Everything You Need to Know About the Australian Student Visa
Written by Cassandra Charlesworth
24th March 2026
Thinking of studying in Australia long-term? Well, chances are you’ll need a Student Visa. But who do they suit, how do you get one, and what conditions are attached?
Here, we’ll take a look at the Student Visa, including how long they take to get and what you’ll need in order to apply.
Student Visa snapshot
The Student Visa is for those who are looking to study in Australia long-term - whether that’s one year, two years or up to five years.
This visa covers everyone from primary school aged children through to those studying higher education, and also allows you to work up to 48 hours a week to fund your stay.
But it does come with conditions and costs…
Student Visa conditions
If you have a Student Visa, you must remain enrolled in an eligible course, meet all your course requirements, and maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay.
You must also notify your education or training provider of your residential address within seven days of arriving in Australia, and you cannot overstay your visa period in Australia.
On the flipside, this visa allows you to work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, include family in your application such as your partner, child or partner’s child, and travel in and out of Australia.
Application requirements
To apply for a Student Visa, you’ll need to apply for an eligible course and receive confirmation of enrollment.
You will also need Overseas Student Health Cove, and a level of English speaking ability or proof of enrollment in an English course.
Meanwhile, you can apply for a Student Visa either within or outside Australia, the minimum age for a Student Visa is six, and students under 18 must prove they have a welfare arrangement in place.
The cost
With a price tag of AUD$1600 per visa application, a Student Visa isn’t cheap. You will also need to provide certain documentation and the application can take around a month or so to process.
While you can work as part of this visa, the Australian Government stresses that you should not depend on work to fund your stay. Instead, you will be required to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to cover things like accommodation and the cost of living.
To assist, the government has a helpful calculator here.
If you’re bringing family with you or a Student Guardian is accompanying you, they will also need to complete separate visa applications.
Who it suits
A number of different visas allow you to study in Australia, but the Student Visa is suited to those who are specifically here for that purpose and intend to study long term.
Most other visas cover short courses including English courses of up to four months, while the Student Visa allows for study of up to five years, and you can then also apply for a subsequent Student Visa for further study or to complete your current course.
