“Not quite there yet” means one of the student visa (subclass 500) requirements is not met today, and each requirement has a step that meets it. The Department of Home Affairs tests five things: a genuine student, English, money, health insurance and a valid enrolment, and it publishes the figure or the evidence for each.12 This guide takes them in the order the Eligibility Checker tests them.
Which requirements does the student visa test?
The Eligibility Checker marks each line of a result Good, Fixable, Talk to us or Important. The lines:
- Where the application is made. Since 2 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs requires most student visa applications to be lodged outside Australia.2
- English. A test score the Department accepts, or an exemption.13
- Money. Evidence of travel, the first 12 months of course fees and AUD $29,710 in living costs, in a form the Department accepts.4
- The Genuine Student requirement. Written answers in the application form, backed by documents.5
- The course. A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a college, valid when the Department decides the visa.2
- Health cover. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole stay.1
A new test score, a new bank statement or a new course choice changes the result. Run the Eligibility Checker again after each step.
What if my English score is too low?
The Department of Home Affairs sets three levels for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. For the main course alone: PTE Academic 47 or IELTS 6.0. With at least 10 weeks of an English course (ELICOS) before the main course: PTE Academic 39 or IELTS 5.5. With at least 20 weeks: PTE Academic 31 or IELTS 5.0.3
- Sit the test at a test centre. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept a test delivered fully online or at home.2
- Read the score against the three levels, and add the English course the score needs.3
- The college packages the English course with the main course on one student visa, with a CoE for each.2
- The test must fall within the 2 years before the visa application.2
The college can set its own score above the visa, and nursing does. The guide to the English score for an Australian student visa has every test and score, and Study English shows how the English course and the main course sit on one visa.
What if I do not have enough money yet?
The Department of Home Affairs sets the evidence of financial capacity: travel, the first 12 months of course fees minus any amount already paid, and AUD $29,710 in living costs for 12 months.4 The funds calculator does the sum for your course.
The Department of Home Affairs accepts three forms of money: deposits with a financial institution, a loan from a government or a financial institution, and a scholarship or similar support.2 It also accepts an income route. A parent or partner shows a personal annual income of at least AUD $87,856 in the 12 months before the application, with an official government document such as a tax assessment under 12 months old.2
When the money is not there yet, the step is to build the evidence as well as the balance:
- Deposits. The Department asks how the money built up: recent transaction statements that show the history of funds, such as salary payments. A bank balance certificate for a single day does not show this.2
- A loan. An education loan is paid out according to the agreement between the student, the bank and the college.2
- The income route. The tax assessment, not bank statements or a letter from the employer.2
The living costs figure is the minimum for the visa. In the Department’s words, actual living costs “may be much higher”.2 The guide to how much money you need for an Australian student visa in 2027 has two worked examples.
How do I prepare the Genuine Student answers?
The Department of Home Affairs requires a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, judged on circumstances, immigration history and the intention to keep the visa conditions.1 The Department of Home Affairs asks written questions in the online form, up to 150 words each, in English:5
- The applicant’s current circumstances: ties to family, community, employment and money at home.
- Why this course, in Australia, with this provider, and what the applicant understands about the course and about studying and living in Australia.
- How completing the course benefits the applicant.
- Anything else the applicant wants considered.
The Department “gives more weight to statements supported by evidence”.5 The preparation is the evidence:
- Previous study: transcripts and certificates, with the provider’s name and the length of each course.
- Current employment: the employer, the period, the position and a person who can confirm it.
- Ties at home: family, community and work, and the reason for not studying a similar course at home.5
Hoping to apply for permanent residence later does not count against an applicant. In the Department’s words, “Future intentions of this kind do not count against an applicant”.5
What if I have not chosen a course, or the college said no?
The course decides the English score, the first-year fee and the Genuine Student answer about why this course. Career Match asks 14 questions about the work you enjoy and the hours you can keep, and names a career and its course. Each course page shows the college’s entry requirements. When the college’s bar is above the student’s level, Studyaway checks two steps with the student: an English course first, or a lower course that leads to the same career.
The Department of Home Affairs requires a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when it decides the visa. In a package of courses, the last course is the main course and sets the English and funds evidence.2
Where do I apply from?
A student outside Australia applies online from home. Since 2 October 2026, the Department of Home Affairs requires most student visa applications to be lodged outside Australia, and most applicants cannot include family members.2 A partner or children can be included only in the listed cases, such as a passport from a Pacific Island country, Timor-Leste or one of ten Southeast Asian countries, and only in the same application.6 A reader already in Australia on another visa has its own guide: the student visa changes since 2 October 2026.
The visa application charge is paid on top of the funds. It is AUD $745 on a passport from one of the 13 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. It is AUD $2,050 on a passport from one of ten Southeast Asian countries, or for an English-only or non-award course. Everyone else pays AUD $2,500.6
What documents and health cover do I need?
The Department of Home Affairs’ Document Checklist Tool takes the passport country and the college and lists the evidence to attach.7 The Department of Home Affairs requires evidence of health insurance for the stay: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which Studyaway arranges with the student.12 The guide to the student visa documents checklist for 2027 lists every document, and the Document List Generator makes the list for one student.
- Read the resultThe Eligibility Checker names the line to fix and why.
- Fix EnglishSit the test at a test centre, or add 10 or 20 weeks of an English course.
- Build the money evidenceStatements with a history, a loan paid out, a scholarship, or the income route.
- Write the Genuine Student answersFour answers of up to 150 words, each backed by a document.
- Enrol and get the CoEThe college issues the CoE once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid. Studyaway arranges OSHC.
- Lodge from outside AustraliaOnline, with the documents the checklist asks for and the charge for the passport.
Sources: Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, clauses 500.212 to 500.215 and Schedule 1, item 1222, Compilation No. 289; Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500) page (last updated 22 October 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
How long does it take to get there?
The rules set no deadline. The time comes from the step: an English course runs at least 10 or 20 weeks, a tax assessment for the income route must be under 12 months old, and a test counts for the 2 years before the application.23 The Eligibility Checker emails the result with each line marked, and Studyaway reads it with the student.
This article is general information only, not migration advice. Figures and rules were read at source on 3 November 2026 (the sources are listed below). In Australia, immigration assistance may only be provided by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner - Studyaway provides all students with access to a Registered Migration Agent.
Sources
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, clauses 500.212 to 500.215 (genuine student, English, funds, health insurance), Compilation No. 289 (2 October 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500) page (last updated 22 October 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
- LIN 25/090, sections 6 and 7 and Schedule 1 (the English tests and scores, in force 7 August 2025). Read 3 November 2026.
- LIN 19/198, section 6(2) (evidence of financial capacity), Compilation No. 2 (10 May 2024). Read 3 November 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Genuine Student requirement page (last updated 24 September 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222(2), (3)(aa), (3)(da) and (3)(e) (the visa application charge, where to apply, family members), Compilation No. 289 (2 October 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Document Checklist Tool (last updated 26 October 2026). Read 3 November 2026.
Checked and updated 3 November 2026.
