Australia guide 路 verified 2026-07-04
Australia Student Visa: Process, Documents and Funds
Student visa
Indian students apply for the Student visa (subclass 500), lodged online through ImmiAccount. Since 23 March 2024 the core eligibility test is the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, which replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test, describe GS to students, not GTE, and expect short written answers rather than a long personal statement.
Visa type
MandatoryStudent visa (subclass 500)
Core eligibility test
MandatoryGenuine Student (GS) requirement, replaced GTE on 23 March 2024
GS asks about the applicant's current circumstances (ties to family/community/employment), why this course fits their background, financial capacity, and post-study plans. Responses are capped at 150 words per question, in English, backed by supporting documents in ImmiAccount. Unlike the old GTE test, a genuine future intention to seek skilled migration does NOT count against the applicant under GS.
Application charge (2026)
AUD 2,500 (primary applicant)
Effective 1 July 2026, raised from AUD 2,000 (effective 1 July 2025), which itself had been raised from AUD 1,600. Reduced/CPI-only rates apply for some ASEAN, Pacific Island, and Timor-Leste applicants and for independent ELICOS/non-award courses, none of these exemptions apply to mainstream Indian applicants. Always confirm the live fee on the Home Affairs fee page before quoting a figure.
How to apply
Online via ImmiAccount
No in-person visa office visit or VFS-style biometric centre is required in the way Germany's process needs one, biometrics (if requested) are captured at an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) in India when Home Affairs asks for them.
OSHC
MandatoryMandatory for the whole intended stay
MANDATORY, it is a subclass 500 visa condition. Overseas Student Health Cover must be current from before arrival through course completion; the visa application needs evidence of OSHC cover dates.
Assemble the visa file around the CoE
MandatoryCore documents: passport, the CoE (or CoEs, if multiple courses/packaged study), evidence addressing the Genuine Student criteria, English test result, financial evidence (see Money & proof of funds), OSHC certificate, and (if applicable) evidence for any accompanying family member. The exact document list depends on the provider's current SSVF evidence level for India, check it, don't assume last year's list.
Answer the Genuine Student questions carefully
MandatoryEach GS question is capped at 150 words. Answer in the applicant's own words, tie the course choice to prior academic/work background, and be specific about financial capacity and post-study plans. Statements should be corroborated by the supporting documents uploaded, since unsupported claims carry less weight with the case officer.
Coach students to avoid generic, templated answers, case officers see thousands of near-identical GS statements from coaching-centre templates and treat them as a red flag.Arrange OSHC before lodging
MandatoryBuy OSHC (directly from an approved provider, or via the university if it arranges a bulk policy) covering the applicant from before the intended arrival date through course completion. Attach the certificate/cover dates to the application.
Cost: Roughly AUD 600 to 850/year for a single student on standard cover (2026; providers raised rates ~4.4% from 1 April 2026), cover for a couple/family costs materially more. OSHC is only sold by government-approved insurers: ahm, Allianz Care, Bupa, CBHS International, Medibank, and nib. Get a live quote for the exact figure.Lodge online and pay the charge
MandatorySubmit through ImmiAccount and pay the visa application charge (AUD 2,500 for a primary adult applicant in 2026). If Home Affairs requests biometrics, attend the nearest Australian Visa Application Centre in India.
Cost: AUD 2,500 (2026, primary applicant) + OSHC + any AVAC biometrics feeWait for a decision
ConditionalProcessing time depends heavily on the provider/country evidence level under SSVF, a Level 1/2 file can clear in a few weeks, a Level 3 file materially longer (some 2026 reporting on India's brief Level 3 period cited 8 to 10 weeks against a previous ~3-week median). Apply as soon as the CoE is issued and do not book non-refundable flights until the visa is granted.
Any material referencing the 'Genuine Temporary Entrant' test for a subclass 500 application lodged today is out of date. The current test is the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, and it is assessed differently, notably, a genuine intention to later seek permanent skilled migration does not count against the applicant, which was not true under GTE framing.
Home Affairs re-rates each country's 'evidence level' under the Simplified Student Visa Framework periodically, and can do so out of cycle. India's evidence level changed more than once within the first half of 2026 alone (reported moves between Level 2 and Level 3), each time changing how much financial and academic documentation is expected and how long processing takes. Always ask the institution or check the current guidance for the live level before telling a student what to prepare, do not carry forward a level from a prior intake.
Sources
- Student visa (subclass 500), official visa page, Department of Home Affairs
- Genuine Student requirement, Department of Home Affairs
- Student Visa Application Charge increase (news), Study Australia (Australian Government / Department of Education)
- Simplified Student Visa Framework, evidence levels, Department of Home Affairs
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Study Australia (Australian Government / Department of Education)
Where this fits
This is one step of the full Australia journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
More on Australia
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.