Student Visa 500 to study in Australia in 2026

Australian Visa 500 (Student visa - Subclass 500) is a student visa that allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of a full-time course (up to 5 years) at an educational institution recognized by the Australian Government.

When owning an Australian Student Visa - Subclass 500, international students will enjoy attractive benefits such as:
Study full-time at an educational institution in Australia and live throughout the visa term.
Australian Visa 500 allows international students aged 18 and over to work up to 48 hours/ 2 weeks in any field and unlimited during holidays.
Freely travel in and out of Australia during the visa term.

For those applying for a Student Visa (Subclass 500), please ensure that you meet the following requirements:

• Must be aged 6 years or over

• Possess a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a full-time course at an Australian educational institution and meet the entry requirements for the course.

• Maintain approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in Australia

• Meet the accommodation and guardianship requirements for students under 18 years of age.

• Meet the health requirements & complete the fingerprinting process

• Have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Australia (including tuition fees, living expenses and travel expenses).

• Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement — demonstrating a genuine purpose for studying in Australia (replacing the old GTE rule).

• Provide documents verifying your education and work experience in Vietnam, including high school transcripts, diplomas, university transcripts, and proof of employment (all must be translated into English).

• Confirmation of Enrollment (COE): a certificate verifying your registration for a specific course. The COE will be sent to you once you have accepted the offer and paid the deposit.

• English language proficiency certificate (if any).
  Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC).

• Health requirements and provide a medical certificate confirming that you meet the health requirements.

• Provide documentation proving that you have met all guardianship and accommodation requirements for applicants under 18 years of age.

• Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover expenses throughout your studies in Australia. According to current regulations of the Australian Department of

• Home Affairs, students need to demonstrate sufficient financial resources, including the following:
  
  - Living expenses: A minimum of approximately AUD 29,710 per person per year.
  
  - Living expenses for accompanying family members (if any): Approximately AUD 10,394 per year for spouse or partner.
  
  - Tuition fees: Proof of sufficient tuition fees for the first academic year as stated on the CoE (typically AUD 22,560 – AUD 53,600 per year depending on the program and institution).
  
  - Travel expenses: Additional proof of approximately AUD 2,500 – 3,000 for airfare and initial travel costs.
  
  - Proof of income for sponsorship (if sponsored by parents/sponsor): Minimum annual income of parents or sponsors of AUD 87,856/year if applying without dependents, or AUD 102,500/year if accompanied by spouse or children.

The visa issuance time for each study abroad application will be different. To apply for a Visa 500 when studying in Australia, you need to complete the following basic steps:

Step 1: Determine where to submit your visa application, the intended time to submit your visa 500 application:
You need to meet the health requirements and possess a valid passport to apply for a student visa.
Students in Australia: Apply before the visa expires.
Students in other countries: Applying for a Visa 500 to study in Australia as soon as possible will have an advantage. The speed of application processing depends on many factors, contact IDP for specific advice

Step 2: Prepare required documents
Complete all documents, personal transcripts, foreign language certificates, extracurricular activity certificates, and documents listed by the Australian Government above.
If you still have any questions about preparing your application, contact an IDP consultant for free advice and support in preparing all documents.

Step 3: Apply for a Subclass 500 Visa
International students must apply for a visa through the online application portal (applicable to students in Australia and international students in other countries). Complete the Australian Subclass 500 visa application form online from your ImmiAccount. Upload scanned copies of your application and required documents as instructed.

Step 4: Track the application progress through ImmiAccount. You should log in regularly to monitor and respond promptly if there are any requests from the Australian Department of Immigration.

Step 5: Receive visa results from the Australian Department of Immigration.

The processing time for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) is not fixed but depends on the level of study, type of application and priority of the school.

Below is the reference processing time for each grade:

Source: Department of Home Affairs (updated on 09/06/2026)

How does MD115 affect the visa processing time?

From November 14, 2025, the MD115 policy (replacing MD111) will officially take effect, changing the way Australian student visas submitted from abroad are processed.

Accordingly, applications will be classified according to 3 priority levels, based on data from the PRISMS system (tracking the number of international students of each school):

Priority 1 (fastest): Applied when your school has not reached 80% of the international student quota. Records can be processed significantly faster

Priority 2 (average): When the school has reached 80%–115% of the target. Visa processing time is average

Priority 3 (latest): When the school has exceeded 115% of the target. Records may have to wait longer due to being left in the processing line

Important Notes

This mechanism does not limit the number of visas granted, but only determines the order in which applications are considered. This means that you can still be granted a visa, but the time is fast or slow depending on the school and the time of application.

According to the latest update from the Australian Government, the student visa application fee will officially be adjusted from July 1, 2026, and will be applied separately into three groups of countries. Notably, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries (including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste) are included in the special preferential group with a fee of AUD 2,050.

To be granted an Australian student visa - Subclass 500, you will need to provide valid English language certificates. These certificates will demonstrate your English language skills in an academic environment, as well as your communication skills during your studies in Australia, typically the IELTS test. IELTS is the world's most popular English language proficiency test for study, work and migration purposes, with over three million tests taken in the past year.

The minimum IELTS score required for an Australian 500 visa is 6.0 but you should achieve a higher score to enter top universities. In addition, IELTS score requirements will vary between courses. For example, courses such as Business, IT and Engineering usually require an IELTS score of 6.5. Courses such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Education may require an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher.

To know exactly how much IELTS is required for the Australian 500 visa for the field of study you want to pursue, you can contact IDP for the most detailed advice.

Important Note:
From March 23, 2024, the Australian Department of Immigration officially accepts IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR), allowing candidates to retake the specific skill they missed without having to retake the entire test.

With the help of IDP's highly qualified team of Australian student visa consultants, you will always have access to accurate information about visa application procedures, be fully updated with the latest application forms, and be guided through the Australian visa interview process to ensure your visa is approved in time for your study abroad journey.

In addition, IDP is happy to introduce Australian student scholarships to students who attend IDP's student fairs and those who apply for a visa through IDP. You will be guided by experts on how to apply for scholarships, practice interviews, complete your Australian student visa application, and equip yourself with knowledge before going abroad to study.

Contact IDP to start your Australian student visa consultation today!