{"id":3825,"date":"2026-08-04T12:43:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/?p=3825"},"modified":"2026-08-28T05:07:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T08:07:20","slug":"visa-para-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/visa-for-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Visa for Australia: what nobody tells you before you apply"},"content":{"rendered":"

Someone just said \"subclass 500\" to you. Here's what it means.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you've already opened five tabs of Department of Home Affairs information and closed them again, this guide is for you. There are more than a hundred different Australian visas, but you only need to know two. We help you choose between them, what each costs and what each requires. By the end you'll know which one is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student Visa and the Work and Holiday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The visa that fits you doesn't depend on the length of the trip. It depends on what you want to do in Australia and which requirements you meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student Visa is designed for people who want to study English or keep building their qualifications. It covers any course longer than three months and lets you work while you study, so you can fund your life in Australia with your own income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Work and Holiday is built around working and living the experience, with the option of a short English course alongside. It lets you work with no hourly cap and study for up to four months, but the entry requirements are stricter: higher education started or completed, an official English certificate, and an age range, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We help with both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which one is yours?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two visas look similar on the surface (both let you study, both let you work), but the differences stack up fast once you start planning a real trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>Student Visa<\/strong><\/td>Work and Holiday<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Study length<\/strong><\/td>Up to 5 years total in Australia<\/td>Up to 4 months, no exceptions<\/td><\/tr>
Visa length<\/strong><\/td>Course length + ~1 month (holiday period)<\/td>1 year fixed, extendable to 2 or 3 years with regional work<\/td><\/tr>
Work rights<\/strong><\/td>48 hours per fortnight during term time; unlimited during breaks<\/td>Unlimited from day one, capped at 6 months per employer<\/td><\/tr>
Family<\/strong><\/td>Partner or children on the same application<\/td>Applicant only<\/td><\/tr>
Application cost<\/strong><\/td>~$2,500 AUD ($2,050 AUD for ELICOS and courses without a formal qualification) + ~$28 AUD bank charge<\/td>~$840 AUD (first application); ~$1,000 AUD from the second<\/td><\/tr>
Key requirements<\/strong><\/td>Confirmation of Enrolment, financial proof (~$29,700 AUD\/year), Genuine Student statement, English level depending on the course<\/td>Official English certificate, 2 years of higher education, age 18\u201330, eligible passport, financial proof ~$5,000 AUD<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In some cases extra requirements may apply, such as a medical exam or a police clearance certificate, depending on your country of origin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short version:<\/strong> if your main goal is to study (English, vocational training or university) and work to fund your life there, your visa is the Student Visa. If you meet the Work and Holiday requirements and your plan is to work and travel with the option of a short English course, that one is yours. We help you decide which fits on the free call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student Visa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most people who go to Australia long-term go on this visa. Here's what it does and what it asks of you in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you can do with it.<\/strong> Study any CRICOS-registered course longer than twelve weeks: English (ELICOS), vocational training (VET, TAFE) or university. Work 48 hours per fortnight (around 24 hours a week on average) during term time, and unlimited hours during breaks. Travel in and out of Australia as often as you like, with one important caveat: the government requires a minimum 80% class attendance and audits it closely. Trips need to line up with school breaks or come with your school's approval. You can also bring your partner or children on the same application, with extra cost and higher financial proof; we cover that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need.<\/strong> A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your school. Compulsory health cover (OSHC): Bupa and Allianz are the two providers we work with. Financial proof (about $29,700 AUD for the year, pro-rated for shorter stays). English level: an in-person placement test on day one for ELICOS, a free internal test for VET, an official certificate like IELTS or Cambridge for university. A Genuine Student statement honestly explaining why you chose this course and what you'll do afterwards. A passport valid at least six months beyond your stay. A police clearance and a medical exam may be requested depending on your country of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it costs.<\/strong> The visa fee is $2,500 AUD as of 1 July 2026 (up from $2,000 AUD), with a reduced rate of $2,050 AUD for ELICOS and other courses that don't lead to a formal qualification, plus a bank charge of about $28 AUD. It's updated every July: check before you apply. OSHC costs about $600\u2013700 AUD a year for a single student, more for couples or families. Course tuition is the biggest cost and varies hugely: $300\u2013450 AUD a week for ELICOS, paid by term for VET, and $15,000\u201345,000 AUD a year for university. Translations, certifications and a possible medical exam add another $200\u2013600 AUD. The $29,700 AUD financial proof figure is not a cost: it's money the government wants to see in your account, or a guarantor's, before granting the visa. All figures are reviewed yearly; use them to plan, not as a quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long it lasts.<\/strong> The visa runs roughly one month longer than the course, to cover the holiday period at the end. You can chain courses (start with English, level up through VET courses, then start a degree), but each new course needs a new visa application from inside Australia. The overall cap is five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The application, in short.<\/strong> We choose your course and school together. We enrol you at the school and handle getting your CoE. We arrange your OSHC with you for the full length of the course. One important detail: even with the visa approved, you can't enter Australia before your OSHC start date, so we set that date with room to spare. We prepare the documents with you (CoE, OSHC certificate, financial proof, English certificate if it applies, Genuine Student answers and photos). You lodge the application online in ImmiAccount, pay the fee, take the medical exam if asked, we wait together (processing runs from weeks to months) and you fly when the decision comes through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing your partner or children.<\/strong> You can add a partner with proof of a genuine relationship and about $1,225 AUD in extra fees. Your partner can work 40 hours per fortnight (half of what you can) and study for up to twelve weeks before needing their own Student Visa. Dependent children (under 18) cost about $400 AUD each in fees, and school-age children have to attend school in Australia, which costs between $8,000 and $13,000 AUD a year at public schools. The financial proof scales with each person: about $10,000 AUD more for a partner and $4,000\u20135,000 AUD more per child. The numbers can change a family's decision, so we work through the realistic budget with you on the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Work and Holiday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This visa is designed for people who want to work and live the experience, with the option of a short course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need.