Your student visa document checklist
The Department of Home Affairs asks for these with a Student visa (subclass 500) application. Three steps, and a generator that makes the list yours.
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How it works
- Step 1Gather your evidenceUnderstand the documents you need to collect. Generate a custom list below.
- Step 2Create your fileColour scan your documents into a file. Files must be in English and certified where needed.
- Step 3Submit your documentsSend your documents for review before attaching them to your application.
The Department of Home Affairs asks for a complete, decision-ready application, and an application lodged without the right documents may be refused or delayed. The Department’s Document Checklist Tool sets the list for each passport and education provider, so check it again just before the application is lodged.
What the Department asks for
The Department of Home Affairs may ask Student visa (subclass 500) applicants to provide the necessary documents. Which ones apply to you depends on your passport and your circumstances. Below is a general list.
Everyone
Every student gathers these, whatever their country or situation.
- PassportYour country’s passport office
- Birth certificate or birth extractThe birth registry where you were born
- High school certificate and resultsYour school or the exam board
- Every qualification since high schoolEach college or university
- CV or résumé: your full timelineYou write it
- English test result, or proof of an exemptionThe test provider
- Evidence of moneyThe bank, lender or scholarship body
- Bank statements that show where the money came fromThe bank
Depends on your life
Your answers above decide which of these show. Not sure? The item stays on the list.
- National identity cardYour country’s government
- Marriage certificateThe marriage registry
- Divorce or separation papersThe court or registry that granted it
- Your children’s birth certificatesThe birth registry
- Custody papersThe court that made the order
- Proof of a change of nameThe registry or authority that recorded the change
- Employment reference letters and payslipsEach employer, and your tax office
- Documents about who paysThe registry, their passport office and bank, or the lender
- Your study record in AustraliaYour Australian education providers
- English translationsA translator
Only if the Department asks
After the application is lodged, the Department may ask for these. Every applicant aged 16 or over declares any criminal charge or conviction in the form.
- Police certificatesThe national police of that country. In Australia, the Australian Federal Police
- Form 80 or Form 1563The Department’s form, which you complete
- Health examinationsA panel physician, or Bupa Medical Visa Services
- BiometricsThe centre named in the request letter
- Polio vaccination certificateThe clinic that gives the vaccine
- Military service recordsThe armed forces of that country
Comes later, through Studyaway
These come once you go ahead with a course. Studyaway arranges them with you.
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)The education provider
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)An approved Australian health insurer
- Genuine Student answersYou, with Studyaway
Family members coming with you
Since 2 October 2026, a partner or children can apply with a student only in some cases, such as a student with a Pacific or South-East Asian passport. They apply at the same time as the student.
- Your partner’s identity documentsAs for your own
- Form 1229 consentThe Department’s form, signed by that parent
- School enrolmentThe Australian school or state education department
Create your file
Each document becomes one colour file, named after the document, kept together in one folder.
- Clear, colour and easy to read
The Department asks for every document scanned or photographed in colour, with every word readable.
- One file per document
A document of more than one page is saved as one file, all its pages together. Name the file after the document: Passport.pdf.
- In English
A document in another language goes with its English translation. A translator in Australia is accredited by NAATI. A translator outside Australia adds their full name, address, phone number and qualifications, in English.
- Certified where needed
The Department’s Document Checklist Tool asks for a certified copy of some documents, such as a birth certificate, national identity card or academic transcript. Studyaway tells you which.
- Keep a copy
Keep every file together in one folder, and keep a copy of the completed application.
Create your custom list
made for your situation
Answer a few questions and the list changes to what applies to you. Your answers and ticks stay on this device.
Your custom document list
Read through your list, the documents and their explanations.
Tick the documents you have, and email yourself the list.
Sent! Check your email
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Everyone0/0
Every student gathers these, whatever their country or situation.
The pages with your photo, personal details, and the issue and expiry dates. The passport must be valid when the application is lodged.
Issued by Your country’s passport office
The document that records your birth, with your full name and date of birth.
Issued by The birth registry where you were born
The certificate for the highest year of school you completed, with your results.
Issued by Your school or the exam board
The certificate and the academic transcript for each course you studied after school, finished or not.
Issued by Each college or university
Every year since high school, with no gaps: study, work and any time in between, with dates and positions held. Studyaway builds your timeline from it. The Department asks for at least the last five years.
Issued by You write it
- Your passport is the exemption
A result from a test the Department approves, such as IELTS Academic, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT, sat at a test centre. Tests taken at home or fully online are not accepted.
A citizen with a passport from the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland does not need an English test result. The passport is the evidence.
