How Much Money Is Required for an Australian Study Visa

How Much Money Is Required for an Australian Study Visa

• 2026-08-22
• Author

Careful financial planning is necessary if you want to study in Australia. Students need to consider more than just tuition fees because the Australian Student visa process also requires evidence that they can cover specified travel, living, course, and, where applicable, family expenses.

So, how much money is required for an Australian study visa?

For a standard Student visa (Subclass 500) application, the current minimum 12-month living-cost amount for the primary student is AUD 29,710. In addition, students need to account for their first 12 months of course fees, travel costs, and other applicable expenses. The Student visa application charge increased to AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026 for standard applicants, while some eligible applicants have different charges.

The exact amount you need, therefore, depends on your course fees, length of stay, family situation, and the evidence required for your application.

Quick Answer:

For a standard international student applying for the Subclass 500 visa, the financial calculation generally needs to cover:

• AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs

• Your first 12 months of course fees, or the applicable pro-rata amount

• AUD 2,000 as the indicative travel amount for applicants applying from outside Australia, where applicable

• Additional living costs for accompanying family members

• Schooling costs for accompanying school-age children, where applicable

• Other costs required for your individual circumstances

The AUD 2,500 visa application charge is separate from the financial-capacity amount. It is a fee paid for the visa application, not money that counts toward the required financial evidence.

What Is the Minimum Living Cost for an Australian Student Visa?

The current Australian Government requirement specifies AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs for the primary student.
This figure is a visa financial-capacity benchmark, not a guarantee that you can live in Australia for a year on exactly AUD 29,710.
Actual living expenses can be significantly higher depending on the following:

• City

• Accommodation

• Food

• Transportation

• Lifestyle

• Course location

• Personal expenses

The Department of Home Affairs specifically warns that actual living costs can be higher than the amount required for the visa.

How Much Are Australian Student Visa Fees in 2026?

.
For the standard Student visa pathway, the base application charge is now

AUD 2,500

Before 1 July 2026, the base charge was AUD 2,000. The Australian Government increased the standard Student visa charge by AUD 500.
Some applicants may qualify for different charges. For example, eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, eligible ASEAN applicants, and applicants in Independent ELICOS or Non-Award sectors can fall under different pricing arrangements.

Students should use the official Australian Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator to confirm the fee applicable to their application.

How Much Course Fee Must You Show?

Students considering Study in Australia should also factor in their course fees when planning their overall budget.

The financial-capacity calculation includes the cost of 12 months of your course fees or a pro rata amount if your course lasts less than 12 months.
If you have already paid part of your tuition, you can deduct that amount when calculating the remaining course cost, provided you have evidence of payment.

Example

Suppose

• Your three-year course costs AUD 60,000

• Annualised course cost = AUD 20,000

• You have already paid AUD 5,000

The amount considered for the 12-month course fee calculation would be the following:
AUD 20,000 − AUD 5,000 = AUD 15,000
The Department of Home Affairs provides similar examples for calculating the first 12 months of course fees.

How Much Money Should You Show for Travel?

The Department of Home Affairs uses indicative travel-cost amounts when calculating financial capacity.
For applicants applying from outside Australia, the current guide includes:
AUD 2,000 for applicants applying from locations outside Australia other than the specified African categories.
This amount is separate from your course and living expenses.

Actual airfare can be higher or lower depending on your departure country, destination city, airline, and booking date.

How Much Money Is Required If Your Family Travels With You?

The required financial amount increases when family members accompany the student.
Current figures include:

These amounts are added to the relevant course, travel, and other applicable costs. If you include school-age children, you also need to account for at least AUD 13,502 per child per year in schooling costs, subject to the applicable exemptions and circumstances.

What Is the Total Amount You May Need?

There is no single bank-balance figure that applies to every student.
A simple way to understand the calculation is:
Required Funds = First 12 Months of Course Fees + Living Costs + Travel Costs + Applicable Family or Schooling Costs
For a single student, the core financial capacity calculation can therefore start with:
AUD 29,710 living costs + first-year course fees + applicable travel costs
The visa application charge of AUD 2,500 is a separate application expense.

Example

Suppose your first-year course fee is AUD 25,000.
Your basic financial capacity calculation could include the following:

• Living costs: AUD 29,710

• First-year course fees: AUD 25,000

• Indicative travel: AUD 2,000

Total: AUD 56,710
You would then separately budget for the AUD 2,500 visa application charge, OSHC, and other applicable expenses.
This is an example for understanding the calculation, not a universal amount required from every applicant.

Do You Need to Pay for Overseas Student Health Cover?

Yes. Most Student visa applicants must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and accompanying family members for the required period.

Your OSHC cost depends on:

• Course duration

• Number of people covered

• Insurance provider

• Type of policy

• Coverage period

The OSHC cost is separate from the AUD 29,710 living-cost requirement and the visa application charge.
Students should make sure their insurance information is correctly included in the visa application.

