverage, you will need to know the name of your health insurance provider, the date that your policy starts and finishes and should be aware of the terms and conditions of your policy. Your education provider will also need to include your health insurance information on your Certificate of Enrolment (CoE). If you arrange OSHC coverage yourself, you will need to know the policy number to include in the visa application. We will refuse your visa application if you don’t give us this information when you apply for your student visa.

Insurance for family members

If you have a single OSHC policy and you have family members, including children born in Australia after your arrival, consider getting a family policy. Every member of your family must have health insurance. Any family member who joins you after you arrive in Australia must show us they have OSHC for the duration of their stay in Australia.

Have this visa if applying while in Australia

If you are in Australia: You must hold an eligible substantive visa, or apply

• within 28 days of holding a Student visa, a Special Purpose visa, or a dependent Diplomatic (temporary) visa or
• within 28 days of being notified by the Tribunal that your visa cancellation has been put aside.

If you do not hold a substantive visa, you can’t apply for a student visa if you have ever held a substantive visa that you applied for in Australia while unlawful. Note: a bridging visa is not a substantive visa. If you have one of these visas, you can’t apply for this visa while you are in Australia:

• Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (subclass 426)
• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or consular) stream
• Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) – primary visa holder only. A family member of a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995) can apply for a Student visa in Australia
• Transit visa (subclass 771)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Sponsored Family stream or in the Approved Destination Status stream

Have enough money for your stay

You must have enough money to pay for your stay in Australia. To see how much money you need to have for cost of living, your course and travel expenses go to Gather Documents in the ‘Step by Step’.

Be a genuine temporary entrant

You must be a genuine temporary entrant and intend to return home after studying in Australia.

Meet our character requirement

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa must meet our character requirement.

Meet our health requirement

You and any family members who apply for the visa must meet our health requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

• have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and
• sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government

If you or any family members (including those who don’t apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian government money, you or they need to have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

You might not be granted this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

Best interests of the child

We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

Before you apply

Outside Australia – Apply for your visa at least 6 weeks before your course starts. In Australia – Allow plenty of time to apply for your next visa, avoid waiting to the last day your current substantive visa expires in case of unexpected complications, as we may not always be ready to assist you.

Organise health exams

You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply. Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.

Get help with your application

You don’t have to use a migration agent to apply for any visa. But if you want to, see how to find a registered migration agent. Anyone can help you fill out forms or give you general help together with your application. But you must let us know if you want someone to:

• receive your correspondence
• provide immigration assistance and act for you

Have a valid passport

You and your family members must hold a legitimate passport in order to lodge a student visa application. If you are in Australia and your current passport expires, you will need to renew it before you apply for your student visa.

Gather your documents

To see what you will need to provide evidence of, use the Document Checklist Tool. Before you use this tool please read the disclaimer. Enter your country of passport and education provider to urge an accurate document checklist. Choose the option ‘I have not decided on a provider yet’ in the tool if you have not yet chosen a provider. The tool will tell you what you will need to provide evidence of. If the tool says you need to supply evidence of a certain thing, select ‘Show steps’ to see what kind of evidence we might accept. Re-check the document checklist based on the country of passport and education provider just before you submit your application to be sure you have the most current list. The Document Checklist Tool is updated twice a year on 31 March and 30 September.

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can’t prove your identity or don’t provide true information.

Identity documents

We need proof of your identity. If you cannot prove your identity:

• we will refuse your visa application
• we might not grant you another visa for 10 years
• we might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates. Also provide:

• a national identity card, if you have one
• proof of change of name

Documents that prove a change of name include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
• documents that show other names you have been known by

Confirmation of enrolment, letters of support and acceptance forms

Attach the required documents consistent with your situation. Applying outside Australia Provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for all intended courses. Applying inside Australia Provide a CoE or letter of offer for all intended courses. You must provide the CoEs before the visa can be granted. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Australian Department of Defence sponsored Provide a letter of support If your letter of support does not say it will meet the living costs and expenses of every secondary applicant, then evidence of sufficient funds is also required. Secondary exchange student Provide an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student form Postgraduate research student required to remain in Australia for marking of your thesisform Provide a letter from your education provider.

Evidence you have enough money for your stay

If the document checklist indicates you must provide evidence of your financial capacity, attach the evidence to your visa application. We might refuse your visa without asking you for more information if you don’t. If we don’t ask you to provide evidence you have enough money for your stay when you apply, we might ask you to provide this evidence while we are processing your application. The living costs we ask you to declare and provide with your visa application indicate the cost of living in Australia. Actual living costs vary throughout Australia. We recommend you research the area you intend to live including the cost of living in that area There are options to prove you have enough money for your stay.

