EMC Australia / Subclass 500
A real course of study — not a way to wait for another visa.
A student visa is for a registered course. You need a Confirmation of Enrolment. The Genuine Student test is why this course, why Australia, and what you will do afterwards — not a template statement. Work hours are limited. A partner or child who applies later is a separate application.
Australian registered courses
Look up a registered course
Use this search to check courses registered for student visas in Australia. Fees and entry rules are a guide only — we'll confirm what fits your situation.
Search Australian coursesFees and entry requirements are indicative. Confirm with EMC before deciding.
Who this page is for
- You have a place in a registered Australian course
- A child needs to study in Australia
- A student visa was refused
How it works
What this visa asks of you
These are the parts of this visa, in the order they usually matter.
Before the visa
The school or university
Course and CoE
The course has to be registered. A CoE is the document the Department expects.
A letter of offer is not a CoE. Changing course after grant can affect the visa.
Genuine Student (GS)
The application
Genuine Student and funds
Why this course, why Australia, funds, and ties. Template statements fail.
If the real plan is work or a partner visa, a 500 is the wrong visa and a refusal follows you.
In or from outside Australia
The 500 visa
Health, character, Overseas Student Health Cover, and the CoE dates.
Work hours are a condition. Working more than allowed is a cancellation risk.
The 500 visa
How EMC works
How we help
01
The course has to make sense
A random diploma because someone said it leads to PR is how student visas are refused.
02
If it was refused
Read the reasons. Genuine Student, funds or a previous visa history. The next step is not always another 500.
First conversation
What to bring
- Passport, CoE or offer
- How the course is paid for
- Study history and what you plan after the course
- Any refusal
Before you apply
Things that go wrong
- Work hour limits are real.
- A 500 is not a partner visa and not a 482.
- A later 485 has a strict window after the course ends.
Questions
People ask this first
Often as a family member on a 500, if you meet the rules. Whether they can work depends on your course level. It is not a partner 820.
Start with your situation.
You do not need to memorise the subclass. Book a consultation, or send us a message.
MARN 1800335 · Level 14, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Related topics
This page is general information, not advice about your circumstances. Australian migration law changes. You should consult a Registered Migration Agent before you apply. EMC Australia is OMARA-registered (MARN 1800335).