Student visa

Australia’s Student visa program is governed by the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 and is assessed strictly against the criteria in force at the “time of decision.” Applicants must meet all legislative requirements; there is no discretion to waive mandatory criteria. Policy settings, course eligibility, and financial thresholds can change, so applications must be accurate and current.

 

Most international students apply under Subclass 500 (Student visa), which allows a genuine student to study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course at an approved Australian education provider. The visa is granted for the duration of the course and includes work rights subject to legislative limits. A central requirement is meeting the “Genuine Student (GS) requirement”, which assesses whether the applicant’s study plans, background, and circumstances demonstrate a genuine intention to study temporarily in Australia.

This assessment considers academic history, course relevance, employment background, immigration history, and personal circumstances.

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Applicants must also meet financial capacity, English language, health, and character

requirements. Financial evidence must show the ability to cover tuition fees, living costs, and

travel. Health and character are assessed under Public Interest Criteria and apply to all family

members.

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From a technical perspective, student visa refusals commonly arise from weak GS statements,

inconsistent documentation, or insufficient financial evidence