# Student visa (subclass 500) for applicants from India

The subclass 500 lets you study a full-time CRICOS-registered course in Australia. Financial and English evidence requirements depend on your passport country, education provider and any applicable exemption, and since 2 October 2026 most new applications cannot include a partner or children.

Source: https://australiavisahub.com/visas/student-visa-500 · Updated 2026-10-08 · Australia Visa Hub, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

## For Indian applicants
India is Australia's second-largest source of students and, since January 2026, its highest-scrutiny market. In 2025-26 the grant rate for Indian applicants was 64 percent overall and 62 percent for offshore primary applicants, so roughly one file in three was refused. The visa fee is non-refundable, so the file must be right before it is lodged: funds that are genuinely yours and traceable, a Genuine Student statement that matches your profile, and an English result that meets both the visa and the provider threshold.

## Eligibility
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered course
- Genuine Student requirement: your study plan, ties to India and reasons for Australia must be credible and consistent
- English test result at the visa threshold (IELTS 6.0 overall for most courses; lower with a packaged English course)
- Evidence of funds for 12 months of living costs plus first-year tuition and travel, at Evidence Level 3 standards
- Overseas Student Health Cover for the full stay
- Health and character requirements, including a medical with a panel physician in India

## Documents
- Passport, CoE and offer letter
- Genuine Student statement answering the form questions, with supporting evidence
- Bank statements, education loan sanction letter or fixed deposits with a 3 to 6 month history
- Sponsor's income tax returns and relationship proof if a parent is funding you
- English test report (IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or OET)
- Academic transcripts, gap explanations and work experience letters
- OSHC policy and biometrics appointment

## Government fee (2026-27)
- Student visa, applies to Indian applicants, Primary applicant: A$2,500 (about ₹1,68,325 at 67.33 INR/AUD on 2026-10-07), effective 2026-07-01

## Common refusal reasons
- Funds not credible: unexplained large deposits, borrowed balances or statements that could not be verified with the bank
- Genuine Student doubts: course does not fit your background, weak ties to India, or a template statement
- Incorrect or missing documents at Evidence Level 3, where declarations alone are not accepted

## FAQ
**Can I appeal if my offshore student visa is refused?**
No. Student visas refused outside Australia have no merits-review right at the Administrative Review Tribunal. Your options are a Freedom of Information request for the decision record and a stronger reapplication.

**How long does an Indian student visa take in 2026?**
Under Evidence Level 3 the department verifies financial documents manually, and reported processing has moved from about three weeks to about eight weeks. Lodge at least three months before your course starts.

**Can I bring my spouse and children on a student visa?**
For applications made on or after 2 October 2026, partners and children can no longer be included unless you are a doctoral student, a foreign-government scholarship holder, or hold a Pacific or ASEAN passport, among narrow exemptions. Existing family visa holders are protected. Plan on travelling alone unless you fit an exemption.

**Is the A$2,500 fee refunded if I am refused?**
No. The visa application charge is not refunded on refusal, which is why we check the file before you pay it.

---
Australia Visa Hub is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are not a registered Australian migration agent and we serve applicants who are outside Australia. Information on this site is general; it is not legal advice and no visa outcome is guaranteed.