Ask around "how much does the student visa cost?" and the answer will be A$1,600 — the government fee. Except that's just one piece of the bill. The total cost, adding up everything mandatory plus what most people forget, can reach A$4,000–12,000 in the process alone. Not counting the course. Not counting the first months of living.
Student Visa 500 — full breakdown (solo)
The costs fall into three groups: mandatory (without them the visa doesn't happen), common (almost always needed in practice) and occasional (depend on your profile and process):
| Item | Category | Estimated cost (A$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee — AU Government | Mandatory | 1,600 | Paid to the Department of Home Affairs. Non-refundable if refused. |
| OSHC — Mandatory health insurance | Mandatory | 600–820 per 12 months | Paid in full, upfront, for the entire visa duration. 2-year visa = ~A$1,200–1,640. |
| Certified document translation (NAATI) | Common | 300–800 | Degree, transcripts, birth certificate. |
| English test (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) | Common | 285–400 | Not required for English courses (ELICOS) — mandatory for VET, undergraduate and postgraduate. |
| Medical exam (HAP) | Common | 300–450 | Required for visas over 12 months or certain occupations. |
| Migration agent (MARN) | Common | 800–2,500 | Optional, but recommended to reduce refusal risk. |
| Apostille — home country documents | Occasional | 80–200 | Not always required — depends on the school and document type. |
| Biometrics | Occasional | 0–130 | Requested by the DoHA for some profiles. |
| Process subtotal (solo, 12-month visa) | — | A$2,900–4,000 without agent / A$3,700–6,500 with agent | For a 12-month visa. A 2+ year visa raises the OSHC proportionally. |
Proof of funds isn't a fee — it's your own money
The government requires you to prove you have enough resources: A$21,041 for the main student, A$7,362 per adult spouse, A$3,670 per child. But note: that money doesn't go to the government — you prove it with a bank statement and use it to live.
Cost for couples and families
| Item | Solo (A$) | + Spouse (A$) | Family 2 adults + 1 child (A$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee — DoHA | 1,600 | +1,600 = 3,200 | +1,600 (spouse) + 400 (child) = 3,600 |
| OSHC for 12 months | 600–820 | 1,300–1,770 (couple plan) | 2,200–3,000 (family plan) |
| Translations + documents | 300–800 | +300–800 = 600–1,600 | +150–400 (child) = 750–2,000 |
| Medical exam (HAP) | 300–450 | +300–450 = 600–900 | +150–250 (child) = 750–1,150 |
| Migration agent | 800–2,500 | Usually one family price — 1,200–3,500 | 1,500–4,000 |
| Estimated process total | A$2,900–4,000 | A$7,200–11,400 | A$9,000–13,750 |
A spouse on the 500 visa can work
The spouse of an undergraduate or postgraduate student can work with no hour limit. For English and vocational course students, the spouse's limit is 48h/fortnight.
School for children — a significant extra cost
Children of English or vocational students pay Australian school fees as international students: A$8,000–15,000/year, depending on the state. Children of university undergraduates often get a discount — check with the institution.
OSHC — the mandatory health insurance in detail
The Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required by Australian law for all international students and their dependants, for the entire visa period.
OSHC is paid in full, upfront, no instalments
The OSHC covers the whole visa period and is paid in one go. A 2-year visa? You pay 2 years of OSHC at enrolment. Instalments aren't an option.
| Provider | Single / 12m | Couple / 12m | Family / 12m | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medibank | A$602–803 | A$1,296–1,728 | A$1,840–2,456 | medibank.com.au |
| Bupa | A$598–820 | A$1,288–1,765 | A$1,828–2,507 | bupa.com.au |
| AHM | A$588–710 | A$1,266–1,529 | A$1,798–2,172 | ahm.com.au |
| NIB | A$594–796 | A$1,279–1,714 | A$1,815–2,433 | nib.com.au |
Multiply by the number of years of your visa for the total upfront amount. Compare at privatehealth.gov.au
Strategy: starting with a shorter visa reduces the initial outlay
Applying from overseas means paying the whole course and the full OSHC before boarding. Renewing from inside Australia, though, you can pay the course per term (~10 weeks) and renew OSHC in shorter blocks. Coming on a shorter visa can cut the initial investment considerably — and by then you're earning Australian dollars to fund the renewals.
