Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500) — Step by Step Guide 2025

EdX Visa Team

9 min readDecember 5, 2024

The Australian Student visa (Subclass 500) replaced the old student visa system in 2016 and is now the only visa you need to study in Australia at any level, for any duration. It is a straightforward visa to apply for — if you know what you are doing. The most important element is the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement, which trips up many applicants.

What is the GTE Requirement?

The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement is Australia's way of ensuring that student visa applicants genuinely intend to study and return home after their course. You must demonstrate strong ties to Pakistan and convincing reasons why this specific course at this specific university in Australia will benefit your future career back home — or wherever you intend to settle.

A weak GTE is the number one reason Australian student visas are refused for Pakistani applicants.

Documents Required

Valid passport

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your Australian institution

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement

IELTS / PTE / TOEFL results (as required by your institution)

Proof of financial capacity — bank statements, scholarship letter, or sponsor letter

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) — mandatory for the full duration of your course

Academic transcripts and certificates

English translations of all non-English documents

Passport-sized photographs meeting Australian specifications

Financial Requirements

Tuition Fees

Evidence that you can pay your first year tuition (or proof it has already been paid to the institution).

Living Costs

AUD 21,041 per year for the main student, AUD 7,362 for a spouse, AUD 3,152 per child.

Travel Costs

Evidence of funds to cover return airfare — approximately AUD 2,000–4,000.

OSHC Insurance

Overseas Student Health Cover must be purchased before visa application. Cost varies by duration — approximately AUD 500–700/year for a single student.

How to Write a Strong GTE Statement

Your GTE statement should address the following points clearly:

1. Why you chose Australia specifically (not just 'it has good universities')
2. Why this specific university and course (rankings, facilities, specific professors, course structure)
3. How this course connects to your career back home or future plans
4. Your ties to Pakistan — family, property, job prospects, career goals in Pakistan
5. Your immigration history — any previous visa refusals must be disclosed honestly

Be specific. Vague statements like 'Australia has world-class education' are red flags. Officers want to see that you have researched your course and have a clear plan.

Processing Times and Fees

The current application fee for an Australian Student visa is AUD 710 (approximately PKR 130,000). Processing times vary significantly:

• 75% of applications: processed within 29 days
• 90% of applications: processed within 42 days
• Some applications can take 3–4 months if additional documents are requested

Apply as early as possible — ideally 3–4 months before your course start date.

Australia VisaSubclass 500GTEOSHCStudent Visa