Issued by The test provider
Approved tests, scores and exemptions Money deposited with a bank or other financial institution, a loan, or a scholarship, enough for travel, the first 12 months of course fees and 12 months of living costs.
Issued by The bank, lender or scholarship body
How much money the Department asks forRecent transaction statements that show how the money built up, such as regular salary payments. A bank balance certificate for a single day does not show this.
Issued by The bank
Depends on your life0/0
Your answers above decide which of these show. Not sure? The item stays on the list.
- If your country issues one
A copy of the card.
Issued by Your country’s government
- If married or de facto
The certificate of your marriage. For a de facto partner, evidence of at least 12 months together, or of a relationship registered in an Australian state or territory.
Issued by The marriage registry
- If divorced or separated
The divorce certificate, or a legal separation agreement.
Issued by The court or registry that granted it
- If you have children
A birth certificate or the family book for each child, with the names of both parents.
Issued by The birth registry
- If you have children
The court order, or other papers, that show who has custody of each child.
Issued by The court that made the order
- If your name has changed
Change of name papers, or documents that show other names you have used.
Issued by The registry or authority that recorded the change
- If you have worked
A letter from each employer with your position, the dates, and a person who can confirm it, plus recent payslips or a contract. Add a tax return, and any job offer for after the course.
Issued by Each employer, and your tax office
- If someone else or a loan pays
If someone else pays: proof of your relationship to them, their identity documents, and evidence of any money they have given you or another student visa holder before. If a loan pays: the loan terms, the full amount and proof the lender has paid it out.
Issued by The registry, their passport office and bank, or the lender
- If you studied in Australia
Every course studied in Australia, the reasons for any change of course or provider, and any study gap of more than 2 months.
Issued by Your Australian education providers
- If a document is not in English
A translation of every document not in English. A translator in Australia must be accredited by NAATI. A translator outside Australia adds their full name, address, phone number and qualifications, in English.
Issued by A translator
Only if the Department asksIf the Department asks
After the application is lodged, the Department may ask for these. Every applicant aged 16 or over declares any criminal charge or conviction in the form.
- Police certificates
A certificate from each country the Department names.
Issued by The national police of that country. In Australia, the Australian Federal Police
- Form 80 or Form 1563
Form 80 Personal particulars for character assessment, or Form 1563 Statement of Character.
Issued by The Department’s form, which you complete
- Health examinations
The Department gives a HAP ID for the booking. Outside Australia, a panel physician approved by the Department does the examinations. In Australia, Bupa Medical Visa Services does them.
Issued by A panel physician, or Bupa Medical Visa Services
- Biometrics
Given at the appointment set out in the Department’s request letter. The request allows 14 days, and biometrics must be given before travel to Australia.
Issued by The centre named in the request letter
- Polio vaccination certificate
For an application made outside Australia, by a person travelling from, or who spent time in, a country the Department lists as at risk of polio.
Issued by The clinic that gives the vaccine
The Department’s list of countries - Military service records
A military certificate or Form 1399 Declaration of Service, for anyone who served in armed forces.
Issued by The armed forces of that country
Comes later, through StudyawayArranged with Studyaway
These come once you go ahead with a course. Studyaway arranges them with you.
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
One CoE for every course in the application. The CoE must still be valid when the Department decides the application.
Issued by The education provider
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
A policy for everyone in the application, for the whole stay.
Issued by An approved Australian health insurer
How OSHC works - Genuine Student answers
Written in English in the online form, up to 150 words each: your circumstances, why this course and provider, and how the course helps you. The documents above are the evidence behind them.
Issued by You, with Studyaway
The Department’s Genuine Student page
Family members coming with you0/0
Since 2 October 2026, a partner or children can apply with a student only in some cases, such as a student with a Pacific or South-East Asian passport. They apply at the same time as the student.
The same identity documents as yours: passport, birth certificate, and national identity card if they have one.
Issued by As for your own
Consent for each child coming, from any parent with a legal right to decide where the child lives who is not coming to Australia, with that parent’s signed identity document.
Issued by The Department’s form, signed by that parent
For each child aged 5 to 17, a letter from the school or education department with the enrolment details and fees paid.
Issued by The Australian school or state education department
Open the generator on its own page
Sources, all from the Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500), Step by step and Eligibility, updated 12 October 2026. Document Checklist Tool, updated 16 September 2026. Genuine Student requirement, updated 24 September 2026. Character requirements, updated 7 October 2026. Arrange your health examinations, updated 24 September 2026. Family members: Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222, in force 2 October 2026. Checked 20 October 2026. General information only, not migration advice. In Australia, visa advice may only be given by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. The Department’s Document Checklist Tool sets the final list for each passport and education provider.