What most people leave off the bill
Beyond the visa process itself, there are the expenses that show up in the first months and rarely make it into the plan:
| Frequently forgotten cost | Estimate (A$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English course tuition (ELICOS) | 3,200–6,400 | For 24 weeks (~A$300–400/week). Applying from overseas usually means paying the full course before boarding. |
| Tuition — vocational course (VET/TAFE) | 4,000–18,000/year | The visa fee is the same (A$1,600) — what changes is the institution type. |
| Tuition — undergraduate (Bachelor) | 22,000–45,000/year | Health and engineering at the top. |
| Rent — first 3 months (Sydney/Melbourne) | 3,600–6,000 | Private room in a shared house: A$300–500/week. |
| Rental bond | 600–2,000 | 2–4 weeks of rent paid upfront, returned when you leave. |
| Visa renewal (if needed) | 1,600 | Course ran longer or you switched courses? New government fee. |
| Real total — 24-week English + process + basic arrival, solo | A$15,000–28,000 | Excluding airfare and the proof of funds. |
Important risk for those who already hold a degree, master's or PhD
Already have a university qualification and applying for a VET course below your level? The DoHA can refuse the visa on the grounds that you're not a "genuine student" — and refusal means losing the fees paid. Weigh it carefully and consult a MARN before applying.
Total cost by city — solo student, 1st year
| City | Visa process + OSHC | Rent 12m | Other expenses 12m | English 24 wks | Total 1st year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$3,500–5,500 | A$18,000–26,000 | A$9,000–14,400 | A$4,000–6,400 | A$34,500–52,300 |
| Melbourne | A$3,500–5,500 | A$15,600–22,800 | A$8,000–12,400 | A$4,000–6,400 | A$31,100–47,100 |
| Brisbane / Gold Coast | A$3,500–5,500 | A$14,000–20,800 | A$8,000–12,400 | A$4,000–6,400 | A$29,500–45,100 |
| Perth | A$3,500–5,500 | A$14,000–20,000 | A$8,000–11,600 | A$4,000–6,400 | A$29,500–43,500 |
| Adelaide | A$3,500–5,500 | A$12,000–17,600 | A$7,600–11,200 | A$4,000–6,400 | A$27,100–40,700 |
Do the maths: the choice of city can mean A$7,000–12,000 of difference per year — with zero impact on the quality of the English you learn.
The total cost of the student → PR path
Many immigrants come as students intending to stay for good. Below, one of the most common paths:
| Stage | Visa | Government fee | Est. total cost | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English course + arrival | 500 | A$1,600 | A$30,000–52,000 | Approval: weeks to months. Duration: 6–24 months |
| Vocational course (VET) | 500 | A$1,600 | A$8,000–22,000/year | Approval: weeks to months. Duration: 1–2 years |
| Undergraduate course (Bachelor) | 500 | A$1,600 | A$25,000–50,000/year | Duration: 3–4 years |
| Graduate Visa (after graduating) | 485 | A$1,885 | A$2,500–6,000 | Validity: 2–4 years |
| PR via points (SkillSelect) | 189/190 | A$4,765 | A$6,000–14,000 | EOI → invitation: 6 months to 2+ years. Permanent PR. |
| PR via employer | SID (482) + 186 | A$3,115 + A$4,770 | A$18,000–40,000 | SID: 2–12 months + 2–4 years. After 2 years, apply for the 186. |
| Estimated total for the full path | — | ~A$17,845 in fees | A$50,000–170,000+ | 4–12 years to PR |
How this journey plays out in practice
In theory the path looks linear. In practice, it rarely is. The most common story: the 500 visa, then a vocational course or degree, then the Graduate Visa 485 to accumulate experience. During the 485, an EOI on SkillSelect. Score high enough? An invitation for the 189 or 190 may come. Didn't come? Many look for an employer for the SID (482) — which works as an anchor while the PR doesn't arrive.
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