Planning to study in Australia in 2025? The first thing you need to do is learn about the requirements for an Australia student visa.
As per the High Commission of India, India is the second largest source for international student enrolments in Australia, with almost 122,391 students. So, thousands of Indian students are successfully making the move every year. And you can be the next.
All you need is a clear-cut idea of how to apply for a Student visa to study in Australia and the documents required.
Subclass 500 is the most common student visa in Australia. You need it to enroll in a full-time course at a CRICOS-registered university, college, or school in Australia. It lets you stay in Australia for the length of your course (up to five years) and work up to 48 hours every two weeks while studying.
To get this visa, you’ll need to meet the Australia student visa requirements 2025, which include proving language proficiency, financial capability, and following the new Genuine Student (GS) guidelines.
As the name suggests, it’s a specific type of visa that lets a parent or legal guardian live in Australia to take care of a student who is under 18 years old.
The guardian can stay in Australia for as long as the student has a visa. But there are two main catches over here:
- The guardian must be able to prove that they have enough money to support both him/her and the student while they are in Australia.
- The person with this visa can’t work in most cases. Their main job is to take care of the student.
The 407 Training Visa is a subclass meant for people who are coming for a short-term course in Australia. This is the best option for:
- Individuals who need to do occupational training to get a licence in their field
- People who want to improve their skills through professional development
- Students who want a job-oriented add-on course to improve their job market opportunities
The visa lets you stay in Australia for up to two years to finish a certain training program.
But just like the Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590), you don’t have open work rights. And you need to be sponsored by an approved Australian organization to apply for the Training Visa (Subclass 407 visa).
Have a look at the eligibility criteria for an Australian student visa:
CRICOS, or the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, is the official list of educational institutions and programs that the Australian Government has authorised for the enrolment of foreign students.
It was actually put in place to protect international students by making sure that only quality-assured providers can accept overseas enrolments. So, you are less likely to fall prey for low-quality courses.
You must have a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) on a CRICOS-registered course for your Student Visa (Subclass 500) application.
Here’s how to fulfill this requirement:
- Select a course from the CRICOS list on their official website.
- Follow all admission procedures of the university to get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with a unique code.
- During the visa application, upload the original document as proof of your legitimate enrolment.
You need to prove you have a good command of the English language to study in Australia. Check out the tests accepted and scores you need:
| Test |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate |
| IELTS Academic |
6.5 (minimum individual band: 6.0) |
6.5-7.0 (minimum individual band: 6.0-6.5)* |
| TOEFL |
79-82 (Reading: 13, Listening: 12-13, Speaking: 18, Writing: 21) |
90-100 (Reading: 20-25, Listening: 20-22, Speaking: 20-23, Writing: 23-25) |
| PTE Academic |
58-64 (minimum individual component: 50-60) |
64-72 (minimum individual component: 54-65) |
| Cambridge English Test |
169-176 (minimum individual: 162-169) |
176-185 (minimum individual: 169-176) |
| Occupational English Test (OET) |
Grade B (350) in all four subtests |
Grade B (350) in all four subtests |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) |
95-110 overall score |
110-120 overall score |
*There are higher score requirements for some programs like Medicine, Law, and Education.
Did You Know?
Cambridge University created the IELTS Academic test in 1989 to give a standardised way to measure English skills for higher education and immigration. Today, thousands of universities and governments around the world trust it as a standard.
Make sure that:
- Your test results are less than 2 years old at the time of application
- You upload the official test report to your ImmiAccount (not just a copy)
In fact, you don’t need to take the language test if you’ve studied in English in a native country like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada, or Ireland.
India is not included. But Indian students can alternatively enroll in approved ELICOS programs in Australia to bypass the language tests.
On 23rd March 2024, the Australian government made a significant change by replacing the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
It is a test of intent. The goal is simple but crucial: to ensure that you are coming to Australia mainly to study and not for other reasons, such as working or using the student pathway as an easy way to get permanent residency.
The GS requirement is assessed through a series of targeted questions within your online Student Visa (Subclass 500) application. The new format asks for short answers instead of the long essay that was the old GTE. You should be clear and direct because each answer usually has a word limit of a 1000 characters (approximately 150-170 words).
It asks for mainly three areas:
● Your Current Circumstances and Ties to India
The first question will be about your background and why you want to take this course. You can give an honest account about your family, job, community, and financial situation. The more ties you have, the more convincing your case that you plan to return to India after finishing your studies.
● Your Choice of Course, Provider, and Australia
You can talk about the curriculum and how it fits in with what you’ve learned or done in the past. And give specific reasons as to why you chose the specific university and country (i.e, Australia) for your studies. The visa officer wants to see that your academic journey has been clear and logical.
● The Value of the Course to Your Future Career
You need to show a clear and real benefit of your Australian education for your career in India. Keep in mind that you can admit that some graduates may get jobs after they finish school, but your main focus should be on how the qualification will help you when you get back to India.
Money checks are a core requirement for an Australia student visa. You need to show that you have enough money to pay for the following:
- At least AUD 29,710 available for living expenses for one year (for a single student)
- Enough money to pay the tuition fee for a year (or pro-rata if the course is less than 12 months)
- Funds to pay for a round-trip flight to India, which usually costs about AUD 2,000
- You must have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole time you are there. You must show that you have paid for or have the money to pay for OSHC, which costs between AUD 500 and AUD 700 per year.
Did You Know?
Putting your required show funds into an Australian savings account gives you real access right away. So, you don’t have to wait for foreign bank statements to clear. And it’s one of the fastest ways to meet the financial capacity requirement without causing delays in the processing of your Student Visa application.
