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Australia Student Visa Cost Calculator · Subclass 500 · Official 2026 DHA Fees
What will your student visa actually cost?
Select your situation below. Get the exact subclass 500 application charge total — visa fee, dependants, OSHC, 485 budget, English test — plus your work rights and PR timeline after graduation.
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Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Fee — Every Official 2026 Amount
⚠️ Fee alert — 1 July 2026: Every student-related visa just rose ~25%. The subclass 500 went from $2,000 to $2,500, and the 485 graduate visa from $4,600 to $5,750. These apply to any application lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Budget for the new figures before you start.
| Visa / Item | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student Visa subclass 500 — primary applicant | $2,500 | From 1 July 2026. Was $2,000. Non-refundable if refused. |
| Subclass 500 — ASEAN / ELICOS / non-award concession | $2,050 | Eligible ASEAN passports, Independent ELICOS & non-award students. |
| Subclass 500 — Pacific-regional / Timor-Leste concession | $745 | Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants. |
| Student Visa subclass 500 — partner (18+) | $2,500 | Per person. Same as primary. |
| Student Visa subclass 500 — child (under 18) | $500 | Per child. |
| 485 Temporary Graduate Visa — primary | $5,750 | From 1 July 2026. Was $4,600. Most expensive post-study visa in the world. |
| 485 Graduate Visa — partner (18+) | $2,875 | From 1 July 2026. Was $2,300. |
| 485 Graduate Visa — child (under 18) | $1,150 | From 1 March 2026. |
| OSHC health cover — single | $500–$1,200/yr | Mandatory for full visa duration. |
| Health examination | $200–$350/person | DHA-approved panel physician. |
| PTE Academic | $490 | Results in 48 hours. Most popular for South Asian students. |
| IELTS Academic | $420–$440 | IDP / British Council. Varies by state. |
| 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.
Work Rights — Visa Condition 8105 Explained
During official course breaks: Unlimited work hours. No cap applies during university holidays and semester breaks.
During your course (in session): Maximum 48 hours per fortnight across all employers combined.
| In-session cap | 48 hrs/fortnight across all employers. A breach can cancel 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). |
| DHA cross-checking | DHA cross-references tax file number records against your PRISMS attendance data. |
Evidence Level 3 — What Changed January 2026
8 January 2026: DHA moved India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan to Evidence Level 3. 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. Enhanced Genuine Student scrutiny. Biometric cross-matching. |
| Processing time impact | 8–18 weeks for complete applications. Apply at least 16 weeks before course commencement. |
| Financial evidence | 3 months consecutive official bank statements. Must be certified by the issuing bank. Screenshots not accepted. |
| Does EL3 mean refusal? | No. Well-prepared genuine students from EL3 nationalities are approved every week. |
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 $5,750. |
| Australian study bonus | +5 DHA points 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. |
| NAATI CCL bonus | +5 points if your language qualifies. ~AUD $800. Do this during your 485 year. |
| Skills assessment | Required before submitting EOI. Start in your final year — takes 3–12 months depending on assessing authority. |
| PR timeline | 5–7 years from course commencement with early planning. Only 39% of international students achieve PR. |
Student Visa FAQ — 2026
What is the Australia student visa subclass 500 application charge in 2026?
The Australia student visa subclass 500 application charge is AUD $2,500 per primary applicant from 1 July 2026, up from $2,000. Concessions apply — $2,050 for ASEAN and ELICOS/non-award students, $745 for Pacific-regional applicants. A partner aged 18+ also pays $2,500. Each dependent child under 18 pays $625.
How much does the 485 graduate visa cost in 2026?
The 485 Temporary Graduate Visa fee increased to AUD $5,750 on 1 July 2026, up from $4,600. Partners aged 18+ now pay $2,875. Children under 18 pay $1,440. Budget for this from day one of your studies.
Can I apply for a partner visa while on a student visa in Australia?
Yes — you can apply for a partner visa (subclass 820) while holding a student visa in Australia. You must be in Australia at time of application. The subclass 820/801 partner visa application fee rose to AUD $11,710 on 1 July 2026 (up from $9,365). Processing typically takes 12–24 months onshore.
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, there is no hours cap. Masters by Research and PhD students have no work hour restriction at any time.
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, compliance with visa conditions, financial circumstances, immigration history, personal circumstances, and home country ties.
What is the PR pathway from a student visa?
Typical pathway: 500 student visa → 485 graduate visa (2–4 years) → skills assessment → EOI via SkillSelect → 190 state nomination or 491 regional nomination → permanent residency. Only 39% of international students achieve PR — planning from year one makes the difference. Check your EOI queue →