Australia Student Visa FAQs for UAE Residents
Answers to the questions applicants ask most.
1. What is the Australian Student visa (subclass 500)?
The subclass 500 is the visa that lets international students study full-time in Australia at a CRICOS-registered institution. It is issued only by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. You must hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) before you apply.
2. Can I apply for a student visa from Dubai, and when?
Yes. UAE residents apply online through an ImmiAccount once they hold a CoE. Applications from outside Australia can usually be lodged up to around four months before the course starts, and you can enter up to about a month before your course begins. Confirm the exact windows on the Home Affairs website.
3. What is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?
A CoE is an electronic document issued by your education provider once you accept its offer and pay any required deposit. It confirms your course, dates and fees, and you need it to lodge your visa application. It is specific to the course and provider named on it.
4. What is the Genuine Student requirement?
Since 23 March 2024 the Genuine Student requirement has replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant test. You answer targeted questions about your circumstances at home, your circumstances in Australia, the value of the course to your future and your immigration history. Clear, consistent, truthful answers backed by documents matter most.
5. How much does the student visa cost in 2026?
The subclass 500 visa application charge rose to AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000. Additional applicants such as a partner pay their own charges. You also pay for health cover, any English test, medical checks and your tuition, so budget beyond the visa fee.
6. How much money do I need to show?
The living-cost benchmark has been AUD 29,710 per year for the main applicant, in addition to your tuition fees and return travel. More is needed for each accompanying family member. Because thresholds can be updated, confirm the amount on the Home Affairs website in the week you apply.
7. What is OSHC and do I need it?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory health insurance for the whole of your student visa. You normally buy it through your provider or an approved insurer before lodging your application. Prices vary by provider, cover type and family size.
8. What English level do I need?
Most applicants need a recognised English test result — generally an overall IELTS Academic score of around 6.0 or an equivalent — though some course types, sponsor arrangements and English-course pathways differ. Your institution may also require a higher score for its own admission, so check both.
9. How long does a student visa take?
Home Affairs publishes current processing times and they vary by season, provider and application complexity. Since late 2025 a ministerial direction has set processing priorities that reportedly favour providers with strong compliance records and those within their allocation, so timelines are not guaranteed. Apply well before your orientation date.
10. Why does my passport country matter?
Home Affairs assigns each country and education provider an evidence level that determines how much supporting evidence, such as funds and English results, officers expect. A higher level means closer scrutiny. Your advisor can explain which level is likely to apply to your passport and course.
11. Can I work while studying in Australia?
Most students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and without hour limits during scheduled course breaks. Some students, such as those in research programmes, have different conditions. Your own visa grant notice sets the rule that applies to you.
12. Can my family come with me?
You can include a partner and dependent children in your application, but each person pays their own visa charge and you must show additional funds for them. Work rights for partners are limited and depend on your course level, so confirm the conditions before planning your household budget around a second income.
13. Can I change course or education provider?
Generally you must stay with your enrolled provider and course for an initial period, and you need to notify your provider and sometimes Home Affairs before changing. A new CoE and, in some cases, a new visa application may be required. Speak to an advisor before you transfer.
14. Can I switch to a student visa from a visitor visa while in Australia?
No. Since mid-2024, holders of visitor visas and Temporary Graduate visas generally cannot apply for a student visa from within Australia and must apply from offshore. Plan your visa pathway before you travel.
15. What is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)?
The subclass 485 lets eligible graduates stay and work in Australia after completing a qualification. Applicants must generally be under 35, meet an IELTS standard of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each skill (or equivalent), and have studied an eligible course. Application charges were reported to rise from 1 March 2026, so check the current amount.
16. Does studying in Australia lead to permanent residence?
Not automatically. Study and Australian work experience can help build a case for skilled migration, but the points test used for permanent skilled visas is being reformed following the 2026–27 Budget. Plan for flexibility rather than a guaranteed route.
17. What is the National Planning Level and does it affect me?
The National Planning Level is the government's ceiling on new international student commencements, set at 295,000 for 2026. Allocations are distributed to providers, which can affect how many offers and CoEs an institution can issue. Ask your provider about its allocation and apply early.
18. Which documents do I need?
Typically a valid passport, your CoE, evidence of funds, your Genuine Student answers and supporting documents, English-test results, proof of OSHC, academic records and, where requested, health examinations and police certificates. Your ImmiAccount checklist shows exactly what applies to you.
19. Do I need a migration agent to apply?
No, you can apply yourself. But if you pay anyone for immigration assistance with a student visa — beyond course advice — Australian law requires that person to be a registered migration agent or a lawyer. Check any agent's registration on the OMARA public register before you engage them.
20. What if my student visa is refused?
You will receive a decision notice that explains the reasons. Review rights depend on where you were when you applied and the grounds for refusal, so check your notice carefully. Reapplying without addressing the refusal reasons rarely succeeds, so review them with an advisor first.
21. Can Visatrix Global guarantee my Australian student visa?
No. Visatrix Global is an independent advisory firm. Only the Department of Home Affairs decides whether a visa is granted, and no consultant can guarantee approval or processing times. We help you shortlist courses and prepare an accurate, well-organised application.