Subclass 500 Student Visa Requirements for Malaysian Applicants

What the Subclass 500 covers

The Subclass 500 Student visa is the visa category for anyone enrolling in a full-time course at an Australian education provider, from English language and foundation programmes through to postgraduate degrees. It lets you study, work part-time under set conditions, and bring eligible family members if your circumstances allow it. You need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your provider before you can lodge the application, since your CoE number is a required field on the form.

Financial capacity you need to show

The Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum financial capacity threshold to confirm you can support yourself for the first 12 months in Australia. As at the most recent update on the Department of Home Affairs Subclass 500 page , this is AUD 29,710 in living costs for a single applicant, on top of your course fees and a return airfare. If you are bringing an accompanying partner, add AUD 10,394 to that figure. Check the page directly before you apply, since these thresholds are reviewed periodically and can change without much notice.

Funds can come from more than one account or source, including your own savings, a parent or sponsor's savings, an education loan, or a scholarship, as long as each source is properly documented and verifiable. Bank statements should show the funds have been available for a reasonable period rather than freshly deposited right before you apply, since case officers can question sudden large deposits.

Health insurance

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for the entire length of your Student visa. You arrange OSHC either through your education provider, who often has a preferred provider, or independently through an approved OSHC insurer. Confirm your OSHC start and end dates match your visa validity period exactly, since a gap in cover can affect your visa compliance.

Documentation checklist

• Valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your Australian education provider.

• Passport valid for your intended study period.

• Financial evidence covering living costs, tuition, and return airfare.

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your full visa length.

• English language test results, unless you are exempt.

• Genuine Student requirement responses, answered directly in your ImmiAccount application.

Visa application charge

The Subclass 500 visa application charge rose to AUD 2,500 for the primary applicant from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000 (set 1 July 2025) and AUD 1,600 before that, according to the Department of Home Affairs fee schedule. A reduced AUD 2,050 tier applies to ELICOS and other non-award courses, and to some ASEAN passport holders, so check your course type and nationality against the current schedule before you budget. This charge is paid at the time you lodge your application through ImmiAccount and is separate from your tuition deposit and OSHC premium. Budget for this fee on top of your financial capacity evidence, since it does not count toward your living cost threshold.

The Genuine Student requirement

Since March 2024, applicants answer the Genuine Student requirement as part of the visa form rather than submitting a separate GTE statement. You answer structured questions, each limited to around 150 words, covering your background, your reasons for choosing this course and provider, your understanding of study and life in Australia, and your career plans after graduation. Give specific answers grounded in your own circumstances rather than general statements, since generic or templated answers are flagged more readily under this requirement.

Work rights and conditions

Your Subclass 500 visa grant letter states your permitted work hours during term time and any course progress or attendance conditions you must meet. Read your specific grant conditions rather than assuming a standard limit applies, since work hour settings have changed in recent visa policy cycles and your conditions are what legally bind you. Keep your CoE, enrolment, and attendance records in order throughout your studies, since providers report enrolment changes to the Department of Home Affairs, and non-compliance can put your visa at risk.