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Student Visa Cost Calculator · Subclass 500 · May 2026 DHA fees
What will your student visa actually cost?
Select your situation. Get the exact total — visa fee, dependants, OSHC, 485 budget, English test — plus your work rights and PR timeline after graduation.
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Fees increased twice in the past 2 years. The 485 doubled without warning on 1 March 2026. We email you within 24 hours of any change that affects your costs.
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GSR Risk Checker
Will your application pass the Genuine Student Requirement? 7 questions, 60 seconds.
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485 Graduate Visa
Now $4,600. Check your exact duration — 2 to 4 years based on degree and study location.
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PR Queue Tracker
See your EOI queue position for 189/190 PR after graduation. Plan from day one.
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Every Student Visa Fee — Official 2026 Amounts
⚠️ Fee alert — March 2026: The 485 Temporary Graduate Visa fee doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 on 1 March 2026 without warning. Budget for this before you start your course, not after.
| Visa / Item | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student Visa 500 — primary | $2,000 | From 1 July 2025. Was $1,600. Non-refundable if refused. |
| Student Visa 500 — partner (18+) | $2,000 | Per person. Same fee as primary applicant. |
| Student Visa 500 — child (under 18) | $500 | Per child. |
| 485 Graduate Visa — primary | $4,600 | From 1 March 2026. Was $2,300. Most expensive post-study visa in the world. |
| 485 Graduate Visa — partner (18+) | $2,300 | From 1 March 2026. Was $1,115. |
| 485 Graduate Visa — child (under 18) | $1,150 | From 1 March 2026. Was $560. |
| OSHC health cover — single | $500 – $1,200/yr | Mandatory for full visa duration. Pay upfront for multi-year courses. |
| Health examination | $200 – $350/person | DHA-approved panel physician. Required for most applicants. |
| PTE Academic | $490 | Results in 48 hours. Most popular for South Asian students. 2026 price. |
| IELTS Academic | $420 – $440 | IDP / British Council. Varies by state and date. |
| TOEFL iBT | $330 – $370 | ETS 2026. Varies by test date. |
| Skills assessment (for PR planning) | $500 – $1,500 | Start before graduation — takes 3–12 months. |
Full spend reality: For a 2-year bachelor degree (you + partner), your complete visa-related spend — student 500 + partner + OSHC + 485 + 485 partner — is approximately $14,000–$17,000 before tuition, living costs, and flights. Plan for this on day one.
Work Rights — Visa Condition 8105 Explained
During official course breaks: Unlimited work hours. No cap applies during university holidays, semester breaks, and officially scheduled breaks. The 48-hour limit resumes only when teaching periods begin.
During your course (in session): Maximum 48 hours per fortnight across all employers combined. A fortnight = any 14 consecutive calendar days (rolling, not fixed to calendar weeks — this is where people make mistakes).
| In-session cap | 48 hrs/fortnight across all employers. A breach cancels your visa under s.116 Migration Act. |
| During course breaks | Unlimited. Applies during all officially scheduled university holidays and semester breaks. |
| Masters by Research / PhD | No work hour restriction at any time once your research course has commenced. |
| Your partner's rights | Bachelor or lower: 48 hrs/fortnight limit. Masters or PhD: unlimited work rights. |
| What counts as work | All paid employment across all employers combined. Does NOT include mandatory CRICOS-registered work placements. |
| Common mistake | Calculating per week instead of per fortnight (14-day rolling window). You can breach while each individual week looks compliant. |
| DHA cross-checking | DHA cross-references tax file number records against your PRISMS attendance data. Do not assume this isn't monitored. |
| Verify your conditions | Check your specific conditions at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/VEVO |
Evidence Level 3 — What Changed January 2026
8 January 2026: DHA moved India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan to Evidence Level 3 following a significant spike in fraudulent financial documents identified in late 2025. EL3 means enhanced manual verification — not automatic refusal.