Enough money to cover costs and expenses

You can show proof you have enough money to cover the costs and expenses of your travel and your stay in Australia. You could give us evidence of:

• deposits of cash from a financial institution
• government loans or loans from a financial institution
• scholarships or similar financial support

Annual income

Alternatively, you can provide evidence your parents or your partner had a personal annual income of a minimum of AUD62,222 within the 12 months immediately before you apply. If you bring family members, you must demonstrate your parents’ or partner’s income is at least AUD 72,592. If both your parents are working we can consider their combined income. Provide evidence of your parents’ or partner’s income in the form of official government documents such as tax assessments less than 12 months old. We won’t accept bank statements or direct evidence from an employer.

Work out how much money you need

You must have enough money to pay for:

• your travel
• 12 months of your course fees (or pro rata fees, if your course is less than 12 months)
• 12 months of living costs for you and any family members who come with you to Australia (or pro rata fees, if you are staying less than 12 months)
• school fees for any school-age children who accompany you (or pro rata fees, if the child will be at school for less than 12 months)

Use the subsequent information to work out how much money you need. To calculate pro rata costs, divide the annual cost by 365 and multiply the result by the number of days you intend to stay in Australia. Living costs 12-month living costs are:

• for students or guardians – AUD21,041
• for partners coming with you – AUD7,362
• for a child coming with you – AUD3,152

Course fees

Use the first 12 months of your course fees. If your course is 12 months or less, use the entire cost. Deduct any costs you have already paid – you must provide evidence you have paid them, such as a receipt or Confirmation of Enrolment. If you are in Australia and your course has already started, calculate the course fee for 12 months starting on the date you lodge your application.

• Example 1: your course fee is AUD 50,000 for 3 years. The fee for 12 months is the total course cost divided by the number of years you will be studying, so AUD50,000 divided by 3 years = AUD16,666, less any amount you have already paid if relevant.
• Example 2: your course fee is AUD15,000 for 10 months and you have already paid AUD5,000. Deduct the amount you have already paid from the total amount. AUD15,000 – AUD5,000 = AUD10,000.
• Example 3: your course fee is AUD20,000 for 18 months. The fee for 12 months is the total divided by the total number of months, then multiplied by 12. (AUD20,000/18) x 12 = AUD13,333. Deduct any costs you have already paid.

Schooling costs

If you are including any school-age children in your application, add schooling costs of at least AUD8,296 per annum for each child. Costs vary between states, territories and schools in Australia – you are responsible for finding out how much the child’s schooling will cost. You don’t have to provide evidence of schooling costs if you:

• are a PhD student and have enrolled your child in an Australian government school where the fees have been waived
• have received an Australian Commonwealth Government scholarship, including Foreign Affairs and Defence sponsored students, and have enrolled your child in an Australian government school where the fees have been waived

You must provide evidence the child is enrolled.

Travel costs

As a guide, when you calculate how much money you need, include:

• AUD 2,500 for travel costs if you are applying from East or Southern Africa
• AUD 3,000 for travel costs if you are applying from West Africa
• AUD 2,000 for travel costs if you are applying from anywhere else outside Australia
• AUD 1,000 for travel costs if you are applying in Australia. If you will be returning to Africa include AUD1,500

For combined applications

Include the costs and expenses of the primary applicant. For family members also applying for the visa, include:

• 12 months living costs (or pro rata)
• any school fees
• travel expenses

Other options

Secondary exchange students can prove they have enough money for their stay by providing a completed Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) students can prove they have enough money for their stay by providing a letter of support from DFAT. They must also provide proof of the financial capacity of any family members traveling with them. Department of Defense students can prove they have enough money for their stay by providing a letter of support from the Department of Defense. They must also provide proof of the financial capacity of any family members traveling with them.

