VisaChief Student visa (subclass 500) document checklist
Every document a Student visa (subclass 500) application needs, what each one has to show, and the order to collect them in.
The subclass 500 is decided largely on paper: a Confirmation of Enrolment, a Genuine Student statement that reads as genuine, and financial evidence that survives scrutiny.
Tick items as you collect them - progress is saved in this browser only.
Identity and civil documents
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Must be valid well beyond your intended travel. Scan the page flat, in colour, with all four corners visible. | |
| Recent, plain background. Only required for some applications, but cheap to have ready. | |
| Where your country issues one. Used to resolve name and date-of-birth differences. | |
| Marriage certificate, deed poll or equivalent, if any document uses a different name from your passport. | |
| Showing both parents' names. Needed for most family and permanent applications. |
Study evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| One per course. It must still be current when the visa is decided. | |
| Your own words, addressing your circumstances, course choice, and what the qualification is for. | |
| Tuition, travel and 12 months of living costs, with the source of funds explained. | |
| For the full visa period, arranged before you lodge. | |
| See the subclass 500 score table - ELICOS packaging lowers the score you need. | |
| Your study history, including any gaps explained. |
Health
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Arranged through ImmiAccount, done at a panel clinic. Results go to the department directly, not to you. | |
| The standard set for most permanent and longer temporary visas. |
Character evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| In the last 10 years, since turning 16. These take the longest to obtain - start them first. | |
| If you have spent 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years. | |
| Frequently requested for permanent and skilled applications. Ten years of movements and addresses with no gaps. | |
| If you have served. |
What this visa actually requires
- A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course
- Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement
- English proficiency as required by your provider
- Sufficient funds for fees, travel and living costs
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Meet health and character requirements
Where these applications go wrong
- A Genuine Student statement that reads as 'not genuine' - vague study/career rationale
- Insufficient or poorly-evidenced financial capacity
- Unexplained gaps or 'course-hopping' between enrolments
- Letting your CoE lapse before the visa is granted
Preparing the documents
- Scan in colour, at full page size. Photographs of documents on a desk are the most common cause of a request for a better copy, which restarts the clock on that piece of evidence.
- Translate anything not in English using a translator who is accredited, with the translator's details on the translation.
- Certify copies where required, and keep the originals - you may be asked for them.
- Name each file for what it is. A case officer working through 60 files named IMG_0421 finds fewer of your claims than one working through named files.
- Start the slow items first: police certificates, skills assessments and the health examination set the real timeline, not the form.
Fill the forms without the paperwork. VisaChief's free form filler completes the standard Home Affairs forms from one set of answers, so the same details are not retyped across Form 80, Form 1221 and the rest. Read the full Student visa (subclass 500) guide for eligibility, cost and processing time.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Student visa (subclass 500)?
Identity documents, health and character evidence, and the evidence specific to this visa: study evidence.
Do documents need to be certified or translated?
Documents not in English need an accredited translation with the translator's details attached. Copies should be clear colour scans; certification is required for some documents and originals may be requested.
What should I start collecting first?
Police certificates and any skills assessment. They depend on other organisations and routinely take longer than everything else on this list combined.
How much does the Student visa (subclass 500) cost?
The indicative government charge is ~$2,500 (~$2,050 for ELICOS and non-award sectors) and indicative processing is ~1-3 months (median ~29 days). Confirm current figures before lodging.