| Affected nationalities | India · Nepal · Bangladesh · Bhutan (from 8 January 2026) |
| What EL3 means | Manual bank statement verification. Provider verification calls to confirm enrolment. Biometric cross-matching with previous Australian visa applications. Enhanced Genuine Student statement scrutiny. |
| Processing time impact | 8–18 weeks for complete applications. Apply at least 16 weeks before your course commencement date. |
| Financial evidence | 3 months consecutive official bank statements showing consistent balance and source of funds. Must be certified by the issuing bank. Screenshots not accepted. |
| Academic documents | Authenticated transcripts from all previous institutions. English translations by NAATI-accredited translator only. |
| Does EL3 mean refusal? | No. Well-prepared genuine students from EL3 nationalities are approved every week. Comprehensive documentation is the entire difference. |
India — EL3 from 8 Jan 2026
Nepal — EL3 from 8 Jan 2026
Bangladesh — EL3 from 8 Jan 2026
Bhutan — EL3 from 8 Jan 2026
From Student Visa to Australian PR
500 Student
→Graduate
→485 Work
→EOI SkillSelect
→190 or 491 PR
| 485 graduate visa | 2 years (bachelor / masters coursework) · 3 years (masters research) · 4 years (PhD). Fee is now $4,600. Apply within 6 months of course completion. 485 duration guide → |
| Australian study bonus | +5 DHA points automatically for completing 2+ years of study in Australia. Every student earns this. |
| Regional study bonus | +5 additional points for studying at a regional institution. Combined with 491 regional nomination (+15 pts) = 20-point advantage. Check regional eligibility → |
| NAATI CCL bonus | +5 points if your language qualifies. ~AUD $800. Do this during your 485 year — not at graduation when you need it most urgently. |
| Skills assessment | Required before submitting EOI. Start in your final year — takes 3–12 months depending on your assessing authority. |
| Points test reform 2026 | May 2026 budget confirmed a major rewrite of the points test — first since 2012. Details not yet released. Policy updates → |
| PR timeline | 5–7 years from course commencement with early planning. Only 39% of international students achieve PR. Planning from day one is the difference. |
Student Visa FAQ — 2026
How much does the Australian student visa cost in 2026?
The student visa (subclass 500) application fee is AUD $2,000 per primary applicant from 1 July 2025, increased from $1,600. A partner aged 18+ pays AUD $2,000. Each dependent child under 18 pays AUD $500. OSHC health cover costs AUD $500–$1,200 per year on top. Use the calculator above for your exact total including dependants and OSHC.
How much does the 485 graduate visa cost in 2026?
The 485 Temporary Graduate Visa fee increased to AUD $4,600 on 1 March 2026, up from $2,300. This was announced without warning and took effect immediately. A partner aged 18+ now pays $2,300. Children under 18 pay $1,150. This is now the most expensive post-study work visa of any comparable country. Budget for this from day one of your studies.
How many hours can a student work in Australia?
Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. During official scheduled course breaks and holidays, there is no hours cap — unlimited work is allowed. Masters by Research and PhD students have no work hour restriction at any time once their course commences. DHA cross-references tax records against PRISMS attendance data to identify breaches.
What financial evidence do I need for the student visa?
You must demonstrate AUD $29,710 per year for living costs plus full tuition fees. Accepted evidence: bank statements (minimum 3 months, consistent balance), scholarship letters, family statutory declaration with sponsor bank statements and income evidence, or education loan from an approved financial institution. For EL3 nationalities (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan), statements must be certified by the issuing bank with source of funds documentation.
Can I bring my partner and children on a student visa?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can apply as secondary applicants. Your partner pays AUD $2,000. Each child under 18 pays AUD $500. If you are studying a bachelor degree or lower, your partner is limited to 48 hours per fortnight work. If you are studying a Masters or PhD, your partner has unlimited work rights. You must show additional financial capacity: AUD $7,362 per year for a partner and $3,152 per child, on top of your own living cost requirement.
What is the Genuine Student requirement for Australia?
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced the old GTE statement on 23 March 2024. DHA assesses 6 factors: study commitment (attendance, course progression), compliance with visa conditions (work hours), financial circumstances, immigration history, personal circumstances, and home country ties. It applies at initial application and at renewal — a previous approval does not guarantee a renewal will pass. Check your GSR risk profile →
What is the PR pathway from a student visa?
The typical pathway: 500 student visa → graduate → 485 graduate visa (2–4 years) → skills assessment → EOI via SkillSelect → 190 state nomination or 491 regional nomination → permanent residency. Key actions to take during study: start skills assessment in final year, check NAATI CCL eligibility (+5 pts for ~$800), study regionally if possible (+5 pts). Only 39% of international students achieve PR — planning from year one is what makes the difference. Check your EOI queue →