An Australia student visa (subclass 500) is what most international students need to study a full course in Australia. After you graduate from an eligible course, you may be able to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) so you can stay and work for a period of time. Both visas have their own English, health, character and study rules, and those rules have been tightened in recent years, so you should plan from official pages rather than from older student forums.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs student visa page and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) page. Study Australia also publishes student-facing summaries.
Australia student visa: the main requirements
To apply for a student visa you generally need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from an Australian institution for a registered course, a valid passport, evidence that you meet the genuine student requirement, and evidence of funds, English, health insurance and health and character checks as set out in the current official list. Australia requires Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the period of your stay as a student. Buy it from an official insurer the university or the government recognises, and keep the policy dates aligned with your visa.
English is a frequent stumbling block. Universities set admission scores, and the visa can set its own English rule. For visa purposes you should generally expect to take a test at a secure test centre. A test taken at home, including the Duolingo English Test, typically cannot satisfy the visa English requirement even if a university accepted it for admission. Check the exact tests and scores on the Home Affairs page for your visa, and book IELTS, PTE Academic or another listed in-centre test in good time.
Funds and the genuine student assessment are also taken seriously. You should be able to explain why this course, at this institution, makes sense for your career, and how you will pay tuition and living costs. Copied statements and unexplained large deposits in a bank account are poor preparation. Use official figures for living-cost evidence as published for the visa, not a guess.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate visa has more than one stream. In current official descriptions, Post-Higher Education Work is aimed at degree-level graduates, and Post-Vocational Education Work is aimed at eligible associate degree, diploma or trade qualifications. You usually need to have recently held a student visa, to have met the Australian study requirement, and to meet age, English, health and character rules.
Most applicants must be 35 or under, though official pages should be checked for any exceptions that may apply to some degrees or applicants. The length of the visa depends on the stream and the qualification. Recent official summaries have described a period of around two to three years for many degree graduates and a shorter period, often up to 18 months, for many vocational graduates. Those durations have changed before and can change again, so use the live Home Affairs and Study Australia pages when you are close to applying, not a number from a 2023 article.
Meeting the Australian study requirement usually means completing an eligible course, or combination of courses, in Australia over a minimum period, with the course registered and taught in English. Time spent studying online from outside Australia may not count in the way you hope. If a post-study work visa is part of your plan, confirm this requirement before you choose a short or mostly offshore course.
A 485 visa is not permanent residence and it is not a job offer. It gives you time to work or look for work if you are granted the visa. Any later skilled-migration application is a separate process with its own points, occupation lists and English scores.
Step-by-step
- Choose a registered course at an institution you can afford, and confirm whether it can lead to a 485 visa if that matters to you.
- Meet academic and English admission conditions and accept the offer.
- Pay the deposit required to receive a CoE, and arrange OSHC.
- Apply for the student visa through your ImmiAccount, with the documents listed for your situation, and complete biometrics or health exams if asked.
- Do not travel until you have a visa decision, unless you fully understand the risk.
- Near the end of your course, re-read the 485 page, check your age and study-requirement, and apply in the correct stream with a current English result if one is required.
Checklist
- CoE, OSHC, passport and a clear study plan.
- An in-centre English test that the visa page accepts, with scores at or above the current minimum.
- Funds evidence that matches official guidance.
- A calendar that includes visa processing time, course start dates, and, later, the 485 application window after you complete your course.
- No payments to anyone who promises a guaranteed visa or a backdated CoE.
Processing times and document lists are published in ImmiAccount and on Home Affairs pages, and they move. Apply with complete documents rather than rushing an incomplete file to meet a course start date you cannot realistically reach. If your course has a later intake, using it can be safer than paying for a start date your visa may miss.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Duolingo for my Australian student visa?
Usually no. Admission and visa rules are different. For the visa, plan on a secure-centre test listed by Home Affairs, such as IELTS or PTE Academic, unless official guidance for your case clearly says otherwise.
Is the 485 visa still available?
Yes, as described on official Home Affairs and Study Australia pages in 2026. Streams, age limits and durations should be checked at the time you apply, because they have been subject to change.
Can I take my family with me?
Dependant rules differ for student and graduate visas and can change. Check the official family-member sections on each visa page before you budget for partners or children.
Does a diploma always lead to a 485 visa?
No. Only some qualifications and streams are eligible, and vocational streams have their own rules and often a shorter stay. Confirm eligibility against the official study-requirement guidance before you enrol.
Information checked November 2026; always confirm on the official site.