Student visa

What this visa lets you do

• Take part in an eligible course of study in Australia
• Travel in and out of Australia
• Work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session (no limit for Masters by research and doctoral students)

Key requirements

• Be enrolled in a full-time course registered on CRICOS, with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
• Be a genuine student — study must be the main reason for your visa
• Meet the English language requirements, unless exempt
• Have Overseas Student Health Cover (or an exemption) for your whole stay
• Have enough money for your stay
• Have welfare arrangements in place if you are under 18
• Meet health and character requirements

New rules from 2 October 2026

• Where to apply: most Student visa applications must now be lodged outside Australia. You can only apply in Australia if you hold an eligible visa and meet an exemption — for example, you need up to 12 more months to finish your course, you're starting a PhD, or you're progressing to a higher-level course.
• Family members: most applicants can no longer include family. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students, fully funded foreign government scholarship recipients, and eligible Pacific Island and ASEAN nationals.

Staying longer

You can't extend a Student visa. To keep studying you must apply for a new one — and under the new rules, most applicants must do that from outside Australia. Plan your next step well before your visa ends.