<\/strong> Between 18 and 30 years old when you apply (some passports allow up to 35). At least two years of higher education started or completed. An official English certificate (IELTS or equivalent) at the level the Australian government requires. A passport from a country with a reciprocal agreement with Australia for this visa. About $5,000 AUD to cover your first stretch. A valid passport and a clean police record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you can do.<\/strong> Work with no hourly cap from day one, though you can't work more than six months for the same employer. Study up to four months in total during the year. Travel in and out of Australia as often as you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long it lasts.<\/strong> One year from the moment you activate it by entering Australia for the first time. You can extend it for a second year (and sometimes a third) by completing a set number of weeks of specified regional work: fruit picking, farm work, hospitality in designated postcodes and rural construction. The rules are updated often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it costs.<\/strong> The application fee is $840 AUD for the first application, rising to $1,000 AUD for the second or third, after the fee increase of 1 July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to apply.<\/strong> Online through ImmiAccount, the Australian government's own portal. We help you through the whole process: we review the requirements with you, prepare the paperwork, and stay with you until the approval is in your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Work and Holiday fits your plan, we have a dedicated guide with the full detail: extensions, current regional work lists and recent rule changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How Australian Way helps you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen years, more than 12,000 students, three countries. We've walked this road hundreds of times across Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. Working with us looks like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We start with the free 15-minute call. Country, city, course, timing, budget. No commitment. By the time you hang up, you know what your plan looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then we sit down with you to choose the school. We work with schools in several Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Byron Bay are the main ones, but there are more) and we tell you what we know about each, including the ones we don't recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We manage the communication with the school so your CoE arrives right the first time. Then we sit down with you through the visa application, document by document, form by form. The application is yours, lodged with the Australian government from your ImmiAccount, but we walk every step with you, and we know how to respond when the government asks for extra documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a Student Visa application doesn't get through, we've helped several students go for an Australian or New Zealand Working Holiday\/Work and Holiday visa, where eligible, as an alternative route. We put it on the table when it makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you land, someone from the team meets you in your destination city. They're there to welcome you, help you open a bank account, or have a first coffee with you while everything still feels strange. A real person, in your city, all year round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What everyone asks us on the first call.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I start working as soon as I land?<\/strong> With the Student Visa you can land before your course starts, but your work rights only switch on when the course begins. Don't take a job before that date. With the Work and Holiday you can start working from the day you arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Student Visa, can I work full-time during term?<\/strong> No. The 48-hour fortnightly cap applies while classes are on: around 24 hours a week on average. You can spread the hours however you like within the fortnight, but going over the cap puts your visa at risk. Unlimited hours only kick in during your school's official breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens if my visa is refused?<\/strong> Refusals usually come from incomplete Genuine Student answers or unclear financial proof. There's a review process through the Administrative Review Tribunal, and a Plan B we've used with many students: switching to a Work and Holiday visa, Australia's or New Zealand's. In most cases there's an alternative. We help you decide whether to appeal, reapply or take another route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I switch from Work and Holiday to a Student Visa?<\/strong> Yes, and many students do. You apply for the Student Visa from inside Australia while still on your Work and Holiday: the same Confirmation of Enrolment and Genuine Student rules apply. You stay on a Bridging Visa while it's processed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I leave Australia and come back in?<\/strong> Yes, as many times as you like. The Student Visa allows multiple entries for its full length. One thing though: respect the minimum 80% class attendance requirement and tell your school before any trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do I need to know English to apply?<\/strong> For ELICOS you don't need a prior certificate: the school gives you an in-person placement test on day one. For VET, university or postgraduate courses, a minimum level of English will be required, either through the school's internal test or an official certificate (IELTS or Cambridge).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is my country included in the Work and Holiday?<\/strong> Australia has reciprocal agreements with around thirty countries for this visa. Spain, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are on the list, among others. The full list is on the Department of Home Affairs website; we confirm it on the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How far in advance should I apply?<\/strong> Three months minimum before your course start date. Earlier if your country has slower processing times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are my partner and children approved automatically?<\/strong> No. Each person is a separate decision, even when you all apply together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I renew the visa from inside Australia?<\/strong> On the Student Visa yes, by enrolling in a new course from inside Australia. You stay on a Bridging Visa while the new one is processed. On the Work and Holiday, the renewal (second year) is applied for from outside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What's the Bridging Visa?<\/strong> The visa that covers you between applying for a renewal and being granted the new one. It keeps your work and study rights active in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What's the cheapest way to study in Australia?<\/strong> VET courses are generally the most affordable option: tuition is lower than university and the courses are shorter. Once you're in Australia, you can offset a good part of the cost with the work your visa allows. On the call we go through the options that fit your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to start?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A 15-minute call. We talk through the country, the city, the course, the visa and the timing. By the time you hang up, you'll have your visa plan clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book your free call!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alguien acaba de decirte \u00absubclase 500\u00bb. Aqu\u00ed est\u00e1 lo que significa. Si ya has abierto cinco pesta\u00f1as de informaci\u00f3n del Department of Home Affairs y las has cerrado de nuevo, esta gu\u00eda es para ti. Hay m\u00e1s de cien visas australianas distintas, pero solo necesitas conocer dos. Te ayudamos a elegir entre ellas, qu\u00e9 cuesta […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3825"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4218,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3825\/revisions\/4218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.australianway.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}