How Can You Prove Your Financial Capacity?

If the Department requires financial evidence, acceptable evidence can include:

• Money held with a financial institution

• Government or financial-institution loans

• Scholarships or similar financial support

Alternatively, eligible applicants may provide evidence of sufficient annual income from their parents or partner. The current income threshold is AUD 87,856 for a student applicant or AUD 102,500 when accompanying family members are included.
The exact evidence required depends on your application and the Department's document checklist.

Is Bank Balance Alone Enough?

Not necessarily.

The Department may require evidence showing that you have genuine access to the required funds. If another person is providing financial support, you may need to provide evidence of your relationship with that person, their identity documents, and evidence of financial support where applicable.
Students should therefore avoid suddenly moving unexplained money into an account simply to create a large balance for the application.
Financial documents should be genuine, consistent, and capable of supporting the information provided in the application.

What Other Costs Should Students Budget For?

The visa financial requirement is not the same as your actual study-abroad budget.
Students should also plan for:

Before Departure

• Visa application charge

• English-language testing, if applicable

• Application-related expenses

• Medical examinations, if required

• Police certificates, if required

• Airfare

• OSHC

After Arrival

• Accommodation

• Food

• Public transport

• Mobile services

• Study materials

• Personal expenses

• Emergency funds

The Department of Home Affairs also notes that health checks, police certificates, and biometrics can involve additional costs depending on the application.

Do You Need to Show Funds for an Australian Student Visa Every Time?

Not necessarily in the same way for every applicant.

The Department's document checklist determines whether you need to attach financial-capacity evidence when you lodge the application. However, the Department may still request evidence during processing. If the checklist requires financial evidence and you fail to provide it, your application may be refused.

This makes it important to check your personalized document requirements rather than relying on a generic online checklist.

Other Important Student Visa Requirements

For students planning an Internship in Australia, course structure, visa conditions, and eligibility should be checked before making arrangements.

Money is only one part of a successful Student visa application.
Students generally also need to meet other requirements, including:

Confirmation of Enrolment

You must be enrolled in a full-time course registered on CRICOS and provide a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) as required.

Overseas Student Health Cover

You must hold appropriate OSHC unless an applicable exemption applies.

Genuine Student Requirement

Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024 are assessed under the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. Applicants must demonstrate that they genuinely intend to enter and remain in Australia as students and that study is the primary reason for their application.

English Language Requirements

Depending on the application, applicants may need evidence from an approved English-language test or qualify for an exemption. Current approved tests and minimum scores are published by the Department of Home Affairs.

Australian Student Visa Financial Checklist

Before applying, check:

• First 12 months of course fees calculated

• AUD 29,710 living-cost amount considered

• Travel costs included

• Family-member costs included, if applicable

• Schooling costs included, if applicable

• OSHC arranged

• Genuine source of funds documented

• CoE available

• Genuine student requirements prepared

• English-language evidence checked, if applicable

• Current visa application charge confirmed

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money is required for an Australian student visa in 2026?

The current minimum living-cost amount for the primary student is AUD 29,710 for 12 months. You also need to account for the first 12 months of course fees, travel costs, and applicable family or schooling expenses.

What is the Australian student visa fee in 2026?

The standard Student visa (Subclass 500) application charge is AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026. Some eligible applicants have different charges.

Is AUD 29,710 enough for an Australian student visa?

Not necessarily. AUD 29,710 covers the current 12-month living-cost amount for the primary student. You also need to account for tuition, travel, and other applicable expenses.

How much bank balance should I show for Australia?

There is no universal bank-balance figure for every student. The financial-capacity calculation depends on your course fees, living costs, travel, and family circumstances. The Department may also assess whether you have genuine access to the required funds.

Can my parents sponsor my Australian student visa?

Potentially, yes. The Department allows certain applicants to demonstrate financial capacity through parental or partner income if the applicable requirements are met. The current annual income threshold is AUD 87,856 for a student applicant or AUD 102,500 when accompanying family members are included.

Does tuition already paid reduce the amount I need to show?

Yes, when calculating the first 12 months of course fees, amounts already paid can generally be deducted if you provide evidence of payment.

Do I need OSHC for an Australian student visa?

Yes, most Student visa applicants must have OSHC for the required period, unless they fall under an applicable exemption.

Can I rely on part-time work to meet the financial requirement?

You should not rely on future employment to demonstrate the funds required for your visa. The Department specifically advises applicants not to rely on work to support themselves or their family in Australia.

Conclusion

For general study-planning guidance, edubrainoverseas can also be a useful starting point.

For a single student, a practical starting point for the financial capacity calculation is:
AUD 29,710 living costs + first-year course fees + applicable travel costs
Then separately budget for the AUD 2,500 Student visa application charge, OSHC, and other application or living expenses.
The exact amount depends on your course, tuition, duration, family situation, and individual circumstances. Because Australian visa fees and requirements can change, always check

the latest information on the official Department of Home Affairs website before submitting
your application.