Family members who apply after we have granted you a visa (subsequent entrants)

Family members who apply after we have granted you a visa (subsequent entrants)

• the costs and expenses of the student visa holder, including any remaining portion of the 12 months school fees minus any amount already paid
• 12 months living costs of all secondary applicants, including school fees
• travel costs for all secondary applicants

Evidence you have genuine access to the money

Evidence you have genuine access to the money If we ask you to provide evidence of financial capacity you must also prove you have access to it. If someone else is providing you funds, give us:

• evidence of your relationship with them
• their identity documents
• evidence of any financial support they have given you or another student visa holder in the past

If the financial support provided involves a business, show us proof the business is operating. If you are providing evidence of deposits of money, explain their source. Any education loan to cover your tuition or living costs should be paid out according to the agreement between you, the bank and the education provider. If you receive any payments before we make a decision on your application, give us evidence including the terms of the loan and the full amount you will be paid. Any education loan to cover your tuition or living costs should be paid out according to the agreement between you, the bank and the education provider. If you receive any payments before we make a decision on your application, give us evidence including the terms of the loan and the full amount you will be paid. If you are relying on another kind of loan, provide:

• evidence of the security you used
• the terms of the loan
• evidence you can cover ongoing costs

The best evidence you can provide of genuine access to funds if you are relying on a loan is evidence of disbursement. Let your provider know any conditions on your education loan. Some loans offer deferred repayment against your future earnings. These loans can be conditional on you studying only a specified course with a certain provider.

Evidence you are exempt from paying a visa application charge (VAC):

The following student visa applicants are not required to pay a visa application charge (VAC):

• Students awarded a scholarship funded by the Commonwealth Government of Australia
• Students and family members supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Student and family members supported by the Department of Defence
• Secondary exchange students
• Students affected by education provider default and lodge a new student visa application within 12 months of the provider default day
• Family members of students enrolled in a postgraduate research course
• Family members of students enrolled in a postgraduate research course
• Students who were unable to complete their course within their original student visa validity due to COVID-19 impacts. See COVID-19 and the border – Student visa

If you are unsure, you should not claim exemption as we will not accept your application if you are not eligible and this may have consequences if you are in Australia, as an invalid application outcome could affect your visa status and you may not be eligible if your visa has already expired to apply for a further visa. Note:

• You are not Commonwealth sponsored if you are sponsored by the government in your home country or your governmnent has provided you with a loan. Most Commonwealth sponsored students are enrolled in post graduate research courses.
• If your education provider is still operating but was unable to deliver the course you were enrolled in, then you are not affected by education provider default.

Overseas Student Health Cover

You must include proof of paid adequate health insurance for the proposed duration of your visa see student visa grant periods.

Health insurance must be Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) covering everyone included in your application.

If you don’t provide your OSHC in your application form, we will refuse your visa application. If you or your agent have organised OSHC, and included this information on your CoE, you will need to include the name of your health insurance provider, the dates your policy starts and finishes and the policy number in your application form. If your education provider arranged your OSHC, you will need to include the name of your health insurance provider and the dates your policy starts and finishes in your application.You do not need to include the policy number in your application. If your4 education provider arranged your OSHC, you will need to include the name of your health insurance provider and the dates your policy starts and finishes in your application.You do not need to include the policy number in your application. Make sure there is no gap in your coverage if you are studying with more than one education provider and both providers arrange OSHC for you. The second policy must begin as soon as the first expires. Note: If you are from Norway, Sweden or Belgium, you might not have to obtain OSHC. See information on exceptions in the ‘Have adequate health insurance’ section on the Eligibility page.

Genuine temporary entrant documents

Every Student visa applicant must provide evidence they are a genuine temporary entrant (GTE).

Student visa English language requirements

If you must provide evidence you meet the Student visa English language requirement, show us you achieved a certain score on an approved English language test. The English language test must have been taken in the 2 years before you apply for a student visa. If you must provide evidence you meet the Student visa English language requirement, show us you achieved a certain score on an approved English language test. The English language test must have been taken in the 2 years before you apply for a student visa. The table refers to the English language test providers and the minimum scores you must achieve to meet the Student visa English language requirement.

Partner documents

Provide your partner’s:

• identity documents
• character documents
• documents about other family members, if applicable

If you are married, provide your marriage certificate or other evidence that your marriage is valid in Australia. If you are a de facto partner, provide proof of your de facto relationship. This proof should show that:

• you have a mutual commitment with your partner to the exclusion of all others
• your relationship is genuine and continuing
• you either live together or don’t live permanently apart
• you are not related by family

Additional proof of a de facto relationships In addition to documents proving your relationship provide evidence that:

• you have been in your de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you applied for this visa, or
• if applicable, provide evidence that your relationship is registered by a participating Australian state or territory

Dependents under 18

For every dependent child under the age of 18 years who is applying with you, provide:

• copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children
• copies of the adoption paper, if applicable.

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

• has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
• is not coming to Australia with the child