The Student visa (subclass 500) lets you study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course in Australia. Pakistanis apply online through ImmiAccount with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The visa can last up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment.
Validity / stayUp to 6 years, in line with your enrolment
Official fees (approx.)PKR 492,708
Documents12 items
You must hold a valid CoE, have OSHC for your whole stay, meet the Genuine Student requirement (answering questions of up to 150 words in the form), and meet the health and character rules. You must also show English ability if the Document Checklist tool asks for it. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum is IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 with 10+ weeks of ELICOS, 5.0 with 20+ weeks), or an equivalent PTE, TOEFL or other test.
If asked for proof of funds, show enough money for travel, 12 months of course fees, and 12 months of living costs: AUD 29,710 for the student, AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child. Home Affairs' travel guide for applicants outside Africa is AUD 2,000. Alternatively, show that your parents or partner earned at least AUD 87,856 in the past 12 months.
How to apply
- Get your CoE and arrange OSHC.
- Use the Document Checklist tool to see what evidence you need.
- Apply online in ImmiAccount, attach documents and pay the fee.
- Give biometrics and do health checks when asked.
Tick items as you collect them. Your progress is saved on this device.
Converted at today's exchange rate. Embassies and visa centres may use their own rates. Estimate your total cost
This summary is for guidance. Requirements can change at short notice; always confirm on the official website before you apply.
Common refusal reasons & how to avoid them
Genuine Student requirement not met
Australia assesses whether you are genuinely entering to study and whether the course benefits you. The department considers your circumstances in Pakistan, your immigration history, your understanding of the course and living in Australia, and how the study fits your future plans. Generic or copied answers weaken this.
How to fix it: Answer the Genuine Student questions in your own words, specifically and honestly. Explain why this course, this provider and Australia rather than Pakistan or elsewhere, how it links to your past study or work, and how it will benefit your career. Support your answers with evidence: transcripts, employer letters, family and financial documents. Keep every answer consistent with your enrolment and any previous applications.
Genuine temporary stay not shown
Visitor visa applicants must show they intend a genuine temporary stay in Australia. The department considers your circumstances at home, your reasons for travel and your immigration history. Weak ties, unclear purpose, or past non-compliance with visa conditions in any country can lead to refusal.
How to fix it: Provide evidence of employment, business, family and property ties in Pakistan, such as employer leave letters, tax returns and family registration certificates. Explain your purpose and dates clearly with a simple itinerary. Include previous travel history and bank statements showing enough funds. Keep the visit a sensible length and declare any past refusals or visa issues honestly.
Course choice not consistent with study history
Choosing a lower-level or unrelated course without a clear reason, such as moving from a master's degree to a diploma in a different field, makes officers question whether study is the real purpose. Under the Genuine Student requirement, they look at how the course fits your study and career history.
How to fix it: Explain clearly why this course makes sense at this point in your career, for example a specific skill gap or industry need in Pakistan. Provide evidence such as employer letters, job adverts or professional advice supporting the choice. Where possible, choose courses that build logically on your background. Be honest; a well-explained change of field can be accepted.
Insufficient financial capacity
Student visa applicants must show genuine access to funds for tuition, living costs and travel. Unverified sponsors, recent large deposits or funds that do not match the required amount weaken the evidence and may lead to refusal, since the department cannot be sure you can support yourself.
How to fix it: Show savings held over time, the sponsor's income evidence such as tax returns, salary slips or business records, and proof of relationship. Include education loan sanction letters or scholarship letters where they apply. Check the current financial requirement amounts on the official Home Affairs site, since they change. Explain the source of any large deposits with documents rather than moving money in just before applying.
Unexplained or insufficient funds
Officers look for a steady financial history, not a snapshot. A large deposit shortly before applying looks like borrowed money parked to pass the funds check. If the source is unclear, they cannot be sure the money is really yours or available for the trip, so they conclude you have not shown sufficient means.
How to fix it: Keep money in your account for at least three to six months before reapplying so the statement shows a natural pattern. If a large deposit is genuine, such as a property sale, gift or bonus, attach proof: sale deed, gift deed with the giver's statement, or employer letter. Explain the deposit in one clear paragraph of your cover letter. Never borrow money to show and return it later; officers recognise this pattern and it damages credibility.
Limited travel history raises doubt about return
A blank passport is not a refusal reason by itself, but it gives the officer no evidence that you have visited a country and come back on time. When combined with weak ties or modest funds, the lack of history makes it harder to believe you will leave at the end of your stay.
How to fix it: Build a travel record with easier destinations first, for example Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka or the UAE, and return on time. Keep boarding passes and hotel receipts. When you reapply, focus on strong evidence of ties at home: stable job, business records, family responsibilities and property. Plan a short, clear itinerary that matches your income. A modest, well-explained first trip is more believable than a long multi-country tour.
Check your own risk