If you plan to bring your spouse or children with you to Australia, you will need to show additional funds. As of 2025, the additional annual costs are:
- For a spouse or partner, it’s an extra AUD 10,394.
- For each dependent child, an extra AUD 4,449.
- You also need to show an extra AUD 13,502 per year per child for their education if they are of school age (usually 5 to 18 years old).
You can either prove this through documentary evidence like bank statements, loan sanctions, scholarship letters, sponsorship certifications, etc. Or, you can use the sponsor’s (parent or spouse) annual taxable income (a minimum of AUD 87,856) instead of cash to show that you can pay. If you bring family members, your parents’ or partner’s income must be at least AUD102,500 in the 12 months immediately before you apply.
Australia is very serious about maintaining its high public health standards. Therefore, meeting the health requirements is a mandatory part of your Australia Student Visa Requirements 2025.
Your country of origin (India is a higher-risk country for some diseases, like tuberculosis), your age, and what you plan to do in Australia (like working in a hospital or school) will all affect the types of medical tests you need.
The process is managed through a digital system called eMedical. Have a look at how it works:
- After you send in your online visa application through your ImmiAccount, you’ll get a HAP ID. This is a unique number that identifies your health.
- Book an appointment with a Government-approved doctor.
- The panel doctor will do the tests that are needed.
- They will send your results directly to the Department of Home Affairs using the eMedical system, which speeds up the processing time for the Student Visa (Subclass 500).
On top of that, all Student (subclass 500) holders must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves (and any eligible dependents) for the entire visa period.
You should bear all the costs of the medical examination and insurance.
To keep the community safe, Australia needs to be sure that you are of good character as well. That’s why Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 made the character test a strict requirement for an Australia student visa.
For most students, a simple statement on the visa application form is usually enough. However, the Department of Home Affairs may ask you for a police clearance certificate.
It’s an official paper that says whether or not you have a criminal record. You can get it either through the Passport Seva Kendra or the Regional Passport Office in India.
Here’s a checklist of documents required for the process:
- Valid Passport
- Passport-sized photographs
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course
- Genuine Student (GS) Statement
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- English language test results
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Work experience document (if required)
- Gap Proof (as applicable)
- Financial proof (could be bank statements, loan approval letters, or sponsor’s income details)
- Police clearance certificate
- Health examination results
Have a look at the general estimate of how much fund you need to have before applying for an Australia student visa:
| Criteria |
Fund Required |
Type |
| Living expenses for one year (single student) |
AUD 29,710 |
Show (must have available in funds) |
| Tuition fees for one year |
AUD 15,000 – AUD 60,000 |
Show / Partial payment (depends on CoE) |
| Round-trip flight to India |
Approximately AUD 2,000 |
Show |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for one year |
AUD 500 to 700 |
Actual Payment (must pre-pay policy) |
| Additional funds for spouse/partner |
AUD 10,394 |
Show |
| Additional funds for each dependent child (living expenses) |
AUD 4,449 |
Show |
| Additional funds for each school-age child (education costs) |
AUD 13,502 |
Show |
| Student Visa Application Fee |
AUD 2,000 |
Actual Payment |
| Biometric Fee |
AUD 85 |
Actual Payment |
| Test Fee (Coaching not included) |
AUD 360 |
Actual Payment |
| Medical Examination Fee |
AUD 300-500 |
Actual Payment |
| Police Clearance Certificate |
AUD 65 |
Actual Payment |
In short, you need about AUD 78,365 to AUD 123,765 at the time of visa application.
It may seem hard to apply for an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) at first, but if you follow the steps in order, it’s pretty easy. Here’s how to get started:
- Get Course Admission: Apply to a university or school that has a course that is registered with CRICOS. You will get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) after you are accepted. You need this to start the visa process.
- Create an ImmiAccount: Visit the official website of the Department of Home Affairs to set up your ImmiAccount. Make sure that you remember the account credentials, as they’re required throughout the process.
- Fill Out the Visa Application Form: Fill out the online form carefully, making sure that all of the information matches what is on your documents. Mistakes can cause big delays in the process.
- Upload Required Documents: Attach your CoE, passport, academic records, English language test results, financial proof, OSHC, and all the above-mentioned documents required for Australia student visa.
- Pay the Visa Application Fee: Pay the applicable fee online through ImmiAccount and keep the payment receipt safely.
- Wait for Visa Decision: The standard Australian student visa processing time is 25 days. Once your application is approved, you will get a visa grant letter that explains what your visa conditions are.
1. Is it possible to work and study in Australia at the same time?
Yes! Most people with a Student Visa (Subclass 500) can work up to 48 hours every two weeks while they are studying and as many hours as they want during breaks.
2. Is there any age limit for the Australia Student Visa?
There isn’t a strict age limit, but people under 18 must have the right welfare arrangements. And age can affect eligibility for postgraduate research or some training visas.
3. Can my family come with me when I get a student visa?
Yes, your spouse and children can come with you if they are eligible. You will need to show proof of funds for their stay, and they will need to fill out their own visa application.
4. What do I do if my visa is denied?
You will get a letter that explains why your application was rejected. You can reapply after fixing them or appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in some cases.
No doubts. Studying in Australia can be one of the best things you ever do.
But as you see, it’s not as simple as getting a university admission letter. In fact, that’s just the beginning. You need to source your documents and follow the steps exactly. Even a small mistake can slow down the entire process.
That’s why you need a professional partner.
At The Chopras – TC Global, we have helped thousands of Indian students get into the best Australian universities through personalised strategies.
Want to be the next? Call us now for a free profile assessment and study abroad counselling.
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